Maul Tackling

What do people think about the trend of maul tackling that has cropped up amongst some teams, most noticeably Ireland in the Six Nations and Autumn Internationals. In case people call it different names, what I mean by "maul tackling" the dynamics of the strategy are:

• Rather than trying to knock the opposition to the deck, Ireland try to hold him up.
• When they do this they a maul will usually form around them.
• It is now more often that not a win-wn situation for Ireland.
• If they successfully hold up the ball carrier, the opposition either will commit more men to the maul denying them options out wide or else Ireland might steal possession
• If the opposition manage to go to ground and the ball isn't immediately playable, it is an Irish scrum. This is a change in referee approach last season and the primary reason Ireland starting this tactic.

Ireland v England Maul Tackling

Check out the above video of the Maul Tackle in action against England in the 6 Nations Championship. If Ireland had a top scrum this tactic would be an especiallu potent weapon. To be honest it is a smart move by Ireland who lack a specialist openside like McCaw, Pocock, Brussow able to pinch and poach. This plays to the strenghts that the team have and is a shrewd means of slowing down the game and forcing a turnover. Especially when compared to 2009, winning breakdown turnovers legally has become so much harder.

It´s a good tactic no doubt. But you have to make sure you´re wrapping up that player. If they somehow wrestle it free and get the ball out then you´re the one with numbers committed. Good tactic to exploit when there is poor body position. But if a forward is burrowing forward with low position and his team mates are coming through for the pick and drive then you´re in trouble looking for that play. It´s a tactic worth trying especially on defence inside your own 22 but you have to choose the moment correctly.

Kia, I suspect it is a tactic designed with Australia and their speedy backs in mind. Wouldn't work against SA or NZ but as you say against right opponents and at right time.

I think its great, especially when you have two players making the tackle, it obivously easier for the two to hold up the ball carrier. at worst it slows down the ball which allows ireland to reset the defence.

Stag I think the opposite. The Australian backs are very unlikely to run towards contact rather look for the space and the offload. It's much more effective against teams like England and SA who will look for the contact and try and win the collisions.

I think it's a clever tactic and shows that Ireland are being creative, at least in defence. However it's not a tactic we want to become too reliant on as like Kia says you can be caught out if the attacking player manages to get the ball away.

By going high too it enables the attacking player to drive further over the advantage line and if they manage to get the ball to ground and recycle quickly then you are in trouble but the tactic does suit Ireland as we have a lot of players with a low centre of gravity who can get under the ball and keep it off the deck.

Sexton tries to setup these maul tackles a lot, but tends to give up 10-15 yards in the process. These have worked best for Ireland if Trimble is involved or if a flanker and prop get to make a tackle at the same time.

I do like it, we should use it, but best not to become too reliant on it as it has it's weaknesses as pointed out.

Good topic though, i'd give it a 5 star if the old option was there.

This is hardly anything new though.
Frank Bunce used to do this for NZ when I was a younger fella.

It worked against England in the 6N, agree with rodders that best employed against teams that try to beat down the gain line. O'Driscoll is fantastic at it, so why not!

When Ireland play Australia, I´d be looking to employ maul attacking. This is not only wrapping up Wallaby defenders but also giving Ireland a bit of punch up the middle to get the Wallaby backline moving back. Mix it up with some pick and drive play or some mini mauls away from the fringes. If you pick and pass one out the Wallaby poachers led by Pocock will have a field day. Ireland have some class in the backs but they must be getting front foot ball with their forwards. If they´re trying to get the ball wide with the Wallaby line set and coming up fast, they´ll be picked off. But get the likes of BOD and Bowe attacking the retreating Wallaby line at pace and the gaps will come with the players to exploit those.

By all means choose the right moment defending to wrap up the forwards but Genia and Cooper are masters with their wide passing to get the ball away quickly from the contact area.

Didn't Neath employ a controversial tactic known as Bag Snatching by the Australian Coach Bob Dwyer in Australia's tour match V Neath in 1992.

Personally I think it requires the tackler to go in too high. I think the incidence of missed tackles will be much higher.

To be honest Ghost IMO it requires 2 tacklers to pull off successfully. The usual 2 tackler method has been "One go low, the other go high". However the tackler assist now has extra obligations so this has been the result.

Two tacklers on the ball carrier, means space somewhere else.

I think England's breakdown work has been poor for a while now. I think Ireland merely exploited that cleverly. I'm not sure it would work against a team with a mobile pack who know how to hit a ruck and secure quick ball, or have a fluent backline who can attack space dynamically.

Didn't Neath employ a controversial tactic known as Bag Snatching by the Australian Coach Bob Dwyer in Australia's tour match V Neath in 1992?