Rugby: Attacking Lines: Unders and Overs

• 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'.

Drill to practice overlap situations.

Set up a grid roughly 10m x 10m, with another grid roughly 5m x 5m adjacent to it (see diagram - red cones and green cones).

In the bigger grid have two defenders (red) and in the smaller grid have one defender (red).

Three attackers (blue) attack the 2 defenders in the first grid. Once they have completed the 3 v 2 situation the player with the ball and one other support player run around the cone and attack the one defender in the smaller grid.

Swap the attack and defence after 3-5 repetitions.

PROGRESSION:

The ball starts on the opposite side to practice passing in both directions.

A coach/other player feeds the ball to the three attackers so the drill can start in any position. The coach/other player can kick or roll the ball to the attack to start the drill.

3 attackers start at the beginning of the grid who will go up against the tackle bag first and then the person in the body suit second; these two should not stand next to each other unless you move on to the progression.

At the coaches command the attackers will go into the tackle shield first with the ball carrier going to ground and the two supporters either both clearing out or one person clearing and the next picking up the ball and going into the next defender 5 metres behind who will be in a bodysuit.

The ball carrier here will try to stay strong on his feet and offload to the two support runners or one of them will come in and rip the ball and offload to the support runner who will finish by crossing over the line.

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