Line out

Question
When throwing the ball at two or 4 in the line, what is best practice in terms of who should be there to rip the ball back and what is the correct positions for the others in the line out. I am assuming the setting up of a maul here.
Thanks
David Harding

Answer
Mr Harding

It depends on your team抯 lineout plays.  Classic lineouts with seven players made with two pods (two lifters and a jumper) tend to use either the hooker or second jumper to secure the ball on the first pod.  The hooker is able to follow the ball and clean up dirty ball, and in most lineouts, the second jumper is one of the few players actually following the course of the ball once it is thrown.  The front lifter of the first pod is often used to secure the ball on the second pod since he is facing the rear of lineout and can physically follow the ball as it goes down the line.  The hooker then will usually move to position that best provides support (binding in the maul, or moving to support the flyhalf).

There is another technique known as the 揼ate?where two players come in to secure the ball:  

For cleaning up the ball and providing an immediate base for the drive (wedge), two men (the gate men) will be used.  If a wedge is called, both men will come in for the bind and set the maul.  Strip the ball from the jumper only if the ball is not stable.  If a tap is called, the first gate man will get the ball and the second will provide immediate support.  If the ball is tapped sloppy, the gate men will clean up.  The scrum half should not try for the dirty ball if there is good chance that he will be tied up in a ruck, or maul.  The gate men need to watch for sloppy ball in the lineout and clean it up.

The only rule of thumb that I can really think of is that the player who secures that ball should be the player best in position to support the play with the least amount of deviation from normal actions.  For example: the first man in the lineout almost always is looking down the line, tends to be forward well versed in rucking/mauling, and can legally follow the ball down the lineout.

Good luck,

Deane Shephard
Stuttgart