Rugby: defensive speed

5 attackers - 10 defenders (or 2 to 1 ratio dependent on numbers) Start slowly with ruck ball Defenders cannot steal ball Attackers recycle ball Defenders realign Coach calls tackle made Coach controls speed of ball available

Work this fitness, defensive in line speed, communication, beating the defender and rucking. Even number of players and pads. Pads 5 m in front of players. Each time the coach throws the ball, players go forward (line speed) and make a tackle. When the coach chooses, throw the ball to one of the players, who steps and tries to get through pads. The other 2 players looked clear beyond the ball. Pad holders are active and try to stop the attacker. Defenders must talk and get onside.

Tell the players the following.... Players will advance as a line, and as one hit the pads. The pads can also advance as a line. If the pads do advance, they should return to their starting positions. The players hitting the pads just the end of the lines, ready to go again. The nest line should go when the players on the pads area ready. Don't forget to change the players on the pads.

10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram. Both 12 and 13 advance, then change direction as shown in the diagram. 12 and 13 switch. 10 provides a pass to 13, who either hits the opposition defensive line at an angle before straightening up. Think about what will happen next. Could 10 follow the pass and take an off-load on an inside ball, if 13 gets past the gain line could 15 and 14 off wide support? Make this move your own!

Note the starting positions of players for this move, it's just a suggestion. However, I suggest your players start that bit flatter, and that 13 starts just ahead of 12. 10 carries the ball forward, inviting the defence to press. 13 cuts in to cut the distance between them and 10. 10 makes a miss pass out to 13. 12 runs am under, runner first towards the 13 channel in order to pull their defender out of position. They then, at speed, cut out. However, if their defender does not follow them, they should maintain their line taking the ball as close to the 13 as possible. 13 makes a pass to 12, this pass should be as close to the opposition defensive line as possible.

Set up lines of defenders with pads aligned laterally across your working area. You can either have 1 line so the attacking players work once and in 1 direction or you can have a series of defensive lines so they attackers work continuously off both shoulders. Rotate defensive units.Work in attacking groups of 5 with 1 ball per group. The attacking groups start at point X. On the command, Player 1 carries the ball towards defender A. Just before or as the Player 1 makes contact with the tackle shield, Player 2 gets ‘hands-on’ the ball, moving it away from the defender. Both players then make contact powerfully with the defender (particularly Player 1 and get some go-forward (1 or 2 driving paces) before releasing to the acting half-back when feeds to Players 4 and 5 who repeat into defender B. Players 1 and Player 2 then loop behind and receive pass from player 3 before engaging defender C.

Groups of 8Ball Cones2 sets of 4 players line up back to back.Cones are places 3m apart and 3 in fornt of both set of players.When the coach says go the players must complete 4 passes before reaching the far cones. Then they must turn and do the same off coming back. (1 rep) Its a race agaisnt the opposing attackers to compelete the the reps given.

Groups of 10+ 3 Bags balls Cones 1. With bags 3 Attckers with bags are given a number, 5 defenders line up opposite within the grid. When coach says so he shouts a number (this is the attacker that the defenders will tackle and adjust too) when the number is shouted both attackers and defenders shoot off the line to meet in the middle (green cones) Here a tackle is performed on the given number and players will adjuest and stay connected accrodingly. 2. With a ball not bags. This progression makes it more realistic, and means the 5 defenders have to adjust to the differnt moves the attackers throw at them.

Groups of 8Ball Cones2 sets of 4 players line up back to back.Cones are places 3m apart and 3 in fornt of both set of players.When the coach says go the players must complete 4 passes before reaching the far cones. Then they must turn and do the same off coming back. (1 rep) Its a race agaisnt the opposing attackers to compelete the the reps given.

8 in each group.6 in the playing area and 2 outside it.The six in the playing area play a 4 v 2 against each other trying to pass the ball as many times as possible without getting tagged.The two players on the outside pass the ball to each other 25 times at which point both practices stop. The two players change places with players from the other practice.

The following are the laws for this game: Normal laws of rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over. The attacking team gets 8 touches before the ball has to be turned over. Change this to suit your training goals. It would be ok to have unlimited touches, changing the defence and attack after a set period of time. A player is touched only when the defender has made a two handed touch, you can change this to one hand if you wish. Defenders cannot hold the attacker, nor can the attacker use significant force to push through defenders. Defenders who make a touch run to the furthest in goal area and back before being back to re-join the defensive line. You will find that several defenders will be making their way forward and back at any given time. If an attacking player is touched while in posession of the ball: they stop, set the ball down, stand over it, and the scrum half is allowed to move the ball again to restart the attack. The defence must remain onside following a touch. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence press up on the attack. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. Don't forget to switch the teams around. Tries only, no conversions - keep the game tempo high. There is no kicking.

2 Teams.Half Pitch.Touch Game with conditions; Attacker once touched must go down, bounce back up and drive into defender, then perform a long place. While all defenders retreat 3m and hit the floor and bounce back up again before continuing play.

Starting with their backs to one another, two players stand 5 metres apart and run off in opposite directions along one side of the 20 metre grid. At the corners of square each player cuts back into the grid and the player with the ball attempts to score by running with the ball into the far corner. The blue player's objective is to tackle them and prevent them from scoring.

The aim of the drill is to develop players speed of pass.

See the diagram for the suggested starting positions. 10 advances with the ball. 12 advances, 13 provides support with 14. 11 cuts a line inside 12. 10 passes to 12. 12 passes inside to 11, 11 is running an angle tight to 12.

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defense. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack.The defence must commit three players to every ruck, or risk an infringement which will see tem pushed back ten meters. The ball must be moved from the ruck within 5 seconds. Make sure that the defense is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck.  Throughout the game the coach call the point of attack e,g, attack RED ZONE or Zone 2. The coach can also call the scoring zone, Score At Zone Yellow or Zone 3. As the game progresses have the players call the point of attack, and the scoring zones - but they must do this early and they must committ to that attack for a period of time. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! On a mistake or after a period of time, turn the ball over so that both teams get time in attack and defence. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

See the diagram for suggested starting positions. 10 carries the ball up. 12 advances. 10 passes to 12. 12 cuts in. 13 advances and cuts in towards the 12. 13 takes from 12 on a switch. 15, and 14 provide support. 13 straightens after taking the ball on an angle.

See the diagram for suggested starting positions. 10 carried the ball forward, inviting the defence to press up. 10 cuts in. 12 presses up and cuts in towards 10 on a switch. 10 passes to 12 on the switch. 12 hits at an angle before straightening up. 15/13/14 provide support, 15 provide close support.

2 Teams.Half Pitch.Touch Game with conditions; Attacker once touched must go down, bounce back up and drive into defender, then perform a long place. While all defenders retreat 3m and hit the floor and bounce back up again before continuing play.