How to be first man in a maul from a line-out? [Rugby]?

Question

After the jumper comes down, which shoulder goes in first? The one that forces me to look towards the centre of the pitch?

And... How do I avoid being turned from the 3rd support turning me before the hooker takes the ball?

thanks.

Answer 1

I don't exactly understand which person in the lineout you are so I will go over what I teach the young players I coach.

If the ball is thrown to the 2nd person in the line:

The 1st and 3rd players are lifters.  Their job is to wait for the jump and then get him up as fast as possible and then bring him down IMMEDIATELY.  If they are holding him up there, waiting for the ball, then that is bad and the jumper needs to jump later so the other team has less chance to steal the ball.  They should bring the jumper down and already be turned, facing up field and crouched as he hits the ground.  

The jumper goes up, catches and the ball.  On the way down he should twist his back towards the opposition and hold the ball arms length away from him and around thigh height.

4th guy should leave the lineout as soon as the ball leaves the hookers hands.  He should be directly behind the jumper by the time he lands and ripping the ball off him ASAP.  He should be facing up field with his head going between the 1st lifter and the jumper.

5th guy should stay in position until the jumper catches the ball, just in case the throw is too long (common at age grade level).  As soon as the jumper gets hands to the ball, he should be moving around to drive up field with his head between the jumper and the other lifter.

The hooker or one of the guys at the back can come in behind that group and rip the ball so they have posession while the last man in the lineout gets ready to go to the breakdown when the backs run their play (Flanks should know every backline move as well as the backs know them)

It should look SOMETHING like this:

1. 2. 3 .......... 7

. 4. 5

...   6.

with the 6th guy having the ball.

If you are going to drive the maul, then the 7th guy and hooker will join in as well, keeping the ball at the very back AT ALL TIMES.  If players come out of the maul, they need to "peel around" and join the maul from the back, taking the ball as they get there.  If the ball is thrown to a different jumper, you set up the same formation but anyone in front of the lifters is responsible for being in the "4 and 5" positions.

So here is the reasoning.  You get the ball as far away from the opposition as possible and eliminate the chance for them stealing it.  Everyone is facing up field so they are in great position to drive the maul.  The ball is at the back so it is available for the scrum half the instance he wants it.  If the scrum half sees a hole on one side he can tell the 6th guy and he can go immediately.  If the opposition starts pushing the maul towards the sideline, they have to drive into the "1 2 3 guys or they will be offside.  If it starts getting close to the sideline, "6 7 8" and even "4 5" can "peel off" and form a new maul driving infield.

Hope that helps a bit.  Thats the most basic setup around.  As you get better, your coaches will be able to teach you more variations but the basic concept will never change.  Get the ball away from the other team, get everyone low and driving upfield, have the ball available for release at all times.

Answer 2

Good answer Hawkeye.

I was taught that the hooker is the first person there as soon as the lifted player catches the ball (if the ball is thrown into the front). As soon as the hooker throws it in he races in and rips the ball from the lock (assuming a lock wins the lineout). But the blindside flanker/no.8 (whoever isn't lifting) is usually the first person there when the ball is thrown to the middle.

Also.... you should always leave at least one forward out of the maul. The openside flanker should vary rarely enter a maul from a lineout. They must hang off it on the openside ready to take off and be the first player to the next breakdown.

In my last few years I was always at the very back of the lineout anyway. Probably because I am short and have plenty of pace to take off. I used to love it when the ball was overthrown to me (one of my favourite occasions in rugby), but when you play senior club rugby it simply doesn't seem to happen.

Answer 3

I think you right about the looking back into the pitch because from a lineout you want to keep the maul away from the touch line, if your looking then your pushing in a similar direction which is good, as for the 3rd support maybe let go and let him take the position you were in and then you rejoin the back of the maul???