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I coach an adult side, what is the best way to defend?
I coach an adult side, what is the best way to defend a rolling maul from lineout
Jon
This is difficult to achieve now you cannot collapse the maul. I would suggest the key is to ensure your team get low and drive from low to high against any opposition mauls.
If the maul is wheeling then your "posts" - the defenders guarding on the fringes against sudden peel off's - must drive in low to high against the direction of the peel. Good communication is essential amongst defenders.
I hope this helps
Simon
The best way to defend this is to prevent it from being allowed to develop ie tackle players to the floor, if from a lineout sack the catcher as he lands ie nominate a player whoes role is to pull the catcher onto the floor as he lands. If the driving maul has developed it is difficult to stop by simply adding numbers who try to match its momentum with driving force particulary in wet conditions, one technique is to keep 2 or more defenders out of the maul and get them to signal those already in the maul to spin it open towards them they can then hit the maul on the ball carrier rather than the blockers in front of the ball and try to disrupt, often attacking players will break off when spun open thinking they can break free so ending the maul these players standing out are then free to tackle the break to the ground.
We were able to do to things to prevent the rolling maul from the lineout. 1) follow Russell's advice and have a player contest the jumper as soon as he hits the deck. sometimes you can knock him backward, but it is usually easier to pull him forward. it worked well because they usually lean that way expecting a hit and allows you to get him to the ground quick. 2) If the maul is already formed and cannot be pulled down, then direct them to the sideline and force them to pull and roll, which should allow you the space to tackle, or they will be forced to touch. This doesn't work well if they get the ball to the second jumper, because of the amount of space between the maul and the touch line.
Definition. A maul begins when a player carrying the ball is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball carrier’s team mates bind on the ball carrier. A maul therefore consists, when it begins, of at least three players, all on their feet; the ball carrier and one player from each team. All the players involved must be caught in or bound to the maul and must be on their feet and moving towards a goal line. Open play has ended. If you have the time/space (and it takes discipline), get everyone out of the maul, it then ceases to exist, then tackle the ball carrier. No maul = No collapse
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