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Analysis: How the Crusaders stopped the Lions power maul in its tracks

The Crusaders lineout defence is the best in Super Rugby.

The Lions most feared weapon heading into the final was their lineout maul, which they had deployed with devastating effect throughout this Super Rugby season.

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They amassed 25 tries through their attacking lineout almost double the next best team (Crusaders scored 13). Their red zone lineout strike rate of 36.76% was only bettered by the Reds (40.0%), but considering they only had 20 attacking lineouts to the Lions 68, the South Africans proved over a larger sample size that they could yield results frequently.

The Crusaders own lineout, led by All Blacks Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, and for the final few games of the year, Kieran Read, is more than capable in its own right in both attack and defence.

They possessed the best defensive lineout in the competition, allowing just one try following a lineout inside the 22. An Iron-clad resistance resulted in 96.3% of attempts failing to score a try against them from the lineout.

It was widely anticipated that this contest would hinge on the battle of the jumpers, especially inside the five. In the wash-up, it wasn’t even close. The Crusaders destroyed and dismantled the Lions most effective tool in the first half. After one more failed attempt early in the second half, the Lions opted to take a scrum on their next penalty, abandoning the lineout maul altogether.

So, how did the Crusaders do it?

The quality of their personnel makes their lineout one of the best in the game, no matter where they are on the field. They operate an aggressive defensive lineout strategy, looking to disrupt and dominate the opposition.

With the All Blacks locking duo of Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett controlling the middle, the Crusaders can compete on most throws. Both players are versatile jumpers and lifters, meaning they can switch the point of the jump quickly and perform either role as necessary.

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When you add in Number 8 Kieran Read who also is a highly skilled lifter and jumper, the Crusaders can stack all three of them in a row in 5-man lineouts, and really cause headaches. This makes the short lineout a difficult option for the opposition, as the Crusaders have the ability to contest anywhere from two to four with a world-class jumper.

Blindside flanker Heiden Bedwell-Curtis is also another lifter/jumper type that the Crusaders often use in full man lineouts at two, and provides a versatile fourth cog to the array of schemes they can run.

In the final, they contested frequently for any lineout outside the mauling ‘danger zone’, and disrupted the Lions’ rhythm early. The first throw of the match was pressured by Sam Whitelock who made the correct read and got a tip on the throw.

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The twin towers Franco Mostert and Marvin Orie are undoubtedly the go-to options for the Lions, with Orie a primary jumper at the front at two and Mostert stationing the middle. In full lineout situations, the Crusaders opted to stack multiple jumpers opposite them, and leave their third option Warren Whiteley mostly open at the tail, asking the question of Marx to test them at the back.

The Lions tried their first maul at the front and were crushed as the Crusaders pressured the maul, albeit with some tactics that pushed the boundaries of legality.

They decide not to compete to allow them to flood the base of the maul. On this occasion, they immediately unsettle the Lions by pushing the lifters off the spot, making Orie come down awkwardly. Watch as lifter Mostert (5) gets pushed backward while Orie is still in the air.

https://giphy.com/gifs/3FlEm5ouz8nfwtFETe

The Crusaders get better leverage by getting the lower drive, but jump the gun a little bit in order to do so, engaging before Orie hits the ground. The margin is small, but the ref could have penalised them for taking Orie in the air to set the boundaries early.

https://giphy.com/gifs/5k1WGbAROixAmuDiYp

As the Crusaders get a good counter-drive going, Scott Barrett is forced into an offside position but proceeds to pull Orie’s leg, keeping him lifted and preventing him from finding stability in what was an illegal maneuver by Barrett. Orie’s protests to the ref go unanswered and the Crusaders stuff the first maul, winning a turnover.

https://giphy.com/gifs/1ZmijYleyWcDSTAtTi

The Lions were unlucky to lose possession on this occasion and didn’t get a ‘fair deal’ on their first lineout maul, but the Crusaders ‘flooding’ strategy illustrated how they would go about nullifying the Lions strength by refusing to compete and getting numbers to the formation point of the maul early.

The Lions can’t complain about their second maul attempt. The Crusaders delivered perfect maul defence, timing the landing well and pressuring the landing zone with three big bodies in a tight formation. Franks, Barrett and Whitelock crowd the space around Orie, getting into good position before he lands and start driving after he does, before either the lifters or Orie can get a low foundation.

The lifters are caught facing sideways when the counter-drive hits them.

https://giphy.com/gifs/cQ260vpGsJyr8f4I2o

The Lions are just beaten to the punch, and with leverage won, the Crusaders get them back peddling again. Delayed ancillary support from Codie Taylor and Matt Todd helps prevent the maul breaking off right and getting some second wind momentum.

The Lions were guilty of staying one dimensional, throwing to Orie at 2 with little variation from their first attempt.

Their third attempt moments later attacked the same spot, but this time with Mostert as the jumper.

Orie lines up at the 2 spot and performs a ‘slip’ (a jump-fake where he slips out the lineout) allowing Mostert to move forward and use the space. The ‘slip’ doesn’t get anyone to bite and Mostert is pressured again by the driving trio of Franks, Barrett, and Whitelock.

https://giphy.com/gifs/1jZ49VrsmVVSiOSg2r

The Lions try a handoff to Whiteley to form a second maul, but again, delayed ancillary support from the second unit of Moody, Read and Taylor times their contact well attacking at the weakest point and keeping the pressure on. Whiteley’s transition to Kwagga Smith is also fumbled, delaying the ability of the Lions to get set.

The Lions revert to a 5-man lineout in the second half and run a nice disguise, using Whiteley at the back as a fake and having the halfback Smith move up into the lineout to lift. Despite having the Crusaders fooled for a split-second, they still recover and manage to form another tight trio in front of Orie, beating the Lions to the point again.

https://giphy.com/gifs/U6U4Qb1lnZpHRPvRd4

The Lions tried to attack the Crusaders at the front four times and failed four times, each time jumping at 2 and getting demolished by Franks, Barrett and Whitelock. The second unit and tail of the Crusaders lineout, Moody, Read and Taylor timed their involvement perfectly to keep the pressure building to man-handle the Lions pack.

The Lions didn’t attempt to form the maul against the tail, and only tried one peel variation that was fumbled.

After this failed attempt early in the second half, the Lions gave up on the drive and reverted to Plan B.

The Crusaders pack deserve enormous credit for nullifying the Lions repeatedly, beating them continuously to the focal point of the maul. Their unit worked together perfectly to blow the Lions off the spot and dismantle the team’s biggest asset, leaving them to try and find other ideas with most of the game gone.

Defence wins championships and the Crusaders lineout defence is one of the best there is and this was a significant area of the game that influenced the Crusaders 38-17 win.

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Amelia Jonathan 2 hours ago
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

My name is Amelia Jonathan from the United States, Using this opportunity to thank Dr. Ughulu is a grateful thing to me, for over years I have been sick with Hepatitis B disease, I have done a lot of things to get cured of my diseases and nothing has worked out. I have taken different types of medication for it , but it still doesn’t work for me. I still keep going for a check up so that the doctor will tell me my disease has be gone, because i’m taking my medicine with no result nothing has been cured, I have spent a lot of money just to get cure of Hepatitis B. until my old time friend came to my place and saw what am going through, and then direct me to contact Dr. Ughulu who is a very powerful man, which I did explain my problem to Dr. Ughulu and send me a herbal remedy bottle and explain to me how I should drink it. So I started to drink the herbal tea in one week that I drink the herbal tea. I went for a check up to check if I’m cured from Hepatitis B disease, then the nurse told me nothing is wrong with me anymore and said I’m fine. I am the happiest person right now. I promise Dr Ughulu I will testify about his good work on the internet. Reach out to Dr. Ughulu Via: drughulupowerfulspelltemple@gmail.com Thank you so much sir for what you did for me you’re the best of all. TEXT OR CALL: +1(252) 409-1841 or website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu WHATSAPP NUMBER: +1(720) 794-2516

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J
JW 5 hours ago
Crusaders vs Force takes: Let's talk about Sevu Reece, forgotten All Black returns

I think Reece has bulked up too much and now doesn’t have the pace to perform to his previously high standards. He’s making himself less of a winger but I’m not really sure he’s filling another role succinctly either. I think criticism at the AB level has seen him try to redevelop his game, I’m really not sure he can be continued to be used at the highest level. Definitely becoming the wing version Richie Mo’unga is possible (if not already attained) at Super Rugby level however. I loved watching him play when he first broke through.

The Force are undeniably much improved this season, but it’s going to take some reps to prove to themselves that they really can hang with the big dogs.

Yeah they’re still well off in the quality personal front.

It was the 21-year-old’s first appearance of the season, and he certainly made the most of it, with 13 carries accounting for 50 running metres – each of them passing by in a blur as Springer made his may to the try line time and time again.

Will Jordan was playmaking superbly to assist the youngster’s points tally, but it was all individual brilliance in the 53rd minute when Springer tiptoed down the sideline before collecting his own chip kick and outpacing the final two defenders to score under the posts.

After pre-season I said that I wanted Springer to cement the starting jersey, and that (well I’ve not no idea exactly which sides they play) another new wing recruit, Kunawave, would replace Reece as the Fijian Flyer in the team by season end. Reece might be making that tough, but unfortunately it looks like there wasn’t a full squad spot for the young fella and he has since made his AB7s debut instead. Watch this space though as he and Saifoloi look to have the X factor👍


That Jordan pass to Springer aside it was otherwise a very lackluster game for him as he looks to be struggling with processing his option taking in this new style he’s trying. Still have to think a man of that talent and ingenuity is going to make it click sooner or later though!

t’s a congested position, and after Ennor shot down talk of him being swept up by a Top 14 outfit this week, it looks as if the Crusaders have some selection headaches to solve in the coming weeks.

That’s great news. I can’t remember if it was because he actually made his return in pre-season or not but for some reason I was liking how Ennor looked like he might be providing the right options for Saders and even ABs when back. Very pleased to see him fit straight in though there was plenty of space on offer but he almost looked as if he was more dangerous with no space. Could be the long looked for option at 13?

11 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
Chiefs vs Blues takes: Blues need Spider-Man, McKenzie is All Blacks’ form 10

Chiefs were in the driver’s seat for most of Saturday night’s fixture in the Tron

I don’t know about that. The majority of stats all favour the Blues.

Referee Ben O’Keeffe did show the rising star a yellow card during the second half after a series of infringements from the Blues, but that shouldn’t take away too much from the main point here. Taele looks at home with the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific.

There were a few errors that crept into his performance in that second half, but yes, I was surprised after watching him a few times how comfortable he looked in his role as a 2nd5, and even how well he performed it. It is a shame for Lam to be injured but I picked up a distinct difference in how the backline functioned by having Taele at twelve instead. I might not have given him another go this week but now it will be very interesting to see what Vern does and without knowing what else is going on (Pero might be fit enough to start and psuh Plummer to 12) I think he might start again (Heem has been very very good in the role in recent years, is he fit).

Shaun Stevenson fails to make an All Blacks-worthy statement

He’s leaving Hamish (don’t know how you missed that), it’s impossible to make a statement for AB selection, and that also be well out of his mind.


Watching him in Japan he looked to be struggling as much of his team. Which is often how I think his contributions have depended, how well he fits in with the team. He’s a very unique player and I don’t think the Chiefs have anywhere near the right momentum and structure to unlock Shaun’s strengths. In saying that I thought he played well and that pass showed he’s in a great headspace, you might also be overplaying Corey’s contribution, which from the weekend would be of greatest value if he was Lams midfield replacement imo. I’d like Forbes to return this weekend and don’t think Corey did enough to take that opportunity away from him.

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J
Jahmirwayle 6 hours ago
Mixed Wales update on availability of Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe

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J
JW 6 hours ago
Super Rugby Pacific has turned the ship around in the right direction

“We want jeopardy in our competition, right? We want ladder movement. We don’t want teams to stay in the same ladder position that they were in last year.

You need promotion relegation then. You cannot always rely on 4 teams being the right number for Australia, it could mean that they are too strong in future. Or that Fijian Drua doesn’t always has the players to knock of the best.

“We want unexpected results. We want every fan to be sitting here on a Friday at lunchtime going ‘I’m a chance this weekend’.’’ 

Oh, so you want a made up fantasy league like the NFL, rather than a quantifiable competition like NPC, and to a lesser degree, then NRL. Meaningless rather than meaningful, you don’t want the best of NSW taking on the best of Queensland, or the Blues region versus the Chiefs region.


There is still huge room for improvement in the way rugby is played and officiated, it is an incredibly young professional sport. Some of these introduced concepts are tricks taken from others and have done a lot to engage and increase Super Rugby’s appeal, but there has been a hint of whether the game is selling it’s soul to get back on the table.

For me, Super Rugby’s best years were around the turn of the millennium, when the Crusaders and Brumbies held sway. The speed with which possession was recycled at the breakdown and the minutes the ball was in play remains my benchmark for flowing rugby. 

Have you used you’re own license for viewing “feels rather than facts” here Hamish?


I agree, the rugby isn’t as good as it has been at times in the recent past, but it is more engaging. Which I think is due to a whole factor of fortunate and one off reasons, along with targeted ones.

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