Solid maul, stay on your feet
Not all mauls are set up from lineouts. Sometimes a player stays on his feet through the first contact and is then held up. He has to choose whether to drive on with support, or go to ground. This session works on staying on the feet.
Not all mauls are set up from lineouts. Sometimes a player stays on his feet through the first contact and is then held up. He has to choose whether to drive on with support, or go to ground. This session works on staying on the feet.
Warm up time: 5
Session time: 6-9
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7-10
What to think about
The maul can have two focal points for the ball. Either it is held near the front of the maul as the player drives through, or at the back. The back ball is most likely from a lineout. However, in open play, the ball carrier is often at the front or just behind the front man. This needs players to communicate on the safety of the ball.
The maul with the ball at the front is more dynamic than a lineout maul because it will start from a less static situation. The players have to drive harder and expect the ball carrier to go to ground.
set-up
- Drive through the contact, staying on your feet and keeping the ball away from further contact.
- Support the ball carrier by binding on to him in contact and then communicate when to bring the ball back.
What you get your players to do
Put an attacker with a ball facing two tackle tubes which are about a metre apart, with two defenders to hold them. Make him drive through the tubes, and then into the three defenders behind the tubes.
Two support players help the drive through. In the meantime, the tube holders run around the end corners of the box and then back into the area.
The ball carrier and his support players must keep the ball moving and secure, aiming to get over the end of the box. The defenders cannot tackle below hip height.
The ball carrier drives through the gap between the tackle tubes.
Development
Add three more attackers, who have to form a maul from the first set of three players.
Start the activity with a short pass from the base of a dummy ruck.
He runs into the defender directly behind the tubes. The defenders can only tackle at hip height and above. The ball carrier is supported by two players. The other defenders join in with the tackle tube holders running around the corners before helping out.
Game situation
As in picture 3, put two pad holders and a player in each section of a box. Get three attackers to run into the box and try to drive through to the far side.
The defenders have to stay inside their areas. The non-ruck pad holders are only allowed to wrestle for the ball.
Attackers have to drive the ball to the other side without being driven out of the box. The defenders must stay inside their starting box. The non-ruck pad holder cannot bring the ball carrier to the ground - he can hold or attempt to dislodge the ball. He lets go when they move into the next box.
What to call out
- “Short steps through contact – be prepared to go sideways and forward”
- “Listen and talk – an essential to a maul”