A good attack will produce quick ball from rucks. The speed with which your players get onside and in position to defend will determine how well they deal with the threat. Even if the attacking team continues to produce quick ball, it will not be able to make territorial progress and will eventually either have to kick or make a mistake.
A good attack will produce quick ball from rucks. The speed with which your players get onside and in position to defend will determine how well they deal with the threat. Even if the attacking team continues to produce quick ball, it will not be able to make territorial progress and will eventually either have to kick or make a mistake.
Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 5-10
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7
What to think about
Most teams run a “pillar and post” defence system at rucks, also known as “guards”. One player marks next to the ruck, with another player covering just outside.
Teams need to make sure both sides of the ruck are covered. If not, easy ground can be made with a pick and go from the base.
There are different theories on how much space should be between players. However, it is better to remain consistent because the defenders will be more certain of their team mates’ roles.
set-up
Get onsider and in position quickly.
Fill out evenly in defence from the side of the ruck.
Communicate that you are in position.
Be ready to move forward to tackle low.
What you get your players to do
Put five players inside the box with you and a ball. Have them jog around until you move to one of the sides of the box and put the ball down.
The players have to get into a defensive position quickly with at least two players on each side of the ball. Count to see how long it takes them to get into position.
Touch the ball to trigger a forward movement and then get your players back into the box to run around. Repeat four times and swap players around. As a development, add some contact inside the box before moving to the sides.
Players run around until you move to one of the sides of the square and they line up to defend.
Development
Spread out four to five ruck pads outside the box with a ball on one side of each.
Put the five players inside the box, moving around and passing the ball.
You run to a ruck pad. The players have to react and create a close defence around the ruck pad. As a development, have an additional player working in an attacking 10 position. Have an extra defender marking him.
Related Files
Advanced-241-ruck-onside-challenge.pdfPDF, 141 KB
Players move around inside a square.
Game situation
In a 30m box, have 8 attackers v 6 defenders play full contact rugby, but with no contest for the ball at the tackle. You count down before the ball is allowed to be released. The attack is only allowed to pass the ball once between each phase. Play for a minute or until there is a score or infringement.
You run to a ruck pad. The defenders immediately get into a position to defend from that pad.
Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School.
He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. He played for Bath, Bristol, Esher and Clifton, South West division, Gloucestershire and Surrey.
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The fly half (10) has a controlling position to launch his team away from the opposition and into open spaces. He needs to be comfortable ...
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