- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
There exists a cadre of fans, coaches, commentators, and even administrators who complain and campaign that the maul should be driven out of rugby.
Today, I have my own counter complaint.
Also, I would like start my own campaign. I would like for these people to stop whinging, and embrace rugby holistically and properly. The maul belongs to rugby, just as much as the breakdown, scrums, running, the tackle, and the garryowen.
Recently, I thoroughly enjoyed a game at Suncorp Stadium. In fact I enjoyed two consecutive weeks where Queensland handily defeated both eastern seaboard rivals. The latest victim were the unconvincing Brumbies, whose undefeated run was smashed, just as their maul was smashed by the Reds’ pack.
They were so unconvincing that they were not able to deliver a single maul try. Until last week, any pundit could bank five points the moment the Capitalists set up a five-metre lineout. So what happened?
It’s simple. The Reds stopped the Brumbies’ maul. They prepared for it. They delivered it. Not just once or twice. It was every time. Some of the teams have not done it, because they have not prepared for it.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
The first argument against the maul is that it is unstoppable and ruins the concept of rugby as a game of contest.
Opponents to the maul argue that a half-decent team could easily score maul tries from a five-metre lineout. The Reds match last week put paid to this argument.
What refractory fans and commentators should instead complain about is their team’s coaches’ inability to prepare their team to properly defend mauls. This video captures the South African spirit. They do not complain about mauls being unstoppable. They merely stop them.
The second argument is that maul is a form of shepherding. The concept of shepherding is relevant to the mode of open play or run and tackle. A key objective of open play is to either break the line, or beat defenders. Players who deliberately block the defenders’ right to undertake their job is an offence.
Shepherding is not relevant to mauls. The objective of the maul is similar to scrums. Except mauls come with more variety, skill and intrigue. It is a form of organised intimidation, power, guile, and strength. Mauls requires the collective strength and competency of the forwards – more than any other aspect of rugby.
It would be mad to rob rugby of the maul. In fact the maul should be employed more regularly, especially those initiated from open play.
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
Like the scrum, mauls are a pushing contest with the pill used as an instrument to control the momentum of the contest. Unlike scrums, defending players are allowed to work through the maul and grab the ball from within the grasp of the attacking maul members. This is yet another form of the contest in rugby.
Some may argue that the pill should not be allowed to held at the back of the maul, at is for scrums, because scrums are a set piece while mauls are not. However, it does not matter whether mauls are a set piece or not.
Mauls offer an alternative mode of contest between two teams for dominance, position, and momentum. If you held the ball the front of the mall, then you turn the maul from a game of dominance into a ball-grabbing farce. Even Israel Folau might agree to this.
Mauls are a game on their own. Those who cannot defend against them should get their act together.
The fans and commentators who cannot appreciate it, I sincerely hope they look at the whole game of rugby and embrace it like a warm hug, or a rolling maul.
In last week’s Reds versus Brumbies match, the crowd of a mere 14,000 erupted like 50,000 every time Queensland stopped the maul. It is about time that every one else should appreciate it.
But if most of these complainants are current or former backs, they will never get it. I guess I cannot win them all!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.