Rugby coaching tips for straightening the attack

The following scenario will be familiar to rugby coaches at all levels of the game. The ball carrier runs sideways to get away from the inside defender, causing the two players outside him to run sideways too.

By the time the last player receives the ball he has nowhere to go and is tackled into touch. Unless your players are physically superior to the opposition, they will continually struggle to cross the gain line.

Sideways attack rugby coaching tips

Sideways rugby coaching solution

Set your players the following problem to solve. It's a 3 v 3 situation about 15 metres from the touchline. The attackers have to beat the defenders and score. However, the initial ball carrier can only run sideways to start with.

Let players work in groups of six to find a solution that works. If your players find it difficult, remind them that the key to going forwards is runners coming from deep, at pace.

Rugby coaching tips for sideways solution

The second attacker realises that the ball carrier is running laterally and knows he needs to fix the situation. He therefore holds his run by jogging slowly, straight at his opposite man.

Just before the ball carrier is tackled, the second attacker changes direction and accelerates on a "switch" line behind the ball carrier.

At best the second attacker will receive a short pass at pace to attack the inside shoulder of the defender at pace. He will be difficult to stop.

If he doesn’t receive the pass, his run is likely to draw one or both of the defenders, giving the ball carrier a bit of space to straighten into.

The key is that the second attacker recognises what is happening. Instead of following the ball carrier he holds his run so he can run at pace from deeper.