Plays from a Tap Penalty

Coaches with a slight amount of adventure will include a couple of tap penalty moves in their repertoire.

These will provide an opportunity to create continuity play without having to go to a lineout or a scrum and will throw defensive questions at the opposition which they are generally not prepared for.

Tap penalties must be the most under-utilised attacking weapon at any level of the game and coaches should challenge themselves to come up with a plan that threatens the opposition and excites the attacking team.

The thinking behind the plan is to commit defenders but recycle quick ball and move it to another point, go forward and shift the attack back in to an area with the least defenders.

1- TRIPLE BANG

Aim: To commit the defence by running hard and straight in a sequence of attacks before shifting the attack via passing, running and supporting. Include a pattern in the last play.

Best: Inside the attacking 22

Explanation: 9 taps and passes to 2 / this group hit up and recycle quick ball /  9 clears the ball to 4 in the next group who have run on to the ball at pace based on the first group providing quick ball /  this group will provide quick ball which 9 will feed to 10 who will attack the line / 10 will feed to 7 in the third group who will be heading straight at the defenders / there should still be 15 metres between the third group and the sideline / this group will produce quick ball which will be fed to 10 and 15 going the same way / they will be joined inside and outside by 6 & 8 from the first group who have been supporting hard and 1 who will fill the pocket behind the ball carrier / this group will take the ball forward and maintain the continuity through pop passing or early passes / if there is another tackle area 5 will join the ball carrier along with 6, 8, and 1 / the preparation for the ball heading back across the field will require either 10, 14 or 15 to be the first receiver with 7 outside the ball receiver / 1, 3 & 4 in midfield / 12, 11, 13 & 2 out wide / the player hit with a pass in midfield will pass it back to the wrapping player (10, 15 or 14) / and the attack should stretch the opponents to the far edge

Variations: A- 10 receives and passes behind 12, 7 & 5 to 15 & 14 / 12, 7 & 5 are used in a close hit up    B- 1, 2, 6 & 8 get up quickly and receive the ball going back to them  with 9, 10 & 15 continuing the play down the shortside  C- Introduce a pick and go at the second ruck with a little pop pass to the third group coming in close / then the first group wrapping with 10, 15 and 14 / the other groups get up and spread across the field to attack wide / devise a play with some deception for this group. D- use your imagination.

2- QUICK
Aim:  For every player to understand their role when a quick tap kick is called so that there can be a maximum amount of pressure placed on the defensive side.

Best: any place on the field. (depends on the team attitude; the current game situation)

Explanation: the player who has the ball makes the call or the call comes relatively quickly from the captain or decision maker / the player who takes the tap kick runs forward in balance (generally towards the goalposts) / the two closest players react and burst on to his shoulder ready to take a short pass and run towards a thin defensive line / from then on it's a numbers game – because this team know what the plan is they can get in to position a lot quicker / the support players keep wrapping with a couple in close who can hit up and roll the ball back or pop in the tackle / the remainder are wrapping ready to run in the open / the idea is to hit an area and get out of it quickly to stretch the defence / once a pair have been in the contact area they must decide whether to wrap or hold their position to enable the attack to come back across the field.

Variations: A- The players such as the fullback who are away from the immediate tap kick zone head out wide / the player who is carrying the ball at the first pass zone passes behind the two runners and a couple of long flat passes are made so that the three or four players who have got themselves in to a wide position can attack / they must keep the ball so that an attack line is built from where the ball has come originally.
*This play can be practiced as a fitness drill whilst instilling the plan.

3- CHANGE

Aim: To utilise plays that are practiced from scrums or lineouts and develop them as a tap kick. This takes out the initial set piece and means the team already has secure ball to use as the starting point.

Explanation: As an example the coach could use plays from a 5-man lineout as explained in the previous article

[EG] MIDDLE

10 receives a long flat pass and passes to 12 / 12 takes the ball up as if to make contact / using 12 as the pivotal point there are a number of options:

1- 7 & 8 maintain a straight running line / 12 dummies in to 8 before passing to 7 / 7 threatens and pops it to 15 on his outside / 15 has 13 and 14 on his outside and 11 and 10 on his inside / there should be at least one more pass made / players out wide can change angles of run & wrap after the pass

2- 8 & 7 maintain their running lines / 12 passes behind 7 to 15 / 15 has 13 and 14 on his outside and 11 and 10 on his inside / players out wide change angles and look for passing options

3- 12 is carrying / 7 & 8 do a 'X' behind 12 / 7 goes first / 7 receives from 12 and makes another pass inside to 11 on the burst / 11 is supported by 15 and 10 / keep the attack going with pop passes or passing under pressure and close support
*In each case these are the starting points. With all players on their feet and able to be positioned correctly right from the beginning then at least one more phase can be planned with players having specific roles.
See what you can come up with.