DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
ComeAllWithin (Harlequins Rugby)
HTML https://comeallwithin.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: ComeAllWithin Board
*****************************************************
#Post#: 55202--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: quinalan
Date: December 21, 2020, 4:03 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Can anyone actually stop an Exeter/Racing 92 maul from a 5m
lineout? It seems impossible once these two sides get it set &
start moving.
#Post#: 55204--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: December 21, 2020, 4:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Indeed. A well constructed maul is very difficult, nigh on
impossible to stop legally and certain teams (Exeter in
particular), have it down to a fine art.
The problem is, we don’t seem to be capable of defending any
lineout drives. Our maul defence really is quite pathetic, even
teams who aren’t particularly good at it know that they have a
decent chance of scoring against us if they kick to the corner.
On the coaches, Flannery does seem to have improved our maul in
attack. I don’t have the numbers, but my perception is that
we’ve been converting a higher percentage of tries from our
catch-and-drive set-ups than we were prior to his arrival. That
is a positive. However, not to the extent that it excuses the
maul defence.
Sanderson’s observations were interesting and correct, but we
also don’t seem very good at disrupting (legally). Players like
Launchbury and Itoje are excellent at coming through the maul to
get on to the ball. Maybe we need to look at different ways to
tackle it, because the current methods really aren’t working.
One tactic I have noticed a couple of times from Wilco Louw is
that he immediately tries to sack the maul by rolling the jumper
immediately as he lands. Not a bad idea in theory, but I’m yet
to see him time it right which means he’s on the floor and out
of the game or the opposition are tripping over him and we’re
conceding a penalty. For once, there is actually good footage of
him doing this ... if anyone can bear to watch again, look at
the lineout leading to Teddy Thomas’ try. I’m not sure if it’s
tactical or just Louw going with what he knows, but it sure
isn’t working right now.
#Post#: 55205--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: Simquin
Date: December 21, 2020, 5:24 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I remember one such lineout where we didn't compete nor join the
maul putting most of the oppo pack offside. Ref awarded a
penalty in favour of Quins.
Has this law/tactic been removed? Unsporting contact etc like
O'Shea's Italian tactic?
#Post#: 55211--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: Quinten Poulsen
Date: December 22, 2020, 2:50 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: PhilQuin2 link ---
>
> Could it be that Sarries ARE great at this sort of thing, and
the reason is Sanderson himself..?
> As Mayor West says, sign him up!
>
> At the same time, the question is begged re: what this new
bloke Flannery is contributing; can't say I've seen a tangible
improvement since he joined us..?
>
--- End Quote ---
I think the lineout is comfortably more reliable than it was
before he arrived. Mind you, that may be just down to Baldwin
having had the vast majority of game time out of our hookers.
#Post#: 55213--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: J Scott
Date: December 22, 2020, 3:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I agree our has been more consistent and Baldwin is turning out
to be a good signing his all round game has been pretty good.
I’m not sure about Elia he’s good in the loose but his tight
work and throwing is a real weakness not good for a hooker.
We need to compete at line outs for two reasons, pressure their
throw and refs won’t give the marginal not straights if we
don’t.
#Post#: 55226--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: December 22, 2020, 12:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: PhilQuin2 link ---
>
> Could it be that Sarries ARE great at this sort of thing, and
the reason is Sanderson himself..?
> As Mayor West says, sign him up!
>
> At the same time, the question is begged re: what this new
bloke Flannery is contributing; can't say I've seen a tangible
improvement since he joined us..?
>
--- End Quote ---
Stick Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola in
our pack and I bet Flannery would have us defending mauls like
no-one else.
#Post#: 55262--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: DOK
Date: December 23, 2020, 4:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
That's true, but people like Maro have a great technique for
disrupting mauls. I mean long arms and the muscles and all, but
more importantly they get in the places where they can really
cause problems. My memories of our maul disruption this season
was that one against Exeter where we all bound on, formed a
wedge, drove beautifully into the maul only to discover Exeter
had rolled it round and while we peeled off a couple of hangers
on at the side they stepped over our try line more or less
unopposed.
#Post#: 55267--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: December 23, 2020, 5:36 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Agreed - but he's been like that since he came on the scene. I
don't think you can divorce his natural gifts from his
technique.
#Post#: 55268--------------------------------------------------
Re: Defending 5m lineout mauls
DIR By: DOK
Date: December 23, 2020, 6:32 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Yes, but John Kingston took an underpowered scrum and taught
them both how to do a rolling maul (you all remember the RMTB?)
(Rolling maul, thing of beauty) and how to defend against
rolling mauls. So I wonder if it's because the laws have changed
since his day as scrum coach or whether it's just something Adam
Jones cannot get over to our team.
Going back to that maul against Exeter, it was well drilled,
they formed up beautifully then charged blindly into the wrong
part of the maul! I had assumed as the season went on we were
going to improve on that last part and finally have a decent
maul defence, but I'm still waiting.
*****************************************************
Page 2 of 2
DIR Previous Page