Mauling with the ELVs

The ELVs (experimental law variations) are experimental no more. One of the laws causing most controversy concerns the maul.

Key areas to consider with the ELVs are:

The reference to the head and shoulders not being lower than the hips has been removed. There is little technical difference because players should not enter the maul at this angle anyway.
Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down. The "pull down" has to be made between the hips and shoulders.

Getting the tactics right

In attack: Mauling is still an option. The defence have to stand off to pull down a maul. If this is the opposition's tactic, there is a good chance you can still get some forward momentum. If the defence does not pull down a "keystone" player (that is, a player who can be pulled down to collapse the whole maul), then the maul can continue.

Therefore teams can still catch and drive at the lineout. You might even consider catching and "holding", before launching another attack.

In defence: You need to consider:

When is the best time to pull down the maul? A maul close to your try line might be pulled down over the line, so players still need to drive back an attacking maul.
How many players to commit to defending a maul?
Which players are responsible for pulling down the maul?

What you need to practise

In attack: Practise creating dynamic mauls where there is no "keystone" player. Have the front players create a "seal" around the ball carrier, with the ball continued to be moved to the back of the maul.

Players still need to be able to roll off the maul without causing a "truck and trailer", something which remains illegal.

In defence: Train your players to pull down the maul safely, using only one or two players and focusing on the "keystone" player.

If you need more guidance on the ELVs then click here to download your free copy of The Coaches' Guide to Surviving the ELVs. You can also see the IRB's own video on the ELVs in The Huddle, by clicking here.