question

Question
hi. I've got a big question.i need a way to stop a maul, formed after a line out, when my scrum is lighter and weaker then the opposite side, so is not possible to do that in the normal way, just pushing.thanks.

Answer
It helps to treat the maul off the line out as an extension of the line out set piece.

If you are on defense you may want to consider getting the team to not contest the lineout. The team should actually stand up and all look at the ball and the half back should also back that up with a loud call: "defend front", "defend center", "defend back"  which ever is appropriate.

Legally allow the opposition ball carrier to catch and land with the ball but set up a couple of blockers to hold the catcher and even try to turn him. The rest of the team needs to join the maul much like a scrum: tight binds, low body position and "little steps" start shunting the maul as soon as the ball carrier hits the ground.

Timing is everything, your team should be hitting the maul together bound in twos and low. Walk through this in training. Any player coming to the maul with his head higher than his solar plexus and without bent knees and hips gets to start the drill again.

The maul will go back if enough speed and body position is used properly. That should force the opposition to get the ball out of the maul.

When I say body position refer to the diagrams in these articles:

http://www.sru.org.sg/courses/the_scrum_mattryan.pdf

http://www.myoquip.com.au/Scrum_equal_joint_article.htm

I hope this helped