The maul has become too powerful – but rugby’s tactical trend is more interesting than you might think

Rugby union is seeing a significant rise in the use of the lineout maul as a tactical weapon, prompting debate within the sport about its growing dominance. Analyst Harry Latham-Coyle, writing for The Independent, argues that while the trend has drawn criticism from some quarters, the underlying tactical nuances are more complex and interesting than they may initially appear. The piece examines why teams are increasingly deploying the driving maul and what it reveals about the evolving strategic landscape of the game.