The Brumbies scored 10 tries from rolling mauls last year as well as using the move as a platform to launch attacking raids inside the opposition half. Brumbies flanker David Pocock scored eight tries from rolling mauls last season. Credit:Graham Tidy But Super Rugby referees have been told to clamp down on the way the ball is moved through the maul, and the Brumbies were told of the new interpretations just six weeks before their opening game. "We had a four-week training block before Christmas and started in 2016 before we were informed and I think maybe everyone was a bit annoyed about how long it has taken," Larkham said. "I can see why the changes are made. But we'd been practising the wrong technique and that's a bit of a waste. But we've made some changes to our maul set-up and the guys have picked that up really well.

"We've been checking the interpretations to ensure that all the referees in Super Rugby will be following that." Super Rugby is set to introduce some minor tweaks to its laws this season to promote attacking rugby. The bonus-point system will be changed to encourage teams to attack throughout the entire game, with extra points offered for teams who win by three or more tries. Previously bonus points have been awarded for teams that score four or more tries in a match, regardless of the margin. The maul laws delve into rugby intricacies, and the changes centre around how the ball is moved to the back and how new players join.

The Brumbies sent vision of their mauls to SANZAR, Super Rugby's governing body, as well as inviting Gardner to their sessions in Canberra. The Brumbies' 10 tries from mauls was the best in the competition last year, with the Free State Cheetahs next on nine and no other team scoring more than four. "We got told in the second week of January about it ... [Super Rugby] felt teams were trying to exploit the laws by slipping the 'ripper' all the way to the back of the maul and have guys form in front of him.," Larkham said. "Now that initial 'ripper' is OK to slip to the third row, but if anyone joins after that and you want to keep the ball at the back, the ball has to be passed back. "We've had to change that. They didn't necessarily bring the law in because of what we were doing, but they felt other teams were exploiting the laws too much.

"I can understand the change, they've showed us some clips of teams doing it and I can understand the variation to the law." The new move will face its first test when the Brumbies play the NSW Waratahs in a pre-season trial in Wagga on Saturday. It is likely some of the Wallabies' World Cup representatives will miss the match having only returned to training at the start of January. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will be in Wagga before the match while Larkham is set to reward fringe Super Rugby players with a chance to impress. The Brumbies play two trials – against the Waratahs and Queensland Reds – before they start their Super Rugby season against the Wellington Hurricanes on February 26.

The Brumbies have flagged their intention to expand their attacking game this season to ensure they pose a threat from everywhere on the field. "The maul will certainly be a part of our attacking plan, but we do want to find a little bit more balance in our attack this year," Larkham said. Larkham announced Christian Lealiifano and Stephen Moore as the club's co-captains on Friday. However, if both are rested for the trial in Wagga, he will need to appoint a new leader for the match.