Horizontal scoring techniques

Use these rugby coaching tips and drills to help players score tries in the corner.

These techniques are aimed at improving diving for the line. The drills are not just for wingers, since forwards can find themselves in wide positions also. For instance, if the ball comes from a blindside move following the breakdown.

What you tell your players the session is about

Improving your try scoring ability.
Improving your options when close to the try line.
Improving your decision-making when faced with a choice to pass or run.

What you tell your players to do

Move the ball to the outside player as quickly as possible, while moving forward at pace.
Score in the corner by diving over a pole lying on the ground.
Fix the defence by either taking the ball on an inside angle or veering inside before angling out of the way.
Hold the ball in two hands or in the hand furthest from the covering defence.

Horizontal scoring technique

The dive should be hard and low, not upwards. The players should NOT land on their hands.

What you get your players to do

Split your squad into pairs of attackers. A clearing pass is made to the first receiver, who immediately passes it on to his team mate. This player has to run for the try line, running an “in to out” movement, before diving to score in the corner.

Place a pole on the ground some three to five metres from the try line. Encourage the ball carrier to dive from behind this pole.

Horizontal scoring

There's a quick pass to the second receiver, who runs in and then out before diving over the pole to score.

passing the ball from first to second player before diving

What to call out

"Run at different angles."
"Get low and drive then dive for the line."
"Keep the ball away from the defence."
"Keep some depth at the start so you take the ball at top speed."

What to think about

Is the outside player fixing the defence or just running straight for the corner?
If the player is only running for the corner, any covering defence does not have to slow down and can use the sideline as an "extra defender". By veering inside first, the player will check the defenders without losing pace.

What style or types of dive are the players using that seem to be the most effective?
When going for the corner, especially against a covering defence, it's important to get as low as possible to make it difficult to knock the diving player into touch. As the player approaches the line they need to start getting lower, while still maintaining their speed.

Development

Add a defender so it's a 2 v 1 situation and take away the flag.
Add another defender so it's a 2 v 2 situation.
Start some defenders from the corner who slide across and others that start in front of the attackers.
Widen the practice area to create more space.

Game situation

Set up a conditioned game in a 20 metre by 40 metre area, with five attackers and three defenders.

Mark out a 20 metre zone for the three defenders and three attackers. Place the extra two attackers in the 10 metre areas to each side of this zone.

Play 3 v 3 in the 20 metre zone, but once the ball is into either of the 10 metre channels the defenders and attackers can also move across.

The aim is to get the ball to either outside player to then score in the corner.

Conditioned 5 v 3 game
The play is limited to the middle zone until the ball is passed out to either wide attacker.