Winning ball at the breakdown

LOGIN

Subscribe today to access over 2000+ drills, 350+ ready made practice plans, and more.

Being aggressive in the tackle and presenting the ball well creates quicker ball at the ruck. This session focuses on how your players take contact if they can’t avoid it. Winning the contest at the breakdown is a fundamental piece of your core unit skills.

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

What to think about

What is meant by a “power step”? The “power step” is the final step taken by the ball carrier before hitting contact. He gets low by dropping his hips and takes a big step with the aim of knocking the tackler back. What other things have to happen to ensure you win quick clean ball? The support players have to arrive quickly and clear out dynamically. The scrum half has to arrive and pass the ball away before the opposition can further disrupt the ball. What happens if the ball carrier doesn’t place the ball back? This makes it easier for the opposition to step over and steal or slow down the ball.

set-up

Win the hit in contact and knock the defender back.
Go to ground only when the support arrives.
Get the ball back towards your team.

What you get your players to do

Work attackers in pairs against a defender with a ruck pad. The ball carrier starts two metres away from the pad. He accelerates and takes a big step as he hits the pad. He then takes short steps and fights to stay on his feet. When the ball carrier goes to ground he gets his body between the opposition and the ball and places the ball back. The second attacker steps over and drives the pad back.

Powering into the contact - The ball carrier “power steps” (see page 10 for explanation of this) into contact and then fights to stay on his feet.

Development

Add a second defender with a ruck pad. Now the second attacker has to pick up the ball and drive into the second pad. The first attacker has to get up quickly and act as scrum half.
Remove the ruck pads and have live defenders.

Controlled placement - The ball carrier places the ball back towards his team in a controlled way.

Game situation

Play full contact rugby between two equal teams on a wide pitch. The defending team can’t compete for the ball after a tackle. Instead,the ball is presented and a team mate has to ruck over before the ball can be passed. The ball is turned over after a try or if there is a knock on. Next allow the tackler only to compete for the ball once he is back on his feet. Finally move to a normal game.

The support player picks up the ball and drives strongly into the next defender. Then move into a game...

What to call out

“Power your step into contact”
“Fight to stay on your feet”
“Get your body between the ball and the opposition”
“Stretch out and place the ball”

Dan Cottrell

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.

Editor's Picks

Wicked warm-ups

Being authentic, player relationships and 'why?'

Challenging players of differing abilities

Behind the scenes with: England U18s

Saracens Academy: Behind the scenes with the Wolfpack

Practice Plans

Go forward from the lineout

The session looks at running and support lines from the back of the lineout. There is a run up of around 10-15m for the ball carrier before ...

Long pass plays

Develop long passing for specific plays. This session works on running lines and timing as well as improving accuracy of passing in match-...

Four-man contact pods

This session works on players taking the ball into contact in groups of four. This is most likely in a game when you know the opposition is ...

Increase your options for 10

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 ...

Newsletter Sign Up

Join over 75k coaches that are saving time searching for fresh coaching ideas with our free email newsletter: ✔ New drills ✔ New games ✔ New warm-ups. Delivered direct to your email inbox

Protect if outnumbered

Retain possession in a two-man tackle. Support players stop opponents using a choke tackle to hold up the ball carrier and create a maul.

Quick Coach: Fend and pass

The ball carrier uses a strong fend to create space and time to pass the ball to their supporting player, while the defender aims to ...

Quick Coach: Wrestlemania

Two players wrestle with the ball until they go over one of the lines – then it’s a battle to win the ball on the ground.

Defend in threes and fours

Build a defence ethic in this activity. Players will have to cover narrow and wide spaces, improving their tackling and communication.

Coaches Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

Be a more effective, more successful rugby coach

In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.

SUBSCRIBE

Get Weekly Inspiration

All the latest techniques and approaches

Rugby Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use rugby drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.

We've been at the cutting edge of rugby coaching since we launched in 2005, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.