Rugby: 3 v 2 into 2 v 1

Drill to practice 3 v 2 attacking scenarios.

Set up a channel 20m long and 15m wide with cones every 10m along the length (red, yellow, green).

Set up 5 lines of players between the first two cones, the two players on each end are the defenders (red), and the three in the middle are attackers (blue).

The ball starts with one of the defenders on one side and that player runs forward and throws a long pass to the defender at the other end of line. He then continues his run around the far (green) cone to defend.

The defender who has caught the ball puts it down on the middle (yellow) cone and continues his run around the far (green) cone to defend.

Once the second defender has put the ball down on the yellow cone the attackers may begin their attack. The player nearest the cone runs to pick up the ball and then they attack the two defenders, trying to score over the line marked by the green cones.

PROGRESSION:

Start from the opposite side to practice passing in both directions.

Reduce the width of the channel to make it harder for the attackers to score

Add a defender to come round late and create a 2 v 1 after the 3 v 2

• This is a backs moves passing exercise, aimed at drawing and fixing up a defender, to give a supporting teammate more space and take the defender out of the play
• 3 attackers line up along one side of the area, 2 defenders stand next to each other on the short side next to the coach
• On GO, the defenders run into position and the coach passes to the first attacker
• The attacker runs with the ball towards the first defender before passing sideways to their teammate
• That player then runs at the second defender and before contact passes across to the spare attacker to run to the other end of the area.

• This is a 4 v 3 overload drill in favour of the attackers
• The area is set out, with four attackers spread out across the back line, three defenders 5 yards in front them, and another row of three defenders 5 yards behind them
• On GO, the coach passes to the first attacking player, and the ball travels along the line to eventually reach the end player
• That player is then first to reach the next line of defenders, and the ball is passed back along the line and the original attacker should receive the ball in space to 'score a try'.

Set an area with two different coloured cones on the touch line in the middle, one for defenders and one for attackers. At the prompt of the coach the players run around designated cones and attack the defenders to score. Ball carrier should initiate the attack by attacking the inside shoulder of the first defender to stop a drift defence.

Draw the first defender and make the pass to your next support runner who should do the same to pass to the outside runner who can go and score. Once attacked three or four times players should swap to defence but not every single time to create continuity and positive development.