Strewthcobber
Steve Williams (59)
The laws are the same for both phases, but I agree they are reffed differently (particularly collapsing a ruck - it's never penalised)my understanding is that you can't tackle someone in the Maul to bring them to the ground, but you can in a ruck ie cleanout.
15 Ruck
12. Players must endeavour to remain on their feet throughout the ruck.
15.b Players must not: Intentionally collapse a ruck or jump on top of it.
16 Maul
9. All other players in a maul must endeavour to stay on their feet.
11.a Players must not: Intentionally collapse a maul or jump on top of it.