Maul
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Who are the best NZ exponents?
Seems hookers get the glory but props and locks do the heavy lifting.
Crusaders traditionally strong, with Scooter, Bower, Newell and Williams I'd assume key.
Also think Vaa'i good, with help from Chiefs props.
Blues much better this year, but not historically a strength.
Key area in S. A.! -
Sam WhitelockHow important was Sam to those Crusaders efforts? Can't really look at the Crusaders maul this year to compare because they were also without Barrett for most of the year
On the Hookers their decision making on attacking mauls is important. RR was a large part of the Blues efficiency this year
As for the upcoming SA games I guess you are mostly talking about defending the maul? The fact the Blues won SR with a large number of maul tries has to say something negative about maul defence in NZ/Aus
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@Duluth Reds probably the benchmark, but Blues were good.
Although you’d have to ask why the Brumbies consistently make more metres per maul. From what I could see is their organisation / formation is quick to align hence there are initial metres made before the defense is really set.
On the defensive side, players with long levers certainly helps. Darry and Lord could both be really effective in that regard.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Maul:
@Duluth Reds probably the benchmark, but Blues were good.
Although you’d have to ask why the Brumbies consistently make more metres per maul. From what I could see is their organisation / formation is quick to align hence there are initial metres made before the defense is really set.
On the defensive side, players with long levers certainly helps. Darry and Lord could both be really effective in that regard.
Long arms help, and BBBR was very good for that (as was Itoje, who has very long arms for his height).
So agree with potential, but not sure how accomplished Darry and Lord yet are. The former was part of several very effective mauls against Los Pumas.
