NOW that the powers that be have clamped down on scrums – in time taken, re-sets and scrummaging just to win a penalty (crooked feeds remain a bone of contention) – it is time to bring the driving maul under the microscope.
The number of cards issued to teams defending their try line against a driving maul is growing in number as they defend what is indefensible, considering that basically every attacking player in front of the ball in a maul is offside blocking off the ball carrier.
The old rolling maul with the player at the back having to peel round to the front once the...