Attack Patterns

Rugby attack patterns are used to get your players to make the most of the attacking opportunities that come their way during a game. In these articles I look at ways to create chances for your attackers, rugby games that will sharpen their reactions near the try line, and tips on how to coach your attackers to be try-machines.

The role of the fly half - Coaching tips and tactics you can adopt to create space, and therefore time, not just for the fly half, but for all your backs.

More coaching tips to create space for your fly half - Following on from The role of the fly half, this article offers further rugby coaching tips to help your fly half create space.

Rugby drills to improve communication skills in attack situations - The best rugby players at any level are never quiet in attack or defence and this is essential to team success. Use these rugby coaching tips and drills to boost your players' communications skills.

How to use the smashmouth bullies tactic - A simple offensive rugby tactic to bully your opponents.

Rugby coaching tips to develop an offensive move - What to do when your opponents won't be "bullied" by the Smashmouth tactics outlined in the article How to use the smashmouth bullies tactic.

Never say never in your own 22 - Innovation in the way your rugby team plays can be held back by one crucial factor - you.

The best attacking options from lineouts - It's vital you make best use of possession, says Jim Love, head coach of Viadana in Italy.

Rugby tactics to beat the defence - Rugby coaching tips to help you identify your opponent's defensive tactics and refine your attacking strategy.

Rugby defensive tactics when wingers are standing back - If your winger is standing back, there are ways to identify your opponent's defensive tactics and refine your rugby players' attacking strategy.

Rugby coaching tips to improve your teams go forward - Use the following rugby coaching tips to improve your team's go forward.

Coaching youth rugby moves and plays - Youth rugby has a number of differences from the adult version and requires different strategies. In this article I look at moves and plays.

Beating defensive drift - Rugby coaching tips for exploiting gaps in your opponent's defensive line.

Rugby coaching tips to beat an aggressive defence - Use these rugby coaching tips and tactics to put the defence on the back foot.

Creating depth from a flat line - A problem-based approach by Colin Ireland to help rugby players create depth in situations where they start off in a flat line.

How to win 3 v 2 situations - Letting your players work things out for themselves is an excellent variation on the usual rugby coaching session. Sometimes it works better to give your players the chance to show you what they can do.

The latch and drive rugby coaching drill - A great Western Force Drill of the Week. Please search the site for more clips of coaching drills in action.

The kitchen sink training drill - A great Western Force Drill of the Week. Please search the site for more clips of coaching drills in action.

Up 'n' backs contact training drill - A great Western Force Drill of the Week. Please search the site for more clips of coaching drills in action

Trick to break open your defence - This move works by playing on the natural instinct of defenders: the desire to make a "big hit" on the big runner.
The key is to trick the defender into making the tackle on a player who is not going to receive the ball. Instead, you work the ball into the gap left by the defender, so creating the space to release your quick winger through the defensive line.

Drills to tackle bunching problems - Rugby is a game about space, finding it and exploiting it. Use these training drills to solve the common problem of young players bunching.

Rugby moves to create a system for attack - Players need to know what sequence of different moves are being run. This makes it easier to run the right support lines and break down defences over a series of phases. This advanced skills rugby coaching session runs a sequence of plays to attack close to the initial point of contact then wide out.

Rugby coaching tips to build a coordinated attacking pattern - One-on-one, your players may use a change of pace or a sidestep to beat a defender. But when there are two or more attackers facing a similar number of defenders, a more coordinated attacking pattern is needed. Use these rugby coaching tips and plays to build moves that suit your team's strengths.

Decision making rugby drill for forwards - Despite what the press might say, forwards need to be thinkers. They can't just run into any ruck or maul. They need to consider when and where to add their weight. The following rugby drill is designed to help them build up some rhythm to make better decisions.

Rugby footwork drill for a good step into contact - If the ball carrier is powerful in the contact area, they can offload or maintain possession more effectively but less experienced and younger players have a tendency to fall over or crumple unless they practise good body positions and use a strong step into contact. The following "big step" rugby drill concentrates on improving these footwork skills.

Drill to make the most of attacks close to the try line - When your players have the ball near the try line you want them to make the most of the position, to score over the line. Which is just what this drill session is all about. It's also a great way to teach your defenders about protecting the try line from the opposition.

Rugby coaching drill for kick offs - You are guaranteed at least one kick off chase and one receipt in every game. Since they can define the way the game is going to proceed, kick offs are an important aspect to spend time on during your training drills. Use the following rugby coaching tips to organise and run a 30 minute training drill session focusing on the kick off.

Rugby drill to coach hit and spin technique - Attack rugby is about attacking the space. However, in close-quarter situations it is not always possible to find space. Instead, attacking players need to make themselves hard to tackle and ensure they can keep the ball alive. Coach the following rugby drill to teach hit and spin skills.

Ruck through the phases with patterns of play - This rugby training drill session is designed to develop your team's play through the phases and improve your players' footwork. It's such a straight forward session to set up that you will be using it time and again.

Rugby drills to help players create pace on the ball - Using a one-element rugby drill session is a good solution for an area of the game you have identified as a problem. These drills focus on putting more pace on the ball.

Rugby drill to coach simple loops - Loops are a great way to create an "extra" man in attack. Here's a rugby drill session to help you coach the technique.

Rugby coaching tips for avoiding contact - Rugby is a contact sport and there are some tactics used to break down a defence for which contact is essential. However, for many teams, the winning difference is the opposite - to avoid contact.

Rugby drill to get players attacking from a penalty - Plays direct from penalties and free kicks are more important than ever. Use the following rugby coaching drill to get your players practising this move.

Rugby coaching game to exploit advantages in attack - Having rugby "game vision" means seeing spaces and moving the ball to those spaces. Players can also recognise mismatches in terms of speed and strength.

Go with the flow coaching session - This "go with the flow" rugby coaching game plan stretches the opposition across the pitch and creates areas that are poorly defended and can be exploited.

Rugby drill to coach a simple attacking move - Over complicating attacking play can lead to mistakes, players unclear about their roles and teams forgetting the first principle of rugby – go forward. Focus, instead on simple lines and passes by the three midfield players.

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.

Rugby coaching tips for the one pass line break - Use these rugby coaching tips to get players developing the skills to work together and break down the defensive line.

Ruck Attack rugby coaching video - This rugby coaching video demonstrates how to coach players to attack from a ruck situation.

Rugby coaching drill for Sevens attacking - When you are short of time, practising the right drill is paramount. Here is an attacking activity that will help you score tries.

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