Ruck spoilers

Counter rucking can spoil the attacking team’s quick ruck ball. Either your players win back the ruck or, at worst, disrupt the opposition scrum half’s attempt to pick and clear the ball. Once the techniques have been embedded, the session progresses to focus on the decision making process for counter rucking.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 9-11
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

What is the difference between rucking and counter rucking? Normal rucking happens when two players are bound over the ball on the ground. Once the ball has been worked to the back of one team’s ruck, then any attempt to drive in and join the ruck by the other team is regarded as counter rucking. How many players do you want to commit to slowing down the ruck ball? Normally teams only want one player counter rucking. Otherwise there are gaps in the defence. This is why the decision making processes in this session are important.

set-up

1. Use short steps, drive in and up into the contact situation with your eyes open.
2. Concentrate on staying on your feet.
3. Target a player to counter ruck and aim to get under their shoulders with your shoulders.
4. Don’t counter ruck unless you have a target.

What you get your players to do

Put four defenders with a ruck bag each two metres from a line (like a touchline). Place an attacker on the line opposite each bag. When you shout “NOW”, they step and drive the bag back one step only (to help maintain balance). Check carefully for the right technique. Swap in players. As a development, start the attackers facing away from the bags or lying on the ground.