Rolling maul question

[Abraxaz]

Just a quick question about defending the rolling maul.

If a attacking team starts a maul at a lineout and the defensive team doesn't interact with it and the ball is moved to the back of the maul. Would the attacking team be pinged for obstruction if a defensive player tackled the maul as it stood. Or would they just create a legal maul.

Sorry just trying to figure out how a team can legally stop a maul without losing all there players from the defensive line

[Dickie E]

the ref will tell the attacking to team to "use it". If they don't, turnover scrum.

[ctrainor]

Good question, my thoughts.
It isn't a maul if none of the defence has engaged.
If the attacking team haven't moved off the line of touch, Dickie is correct, the ref should call use it to keep the game flowing.
If they choose to drive forward with the ball at the back it is obstruction and should be penalised, however, depending on the level, first time it happens, you could call accidental offside and give a scrum to opposition rather than penalise.
The defensive line out participants must not move off the line of touch or immediately retire to 10 meters.
Timing is the key for defensive players tackling the "maul". If they do it withing a split second of the catch and potential drive i would be hard not to call play on.
I've seen many teams get this wrong defensively over the years, somebody usually engages.

[Abraxaz]

Thanks for the reply guys.

Trying to defend well against the rolling maul is a pain in the arse.

You can either throw lots of players in to stop the push but that leaves you short if they decide to spin the ball out or if they spin the maul you end up with alot of players on the wrong side of the maul.

Would love to see the similar rules as the scrums being brought in. I.e. both sides must push straight. Would make the thing alot more defensible but one can only dream.


Anyway cheers for the answers

[Decorily]

[QUOTE=Abraxaz;372005.
......if they spin the maul you end up with alot of players on the wrong side of the maul.
[/QUOTE]

Not necessarily a bad thing. They can be in a prime position to prevent the ball being made available if the maul should collapse!!

[Abraxaz]

Not necessarily a bad thing. They can be in a prime position to prevent the ball being made available if the maul should collapse!!

Normally what happens is the 10 or 9 is suddenly the last defender facing a rolling maul in my experience. Funny to watch not fun for the player

[buff]

The point of a maul is fix defenders in one place, and play the ball somewhere else, be it around the fringe of the maul or in open field. Why would we want to change that?

[Decorily]

[QUOTE=buff;372019
.......fix defenders in one place, and play the ball somewhere else, [/QUOTE]
I thought that was the point of the game never mind the maul!

[buff]

I thought that was the point of the game never mind the maul!

True, but we're discussing mauls.

[Arabcheif]

To build on the OP question. If the defense don't engage but the attacking team grabs one and pulls him/her in. Is this now a Maul, or has the player (in the attacking side) just played a player without the ball?