Skills to Penetrate (2)

In the NZ Rugby Manual 'Developing Rugby Coaches' there is a section on 'Contact' with part of this section looking at the 'Bump Off'.

If used in set play or phase play it allows the attack to play reasonably flat with the penetrating player obtaining maximum speed over a short distance. In most cases this player is going to be your big brutal runner, but there will be players who are strong and squat who will be ideal with this skill.

In summary the bump off   is a skill where the ball carrier is balanced and strong on the hit so that he can stay up and accelerate through the tackle.

An ideal time in the game to utilise this skill is from a set piece or phase play where the attacker is often in a 1 v 1 situation and he has been put in this situation through the distributor timing his pass and the penetrator hitting a ball with one defender on him as the other defenders have been committed to the playmaker and the support player.

So the plan is a simple. The penetrator knows he is going to be confronted by one defender so he is going to use this skill rather than just hit and set a ruck.  One pattern of play with two options is the best way to start.

Assuming the coach is of an attacking mindset he will name the plays as 'Strike Plays' and have some sort of explosive sounding call. As an example we will call the following play “Scud”.

Scud 1: 9 passes to 10 / 10 & 12 run at 45 degrees / 13 runs a dummy switch off 10 / 10 passes to 15 who runs between 10 & 12 / 15 will be the player preparing for the bump off. / 11 or 14 is in the pocket behind 15

Scud 2: same as Scud 1 except 10 cuts 15 and passes to 12 who has both wingers in support / 12 will straighten before the pass and get in to a strong position ready for the bump off.

From the NZ Rugby Coaching Manual – Developing Rugby Coaches

Contact

Bump-off

Objective:
To beat defenders when there is less evasive space or options available.

Key Factors
• Ball away from contact.
• Get in to balance prior to contact.
• Lower /dip ‘contact’ with the shoulder and drive upwards
• Accelerate into the collision.
• Big step at the tackle zone
• Aggressively run through tackle.

Coaching points
• Run towards identified defender.
• Protect ball by ‘tucking’ under non-contact arm/shoulder.
• Increase speed to improve chance of dominating tackle.
• Lower the contact shoulder and make contact with defender’s shoulder if he is not too low.
• Drive upwards after the contact to maintain stability
• Continue leg drive through the attempted tackle with a big step and acceleration

Common Errors
• Attacker too small or vice-versa.
• Body position too high.
• Going to ground too easily