Attack the ruck session

PLAN OUTLINE

• Session: Ruck options
• Aim: To improve ruck play
• Time: 40 minutes
• Equipment: Ball, cones (or pitch markings), bibs
• Set up: 15m x 25m channel, two bibbed teams each comprising one pack and a 9

WARM UP 

Suitable activities in preparation for contact. Warm up shoulders, necks, arms, legs.

ACTIVITY 

Whole – Part – Whole. A player-centered self-learning approach. 

Whole 

Playing in a narrow, long channel, packs take it in turns attacking. Defenders just tackle until other conditions are introduced.  Attackers start at one end of channel (defenders start 5m away) and attack along channel to score a try at other end.

Play 2 minutes in attack per team [familiarisation].

Add rule: Defenders can push ball against ground unpenalised but cannot hold or pick it up. 

Play 2 minutes in attack per team.
Q:  What effect has this rule on the attackers? [Look for answers like, “The ball is slowed down”.]
Q:  How does this affect the attack? [Look for answers like, “It’s harder because the defence is more set”.]

Ask players to consider their replies as they play 2 minutes in attack per team.
Q:  How effective is the attack now it is understood the ball is harder to win quickly?
Q:  What could be more effective? How could the attack be improved?
[A: Stop the slowing down of the ball.]

Part

Develop better rucking technique: Use drills to coach low body positions and good rucking technique, moving legs and bodies in the way.
Player led: Players to remind each other of the key factors for rucking.

Develop slow ball tactics:
Player led: Delegate players to invent their own ideas. Could also consider moves such as:

Hammer: Receive a short pass near the gain line and be immediately driven from behind by team mates.

Pick and roll: Pick the ball from the ruck base, roll off and immediately create a maul.

Oxo: Scrum half runs sideways from ruck and pops to forward running back towards the ruck behind the scrum half.

Pivot: Receive a short pass near the gain line, attracting the defenders, and offload to the scrum half looping to then pop to a runner.

Whole

Play 2 minutes in attack per team: Gradually condition the defence less, so the practice is more in line with real play.

Wrap up: Player led summary of session learning points.

Q:  Can anything that has been developed in this session be used in other areas of the game? [Look for answers like, “Some scrummage back-row moves” if the session has incorporated slow ball tactics.]

Return to skill development as above where necessary. Finish with a game with no extra conditions.