Rugby: Blitz Defence

Develop the aggressive Blitz defending style in you game and don’t let the opposition get comfortable on the ball with this session.

The first player in the line begins with the ball. As he approaches the first cone and passes to player 2 who is supporting. Player 1 carries on their run and hits the tackle bag before running backwards to player 2 original position. Player 2 on receiving the ball passes the ball onto player 3 before hitting the tackle bag and back pedalling to player 3 original position.

When the ball reaches player 5, that player side steps behind the others back to position 1 where the drill is repeated.

Set up 4 grids of about 8-10m by 5m.

3 players start on the first grid, working from one end to the other, covering the 5m distance.

• The aim is to stay in one straight line as they go up, and also keep themselves evenly spaced
• Once they have achieved that, they fall back into the next grid diagonally across and back. Now there should be 6 players on the line, and they all work together to come off the line, as one.

Players continue working like this, until they reach the end of the grid.

Once the coach blows his whistle the line may press off.

• Get all players into teams of 3
• One group of 3 with bibs start as defenders 
• In a 10mx10m grid - the other groups line up either side of the grid as attackers. Split evenly.
• The defenders work together to stop the attacking side scoring and getting through 
• After a tackle is made or a try is scored, the attacking team pop the ball off to a team on the other side of the grid who attack straight away
• Defending side need to react and realign quickly to stop the next team from scoring
• Start as shoulder on and then can progress to full contact
• Defence works for 1 minute and then change
• Competition - Team with the least tries scored against them wins

2 defenders work together to force 5 players to pass and work them towards touch.

The golden rule is for them to keep their spacing even, ensure that the inside defender covers the outside defenders inside, and that they do not rush up to commit to the tackle, but hover across and "swim" past the passer to reach the next and the next attacker.

If an attacker draws and passes so well that he then tries to block the defender, he needs to work hard and swim across that blocker to return to his defending role.