Improve defensive line skills

Set-up

Set out three lines of cones 3m apart – each line should be a different colour if possible. Set up an attacking line and an opposing defensive line both of four players. The attacking team are fed by a scrum half.

What you get your players to do

The scrum half feeds the attacking line which tries to pass the ball down the line to the last player. The defensive line moves up and tries to stop the ball reaching the last attacking player (see picture 1). Defenders make a two handed touch on the attacker’s chest to denote a tackle. Get the attacking team to try simple moves, cuts, loops, miss passes (see picture 2). Allow the defence to drift (step out of the lines of cones) and experiment by moving up at different speeds to see what it does to the attackers.

Look for

Players scanning left and right to check team mates are moving up with them. Players communicating with the players either side of them, telling each other who they are covering.

Development

Add in an extra attacker (picture 3) and challenge the defence to stop the ball getting to him. Move on to full contact tackles in which the attacker can offload if he is on his feet but not if he is on the ground.

Notes

The golden rule for defensive line speed is that you always move forward at the speed of the slowest player. This means no dog-legs are created for the opposition to exploit. Players always need to be aware of who is next to them in the defensive line.