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Rugby: Short Side Defence

What a fantastic tool. I've found a few drills that are unfamiliar,...

Wes, Rugby Coach

This is a quick drill to prime your players in your defence organisation on the short side and its an opportunity to ingrain you defence principles
The aim of the drill is to develop your teams good habits in defending the short side whilst changing the attack picture continuously
After each set, player reset
Set 4 cones up in a square 1m apart 15m from the touch line, this will mark the break down
Defending players line up on the far side of the ‘ruck’ and these players will be players who will ‘fold’ on the coaches call
3 or 4 players will act as attacking players
2 other defending players are positioned 5 meters back from the gain line and on the touch line.
These players need to connect with the players folding around the ruck

A scrum half and 3 or 4 attacking players will continuously play attack, changing up how they attack, so they can challenge the defence
The scrum half can look to snipe/scoot to engage the defence looking for ‘holes’ in the defence line
On the coaches ‘call’, the number of players called out will form the defensive line
For example 2:2, means 2 players fold around the ruck and connect with 2 wider players. 3:1, means 3 players fold and connects with 1 wider player
Once the defence line is set the player playing scrum half can run or pass the ball with the other attacking players

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Set a cone 2 meters from the defensive line. This will mark where the ball will passed from (feed) preferably from a scrum half.
Set a cone 0.5 meters each side from the mid point of the passing cone to simulate the sides of the ruck.
Set a cone a cone 5 meters from the ruck on the defensive line.
4 players start as attackers
3 defenders start on their stomaches on the other side of the defensive cone (ruck) and 1 player on the defensive cone 5 metres from the ruck
The player on the 5 meter cone (defence) starts the drill by shouting âFOLDâ (or whatever call your team may use).
Defenders on their stomachs get up and fold around the ruck to take up a defence position. Players fold wide first, and ensure that 2 players are close to the ruck (Guard and Body Guard).
The player on the defensive cone bounces out (takes space in the defence line), the first player who folds takes up a position on the 5 meter defence cone (or inside the first attacking player)
Once the defence line is set the scrum half can pass the ball.
The attackers work to beat the defence, setting up a 'tip' (running a hard line) and 'pull back' option. They should read the defensive movements and make a decision to hit the tip option or pull out the back

Passing

The aim of the drill is to develop mechanisms to unlock defences in open play
The first defender/feeder starts with the ball at a cone set up on the touch line five metres out from the try line
Set another 2 cones 15 meters up on the same touch line. Two players (defenders of the 3v2) start from here once the 2v1 is completed.
Set 2 cones on the try line 5 metres apart to create the start position for the two attackers and the attacking channel for the 2v1
The ball is fed from the first defender, with the attackers completing a 2v1
The defender joins the two attackers to create a 3v2
Two attackers then become the two defenders for the next repetition of the drill

Passing

Set up: the cones as shown with a cone 10 meters each side of the posts on the try line. This will mark where the ball will be passed from (feeder) preferably from a scrum half.
Divide the group into 3 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone.
The ball is fed from a position alternately from either side of the post. This will encourage the players to scan, communicate and to be expectant of the ball.
The players on the cones opposite the posts will either be the 1st receiver or the BANG option runner. The BANG runner is always running an out to in, or up to in line to fix the 2nd defender.
The players on the middle cone will receive the ball in the BINGO (pull back) option outside the âoutsideâ post or just in behind the BANG player.
The BINGO players should run and an arced run to receive the ball outside the outer post. The BINGO player should try to straighten up prior to receiving or on receiving the ball.

Progression:
Get 2 players or coaches to stand in front of the posts with 2 different coloured cones in their hands on their hips.
The cones will represent the âhipsâ of the 2nd defender.
The aim is to encourage the 1st receiver to scan, look, and make a quick decision (choice of pass) depending on what the defender is doing.
If the 1st receivers sees the âinsideâ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned OUT and make a short pass to the BANG runner.
If the 1st receivers sees the âoutsideâ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned IN and make a PULL BACK pass to the BINGO runner.

Warm Up

This drill is designed to work on the loop; on of the simplest and most effective ways to create your own overlap/space out wide
Start with three attackers and three defenders using tackle bags in front of them.
Attacker 1 passes to attacker 2 and begins to loop around.
Player 1 should then receive the ball back and his next aim is to fix the third defender.
Attacker three should make his way out to the edge where the space has been created.
Attacker 1 then passes to attacker 3 who has space to get around the defence.
Using this drill will develop your players handling under pressure and their attacking vision and ability to create space

Passing

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