Odds and evens : a mini unit linking drill.....this started as a forwards and backs or more precisely a midfield and backrow link up practising when the midfield had failed to get across the gain line.
Split the team in 1/2 4 fwds 3 backs and the 9 who goes each time -or get a spare 9 who goes with the second group.
....the groups are about goalpost width apart , single file , on the goaline.I use the posts and allow them the full width of the field to operate in.
The coach rolls the ball out in front of them and the first group go out to retrive it and turn to attack the goaline.
1: The fwds retrive it and the backs realign and using the call - strike - call for the ball to catch and pass and score the try. (The 4 go to the ball , dive on it / lift it up , and form a mini maul , which they start to drive back to the goaline , changing the quality of the ball .The backs realign and use the ball to score.)
Use the 1 ball relay concept to get a 1 to 1 work rest ratio . 2nd team realign on / move to the try scored ball and start from there
Start 7 v 0 then progress to active defenders.
Quality of defense : start 7v 0 then 7v 1( using the coach to go to a side of the maul and the backs attack the other side which is less defended , thus making them get their heads up and look / scan the field /oppn and not ball watch. ), 7v 4 all to the maul ..we've sucked them in with the drive now release to the backs to attack the space we created with the drive ,
7v 4 then 2 then 1 etc to practise support after the break and now you have a little decision making game developing ..are they committed to the maul..do we keep driving 'til they do?.
which is the least defended side..can we make a 2 v 1on the blind with the 9 and a back....
don't let the defenders touch the ball..just defend how you told them to.fwds: push - resist the driving maul backs: markup , nominate
touch -let them run thru to practice support after the break
pads
tackle
Key points :Any dropped ball means we restart the drill from there...
heads up , scan , base decision on the oppn position and communicate that decision down on ball and back up...do we need to prac this separately ?
do we rip then block or block block then rip..I've found the second best as it gives width and protection to the ball
are the backs deep enough to pass realistically in relation to the tackle line
are they scanning for opportunities or ball watching
do they run straight to preserve space , do they catch and pass or try something fancy..keep it simple ..we must ram home the advantage ..a miss pass may make the 3 v 1 a 1v 1 .
are the fwds changing the quality of the ball ?
is there a drive ?
;is the original ball carrier talking to us , giving us information in regard to the ball ?
do they participate after the ball is released or spectate and watch .
Ext : Get a fwd to take the last pass inside from a back to score the try...to make the fwds participate and just in case the backs drop the ball and we have to start the drill again from where it was dropped....
2: Change the fwds to the back of the line and put the backs to the front.
Start the drill with the ball rolled out or the 9 kicking and the 3 backs ( bx 's ) go to the ball to secure it .
The fwds (fx 's ) go to the mini maul 1 and take the ball from the backs and Roll/split off to drive upfield and change the quality of the ball .On a signal from the coach they go to the ground and simulate the tackle / ruck over 2 and leave for the 9 to release the ball to the reformed mini back line who have got their heads up and looked / scanned and communicated their decision to the 9
Repeat for the second group
So now we have a maul followed by a ruck so the ball needs to go out further ..if you start on the goaline then you need the ball to go out to the 22m line
Repeat the extensions from 1..7 v 0 , 7v 1 7 v 4 ..2..1 etc and the various levels of pressure from the defense.
Send the backs out earlier (beforethe kick ) with some defenders following and you have your back 3 under the high ball/grubber etc and the start of counter attack.
If we can go back to a ball behind us...secure it ...lift it off the ground..and start to move it back to where we started then everything else will be easy .
3 : go sideways to ball ie the contact point is on the gainline
4 : go fwd to ball ie we have made the gainline, send defenders out just before ball
let first defender secure ball and arriving fwds disposess him
Instead of odds and evens use your mini units eg 2 , 6 , 7, 8 , 10 , 12 , 13 as one group
