Breakdown drill
Coming Through the Gate
Build the habit of joining a ruck legally when the short route is tempting.
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Players
- 6 to 12 players
- Intensity
- High
- Equipment
- Hit shield, ball, cones
- Space
- 20m x 20m grid
- Positions
- All positions
Setup
Two gates marked in a grid with four defenders holding contact shields at each, cones, and one ball. Six to ten players.
How to run it
- The ball carrier meets the defenders, goes to ground and places the ball.
- The attacking side binds together and drives forward to move the shields, joining only from the back.
- The final attacker through collects the ball and runs anti-clockwise to the next gate and the next set of defenders, while the original defenders transition to the opposite gate.
- One player runs the drill and awards an instant penalty for anyone failing to come through the gate - no warnings, because the penalty is the coaching.
- Eight gate cycles per round, 3 rounds.
Coaching cues
- Join from the back, every single time
- Bind before you make contact - no charging in
- Heads and shoulders never below the hips
Common mistakes
- Joining from the side because it is the shortest route, which is the offence that most often kills a good attacking phase
- Charging in without binding onto anyone, which is a penalty
Related drills
- Counter Ruck UnitTurn the ball over by driving over the ruck as a connected unit.
- Jackal Clear or Seal DecisionTrain the first-arriver read - is there a threat to remove, or clean ball to protect?
- Ruck Clean-Out ChannelProduce clean quick ball repeatedly while maintaining forward momentum.
- Jackal RiseGet from flat on the floor into a legal, stable jackal position over the ball, fast.
- Jackknife into Long PlacementConvert a bad contact where you are held into a usable, quick presentation.
- The 360 RollBuy yourself time and space after a loose tackle by rolling with the ball.