Two games to improve counter-attack skills

The Guru follows up

After speaking this week about counter-attack in his response to some things he saw in the Super 14, the Guru, the wisest coach in the whole wide world, now gives two exercises to develop counterattacking.

Game 1

Here is an exercise I find extremely successful in speeding up the handling of both my backs and my forwards; it hones the skills and is excellent preparation for general play in rugby, including counter-attack.

Split your forwards and backs. Your playing area is between try-line and 22 on the same side of the field, touch-lines apply as touchlines.

You need a ball and a stopwatch.

The backs attack the try-line from behind the 22, using full width of the field. Forwards defend the line; they touch the opponent carrying the ball with two hands instead of tackling him or you can have them touching opponent with one hand below the waist (probably better).

You blow the whistle to start, from which time the attackers have one minute to score as many tries as possible (aim at fewest six tries in a minute). They score by crossing the tryline and then the 22 alternately - so, if you score over the tryline, you turn immediately and launch an attack at the 22. There are no stoppages. If the attacking side passes forwards, drops the ball, knocks-on, the game reverses direction immediately but the same side keeps the ball.

At first you will be shocked and perhaps disappointed at how poorly the ball-carrying side performs but the improvement is rapid. After the backs have tried to score as many tries as possible in one minute, give the ball to the forwards - they do surprisingly well compared to the backs - initially, anyway.

Between sessions, talk about defence lines for the defenders, attack lines for ball-carriers, support, depth, running lines. You will be astonished how much you can teach through this game.

Game 2

I have recommended this game before; forgive me for doing so again for I feel this is worth 20 drills or more.

Split your forces into 3. Ideal is about 8 in a side.

Group 1 (backs) lines up on try-line A.

Group 2 (loose forwards and hookers) lines up on the halfway line (B) facing Group 1.

Group 3 (tight forwards) line upon try-line C.

Group 2 kicks the ball to Group 1 on try-line A. Group 1 counter-attacks and attempts to score by crossing the halfway (B) - players have only to cross B and do not have to dot the ball down. Group 2 defends the halfway line. You may choose any form of defence. I start with a two-handed hold of the player with the ball and allow it to develop into full-on tackling.

The coach has a whistle and he blows it for any infringement of the laws committed by Group A in its attempt to cross the halfway line. When this happens, the ball is given back to group 2 immediately, and group 2 kicks the ball over Group 1’s heads so that 1 must retreat at pace to counter-attack again.

Give Group 1 chances to cross the halfway line. If it fails three times or if it crosses the line within the limit of three, then that group lines up on the halfway line (B) and kicks the ball to Group 3 lined up on try-line (C) and Group 3, in turn, counter-attacks while Group 1 defends.

While these two groups are attacking and defending, Group 2 makes its way at a trot to try-line A where it prepares to receive a kick from Group 3 when 3 eventually gains the halfway line.

If the defending side wins the ball, it must immediately kick it behind the attacking group. Only one side attacks, the side running from the try-line; the side moving from the halfway line defends only and on winning the ball kicks it behind the attackers.

It is a non-stop game but initially blow-up the players in order to coach. The defending players must learn to come up in a straight line, to shift-defend when necessary or to rush defend as you determine. They must learn to communicate. The attacking side must get running angles right, support correctly, get good depth, offer support off the ball and pass well.

In essence this is a game of rugby without line-outs and scrums - all other facets of the game of rugby apply. You may wish to narrow the field to encourage straight running; if so, use from posts to touchline as your field width.

Rucks and mauls are employed, cleaning-out is important but, even more so, is passing before a tackle or even in a tackle. The tackling side must observe all the laws; if it does not, a penalty is awarded to the ball-carrying side.

I wrote a week or two ago about the Brumbies spending so much time on the aspect of unstructured rugby. This is the perfect game for that.

I KNOW OF NO BETTER COACHING EXERCISE. I LOVE IT BECAUSE IT TEACHES SO MUCH AND YET IS NOT ANOTHER BORING DRILL!