So now you've learned the basics of touch, you should be able to play at a good sound level, now insure that you can follow all of the simple instructions effectively and clinicaly before you move on, when it comes to touch standing slightly out of place or moving to late could completely ruin an attacking or defensive set of play.

Now be sure that you're confident with session 1 and ready for the next session

Good luck and enjoy.

• Drives 2
• 4 Man Drive (Aces)
• Pull
• Attacking the 20
• Bow / S
• Late Cut / X
• Wrap
• Bounce
• Attacking the 5-10
• A Quickie
• Rushy
• Quick step
• Z step
• Defense 2
• Corners and Saves/Shutdown
• Mirrors 

             1. 4 Man Drive (Aces)

Again an extremely popular driving pattern, this pattern is used to move the middle players of the opposing side left and right as much as possible which should in turn creat gaps in the mid field. Some teams implement this move immediately but as it is not a move which can gain a large amount of yardage it should only be used in the opposing half of the field when you have enough touch’s left.

               Fig(a) X4 dumps in front of X5,

              Fig(b) X5 (dummy half) passes to X3, X4 and X5 realign.

              Fig(c) X3 Dumps in front of X2 and the pattern is repeated.

            N.B illustrations do not represent how deep player should stand.

In Fig (a) and (b) a straight line has been drawn to represent dumping in front of someone, this line of running isn’t exactly correct as a runner should make an arc pattern.

A diagonal  should be represented by  

If you use this line of running you will pull the middle defender laterally across the pitch opening gaps in midfield

Pull

The pull is simply used to give the attacking side some width on a turnover, a winger who will be in possession of the ball will run to the side line and will pass the ball infield once he has given the team width, the winger can either pass to the link or miss and pass to the middle, If the winger passes to the Link then a dump is usually used.

There are many methods to attack within the final 20 yards, it is important

however that you communicate with your team mates so everyone knows exactly

what is happening, The most successful teams will use various attacking moves

against you and will have a name for each move.

However some teams fail in attack for the following reasons.

1.      Not enough attacking moves.

2.      Players not knowing where and when to dump the ball.

3.      Players not knowing how to turn a defenders hips.

4.      Players not knowing how to dump properly.

5.      Over attack, attacking the same hole too many times

6.      Teams loose confidence and initiative, usually due to frustration or stress.

7.     Being too complicated and involving too many players.

8.      Not training together enough.

9.      Teams run out of touch’s.

10.  Teams attack too early (i.e. 2^nd touch when 6 touch’s in total), increasing chance of loosing posession.

11. Players not understanding why they are doing what they are doing.

12. Having too much down time between dumping and scooping.

To simplify attack and make it become more effective you should take two

simple steps.

1.      Make the space (create the overlap)

2.      Dump the ball for a dummy half to Scoop.

It’s as simple as that.

MAKING THE SPACE

Here are some simple moves used to make space,

1.      Bow / S

A fantastic move to create a space with a two on two situation.

                                               

a) Both players move slightly outwards spreading the defence (this is just one step), defenders pulled out.

b)      A2 changes direction quickly and runs almost laterally across the field and switches (passes) with A1 at point x, A2 continues running laterally, defenders pulled in.

c)      As the attackers switch (pass), A1 changes his angle of running as above and passes to A2 after about two steps, defender D1 has to change angle second time, moving his hips to the wrong side.

Remember when implementing this move it is imperative to think about what you are doing in relation to your defender with and without the ball, the defender will follow you where ever you go, when you haven’t got the ball you are making space for the person with the ball, this is why a step is made at a) above

2.      Late cut / X

Another useful move designed to place a defenders hip off balance quickly and effectively.

                                    

a)      as with the bow, both players move there defenders out of position by taking a small yet effective step.

b)      A2 runs with the ball across A1 and dummy switches at x1 but then passes the ball at X2

      after the dummy switch, A2 passes the ball with the ball away from the opposing team,

      note A1’s line of running, this is so when he receives the ball he is out of arms reach of D2.

      Note how D2 was taken out then in moving his hips yet again.

3.      Wrap

                                                 

a)      A1 runs into middle and receives ball from A2 at x, D1 will follow A1 to this position.

            b) A1 dummies a peel to A2 then A2 runs behind A1.

            c) A2 receives the ball from A1 either wide or short depending on what A1 has called

4. Bounce

An extremely simple move, It is however essential to execute clinically.

A2 looks to receive the ball short; both players are not running hard at outside shoulders

A2 quickly bounces out and runs hard to D2’s outside shoulder, A1 passes to A2 who has created space to the side of D2

Now you've learned a bit about making space it's now time to learn what to do next, this is where it becomes heads up rugby and time to read the field of play, you may be lucky and have created a gap to run in a try or pass to the overlap 

BUT BEWARE

Many players fail for the following reasons.

• They believe they can get through a gap which is not really big enough, therefore getting touched and overrunning the mark.
• A lack in composure may result in a risky pass.
• An attack is implemented too early. i.e on the 2nd touch.
• players dump witthin the 5 giving the defence less distance to retreat and return.

Remember composure is everything and it is usually better to take the safe bet and dump for a dummy half and this is how to do it

• Decide who will be taking the ball in, now I believe the person with the ball should have this decision as he is in control of play.
• Pass the ball to whoever is taken the ball in for a dump (this may be with that player already)
• Call a move if you have one (we will deal with dumping moves again).
• whoever is in control of the ball will now run into the gap which is created between two defenders, this run is important as it turns a defenders hips, make sure your angle of running is doing this to the defender.
• The ball is then dumped by this runner (as in section 1) and he steps away (usually the same direction as initial run but depending on move)
• The dummy half then scoops and either runs, steps or passes according to what is called originally, Note if the dummy is running it is usually better to run the same direction as the initial run.

Now again there are a few points to remember to this.

If the move breaks down, Compose your self, remember composure is everything, Hit a different hole by making the space and dump again hit another hole and try somewhere else. It is better to do this as you will force the defence to squeeze again (section 1).

Don't be afraid to loose a little ground whilst you're doing this, if the defense has momentum towards you it can be harder for them to retreat when you dump inbetween two players, this will also give the dummy half more room to monouver, top sides even pass the ball high and backwards and wait for a player to get there, usually retreating back to the 10-20.

             1. A Quickie

             Easy to do and a must for all rookies, It is imperative when you do this move that

             you fully understand the first section of dumping the ball correctly, without this a

             quickie will not be as effective.

            To start a player (the dumper) moves to a hole between two defenders, this does not

            have to be at pace, as the touch is initiated the dumper steps away by bouncing to the

            side of the ball and continues a lateral movement.

            The dummy half passes the ball immediately back to the original player.

            Now it is important to dump the ball properly, you should also think of where on the

            defenders body you should touch them i.e which shoulder, and what defender to touch,

            as this is a method of initiating a defenders backward momentum and hence a chance

            to create a gap, and as each and every force has an equal and opposite force, your body

            will go to the opposite direction assisting your bounce.

            So in this movement there are two situations where you turn the defenders.

1.      On approach to dump

2.      On the initiation of the touch.

Now I would practice this time and time again, It is the very first move that I learned and

it still works today but only as long as it is implemented correctly.

            Rushy

            Another 5 yard move which is extremely effective, and one which is a definite to practice,

            master the Rushy and quickie before moving onto the quickstep and z step, the rushy move

            takes advantage of the fact that once a defender touches’ you, he cannot deviate his

            direction.

            a) A1 dumps the ball in between two defenders in front of A2 but just to the left and uses

                his momentum to step away.  D2 follows A1 as he steps to the side. As with the Quickie

                A1 can push off D1's right shoulder, again every force has an equal but oposite force,

                and this helps to create the gap.

            b) A2 scoops and uses his momentum to continue his run for about one step, D1 follows

                his movement.

            c) A2 passes the ball back into the hole where A1 dives for the ball.

              Quick Step

             A useful variation of the quickie, just more effective as the attacker uses his position in

             relation to the defender more effectively.

              Please go to Coaching the Durka to see how it's done.

             Z Step

             Another variation of the quickie and twice as deadly, only attempt if you're a serious stepper

             Please go to Coaching the Durka to see how it's done.

1. CORNERS AND SAVES/SHUTDOWN

Corners and Saves are used within five yard line, The two players named wing and link will run diagonally to the corner once a touch is made, this method is used to counteract a dummy half scooping and attacking the corners, this is called corners, it is imperative to call corners when implementing this technique. All other players rush forward in the opposite direction closing down the opponents quickly and aggressively, this is called a save and again you must say what you are doing.

___________________________________________Try Line__________

                  
                                    Saves                           Corners

            Mirrors are used to combat a dummy half from laying the ball off once he has

scooped and run past your defence, All players literally mirror all of the opposition

who do not have the ball to make sure that they cannot receive the ball, once this

has been initiated the dummy half is chased don by the apare defender in essence

everyone is man marking, It becomes impossible (when done properly)for a try

to be scored.

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