How to Play with a Small Pack

Strategies you can use to deal with the challenges of having a small set of forwards, to play the most exciting rugby in the league.

Fitness: Smaller packs must be fitter, able to run all day, able to support each other all game. Coaches of "big" teams tend to overlook the fitness of their players, hoping their packs will simply steamroller oppositions.

Speed and agility: Your forwards must be quick off the mark, able to run at top speed over 40m to 50m constantly and able to change direction quickly. Again "big" packs tend to be a bit one paced and struggle changing direction. They also tend to tire quickly if working at top speed repeatedly.

Handling skills: You need forwards who are comfortable passing the ball under pressure, have fast hands and are comfortable offloading the ball in contact.

Tackling skills: The forwards must tackle low and make every first up tackle. The goal is to put the ball carrier on the deck quickly and then get supporters to the breakdown first. Opposition runners need to be closed down quickly and the tackle technique needs to be honed constantly.

Scrummaging: Big packs tend to be lazy at scrums relying on their weight advantage rather than technique. It's well worth getting in a scrum expert for a few sessions to work on individual technique.

In basic terms get as low and as tight as possible, win the hit and get the ball in and out quickly. Don't waste energy on their ball. Stay low and tight, stop the initial shove, then concentrate on getting away quickly. Make use of any speed advantage around the pitch.

Lineouts: Shorten your lineout and use lots of movement to create space for your jumpers. If your hooker can hit the tail then use back peels.

On their ball lift the lightest player as quickly as possible to get in front of their jumper. If your players can't steal their ball they must stop the catch and drive. That means hitting the ball carrier low and hard as soon as they hit the ground, and getting them to
deck before the drive starts.

Open play: In attack you must keep the ball away from contact. Attack the space and offload or commit defenders, passing before contact. Your players must support each other to avoid team mates getting isolated. Never maul and hit low and hard at rucks, getting the ball away as quickly as possible.

When kicking, aim for open spaces and make sure your players chase for the ball. Don't kick to touch as you just give possession away.

In defence your must instil in the players the need to win every 50:50 ball. They must get numbers to every breakdown so they can compete legally for the ball.

Small Pack Dos and Don'ts

Your own scrums