The ball carrier will face a wall of defenders from slow ball. To break down this wall he has to aim for a door. That door is not the space between defenders but one of the defenders themselves. If he aims for the space in close quarters, he will be tackled by two players. Aim for one defender instead.
The ball carrier will face a wall of defenders from slow ball. To break down this wall he has to aim for a door. That door is not the space between defenders but one of the defenders themselves. If he aims for the space in close quarters, he will be tackled by two players. Aim for one defender instead.
Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 10-15
Warm down time: 5-8
What to think about
We want players to beat defenders and not run through them. However, where there is little space between players, running at it is counterproductive. A 1 v 2 in contact allows the opposition to drive back the ball carrier, slowing down ruck ball or even stealing it.
The ball carrier must use footwork to make the defender plant and then use strong leg drive to keep his momentum going forward through contact. The support player must to decide whether to connect to the ball carrier, wait for an offload or drive over to create quick ball.
set-up
- Ball carrier: Attack one defender. Drive through and present the ball.
- Support player: Wait until the ball carrier is going to ground before securing possession. Don’t go too early otherwise you will end up too upright.
What you get your players to do
Set up two ruck pad holders between two cones that are 3m to 5m apart (see picture 1).
Get one player to feed a ball carrier who uses footwork to target one of the ruck pad holders.
Another support player follows the ball carrier who goes to ground and presents the ball while the support player drives over the ball carrier (picture 2).
Check that the ball carrier makes a solid contact with just ONE ruck pad, keeps driving forward and presents well. The other ruck pad holder should be left behind.
Feeding the ball to a player who uses footwork to isolate and drive into one ruck pad.
Development
Add another ruck pad holder and another attacker. The attacking group has to isolate a ruck pad holder with footwork and short passing.
Take away one of the ruck pads and that defender has to be avoided. Make it a contest for the ball.
He presents the ball and the support player drives over him. Look for good driving technique through the contact.
Game situation
Set up the cones and defenders as in picture 3. Attackers aim to get through the gap between the cones guarded by two defenders and get over the gain line.
The 2m coned gates must not be used. The second aim is to keep the ball secure.
The third aim is to present the ball cleanly for the feeder within three seconds of the tackle.
Attackers aim to get over the gain line but can only go through the gap where defenders are and not the 2m gates. The ball must be presented cleanly within three seconds.
What to call out
- “Footwork before contact”
- “Keep the hips square through the contact”
- “Keep the ball away from contact by holding it hard into your side, cupped inside your arm”