Ellis Rugby Skills and Drills

Options - Are they in your attack plan? Teams who want to develop their attacking game need to have multiple options in their attack plan.   The complexity of your plan depends on your personnel and the level of the competition you are playing in. Many years ago the Wallabies ran a simple shape referred to as the ‘Aussie Box’ and it completely changed the way backlines attacked.   ‘Aussie Box’ variations Since then many sides have gone on to develop similar shapes around their forwards.   Today we see whole team attack shapes as a big part of the modern game. At the highest level these shapes are not only an orchestrated manoeuvre, they are specifically tailored to unlock the defence structures of the opposition. This is possible thanks to the advanced level of analysis used in professional rugby. Knowledge is power when it comes to designing attacking shapes. But the unpredictability of the game can also lead to unexpected chances. Opportunities ...

Breakdown Policy - Do You Have One? Do you have a breakdown policy? If not, you should.   A policy helps guide players actions at the breakdown. Alongside accurate skill execution, it can help to win the race. Having a policy does not replace good decision making, but when executed well it can greatly enhance it.   So, what does a breakdown policy look like? Most teams will include a list of non-negotiable points in the policy. These would usually include: Carry with evasion. Leg drive. Present the ball. Ball carrier plus 2. Remove threats. Control space over the ball. Other teams may go deeper and include these: Fight to stay up. Ball presentation outside place or inside place. Control top shoulder. Fight on ground. Always clean over the ball - often at the head of the ball carrier. Numbers to the breakdown as needed. Take space past the ball. Tackle the tackler - create a ‘speed bump’. Move ball if available. Action...