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Rugby: React to space and attack

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the...

Heather, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

5 players start on a straight line of cones about 5m apart. 10m away there are 5 more cones. Two of the 5 cones are blue, and two are red, and the middle cone is orange. The player on the orange cone never defends, he always attacks and always starts with the ball in hand.

The coach shouts a colour and the players who are standing on those cones must run forward and touch the cone 10m away from them. It will always be 2 defenders, but their positions will slightly vary. Once the first defending player has touched the furthest cone across from where he started the orange player can initiate attack. The orange player will have 2 supporters, one either side of him.

The ball carrier should look to attack the "Mid-Space" i.e. the space between the 2 defenders, as hard as he possibly can. This will cause at least one of the defenders to move in towards him, and therefore open up space for the supporter.

You will notice as the drill goes on, if the ball carrier runs at this space hard enough, the defenders are sometimes caught in two minds of "its your man" and the attacker will glide straight through the gap, but only if he is explosive from the word go!!

COACHING POINTS

Ensure that the time and space available is sufficient for players to get the hang of the drill.
Let the attack look for that space between the 2 defenders, and they simply react to the first defender that commits to the tackle.
The option then is to turn the way the tackler is coming from, and play the supporter into that space left by the defender.
NB - do not run towards a player and "fix" him, we want to MOVE the defender off his base.

Progress the drill by making the time and space more limited.
Instead of orange starting with the ball, grubber or chip it to them, adding to the difficulty of the drill.
Defenders can be asked to do an up down once they reach the cones, and attackers can be set off by whistle to either shorten or lengthen time.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

RANGI (VERSION 3)

Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions.
10 advances with the ball, then cuts in.
12 advances, and cuts with 10.
13 runs towards the 10's position.
15 times a run from behind 12, just outside the 12's position.
10 dummy switches with 13, before passing to 15.

Backs Moves

Running an overline

You see this a lot on TV, where centres overrun the ball and the miss pass goes behind them

9 10 12 miss 13 -running an overline- to 15 & 14

yBacks Moves

RANGI (VERSION 2)

Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions.
10 advances with the ball.
12 advances, as does 13.
14 times a cut in towards the center of the pitch.
10 passes to 12.
12 cuts outward, and does 13.
12 gives the ball to 14 on a switch.

Backs Moves

Simple Back Line

Simple demonstration of a standard back line

9 10 12 13 15 14

yBacks Moves

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Use the diagram in order to think about the starting position of your players, I suggest that they are not too deep for this one. 10 passes the ball to 12. 11 loops behind 12. 12 advances with the ball. 12 pass the ball to 11, this should be a close to the defensive line as possible. 13 runs a line, at speed, close the space between them and 11. 11 does their best to avoid contact, but if they do take contact, they should attempt to off-load to 13.

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Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions. 10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram. 12 advances, and cut in on the same line as 10. 13 advances and cuts across 12, taking a switch pass from 10. 15 and 14 press up.

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Backs Moves

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Dummy Switch Behind (DSB)

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Backs Moves

ENTER 1

Use the diagram to help with players starter positions, but feel free to experiment. 10 carries the ball forward, inviting the opposition defence to press up. 12 runs forward, at pace. 11 runs between 10 and 12, providing a decoy. They could even overrun the ball, allowing 10 to pass behind 11. 10 passes to 12. 15 runs forward, then changes their angle of run to a fast run off the outside shoulder of 12. 12 passes to 15 as close to the defensive line as possible.

Backs Moves

ENTER 2

Use the diagram as suggested starting positions, but be flexible. 10 carries the ball forward, inviting the opposition defence to press-up. 12 advances. 10 passes to 12, 11 could provide decoy or a cancel option. 15 runs forward, then runs a line support 12, hitting tight on their outside shoulder. 12 miss-passes beyond 15 to 13. Think about the other players positions, cancel options and alternatives. Players need to be flexible in attack.

Backs Moves

ENTER 3

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Backs Moves

ENTER 4

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9 10 12 miss 13 to 15 and 14

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Backs Moves

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Backs Moves

LOOP MOVE - M1

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Backs Moves

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