These are an example of why nothing is necessarily wrong with the ruck laws, but rather how they are refereed. So many rucks turn into a mess where the majority of players are on the deck effectively sealing off the ball. This is why the jackle has become so important as sealing off is effectively legal. In a ruck you should be on your feet. When both teams have this you have a fair contest. If you watch highlights from the 60s-80s, that is how rucks worked. As for protecting the 9, even as a former ref I’ve always hated that law. If a team can’t protect its 9, then they should run the risk of a turnover.
I played most of my rugby at a time when rucking was…..direct. We could ruck with our boots provided that we didn’t go neck upwards and the direction of the boots was backwards (no stamping, just ruck the player back to your side). It was just normal. If you didn’t come off the field with a back like a road atlas, then you hadn’t got stuck in. The back would sting - especially if someone put some ligament on it! All this led to turnovers happening much more. I can see why it was stopped; as with so many changes, it is about making the game “safer” for the youngsters (or rather not discouraging the parents to allow little Johnny to play the big rough game). The changes have also made the game much quicker as the ball is recycled quicker. Now, for us fatties (numbers 1 to 8) that was no good thing; we liked slow bits to allow us to get our breathe back.
When your team is on the back foot and blowing through their assss, to then see a counter ruck and the ball pop out on your side is one of the biggest momentum changes in a game. Always gets a fistpump and backslaps in my house!
few things are more satisfying to watch on a rugby field than a small backline player counterrucking agains a tight five forward (e.g. Smith vs Iosefa-Scott) or one against almost the whole pack (e.g. Kolisi vs Stormers) thanks once more Mr Forde!
In a game you often don't notice how much loose work he is getting through until you see the post-game stats. Analysis videos like this are incredibly helpful in showing just how good he is in the loose.
Man I love me some counter rucks but its just the most frustrating thing when you do it, and at times the ref pings you for playing the 9, when it was a result of his own player bashing into him from being hit back
This video clearly shows there are "organized" counter-rucks, and then there are the ones where a player just goes for it and it takes everyone else a couple of seconds to react
It’s interesting how ireland and Leinster feature in most of these clips and I think that how they ruck and counter-ruck is how they manage to win and dominate matches (I.e SH not faffing around at the ruck and players challenging for counter-rucks where they can) particularly when defences in tier 1 teams are pretty tight and disciplined now (we’ll most of the time). Where it falters is when they have an opponent who is pretty resilient at the breakdown and are also counter rucking as much as possible. As such, given they appeared in this video as often as Ireland, it will be interesting to see how SA fare, particularly if Kolisi is on the park as they will try to counter-ruck frequently, or slow down irelands ability for fast ball at the breakdown.
when i use to play rugby a few years ago, for like under 15's or something, being 6ft and like 90-100kg (dont know my weight back then tbh) was fucking amazing. i was able to ruck against 2-3 people easily and win the ruck or atleast fuck them up, my team mates even understood not to stand right at the ruck and kick rocks cause ill just back up 5meters and charge right in. Rucking is the most under rated, most misunderstood thing in rugby and no one ever teaches about it. the art of rucking is fucking amazing
I always thought Pocock was the king of this but he didn't feature in your video. Is he more of just a jackal and turnover specialist as oppose to counter ruck? Been a while since i've seen him play
counter rucking is possible as long as those keeping the ball don't lie on the ground sealing it i once read a comment saying that rucking has to be done on your feet nothing more true
Idk about the first one. You hips are supposed to be below your shoulders and you must be able support your own weight are your feet. the English player essentially crawls, using his hands to support himself on the ground. I don't think that's legal, but I could be wrong.
When you enter the ruck, you have to have your shoulders at least as high as your hips, and you can't be diving. But if whomever you were bound to or the opponent whose body yours met is no longer there, you can put one or both hands on the ground.
Gotta love counterrucks. They spark the crowd and get people off their seats, as well as boosting your team’s confidence. Satisfying.
Their fun unless your on the defending side
These are an example of why nothing is necessarily wrong with the ruck laws, but rather how they are refereed. So many rucks turn into a mess where the majority of players are on the deck effectively sealing off the ball. This is why the jackle has become so important as sealing off is effectively legal.
In a ruck you should be on your feet. When both teams have this you have a fair contest. If you watch highlights from the 60s-80s, that is how rucks worked.
As for protecting the 9, even as a former ref I’ve always hated that law. If a team can’t protect its 9, then they should run the risk of a turnover.
I think allowing players to ruck out anyone on the deck with their studs was a big discouragement from trying to seal off the ball back in those days.
I played most of my rugby at a time when rucking was…..direct. We could ruck with our boots provided that we didn’t go neck upwards and the direction of the boots was backwards (no stamping, just ruck the player back to your side). It was just normal. If you didn’t come off the field with a back like a road atlas, then you hadn’t got stuck in. The back would sting - especially if someone put some ligament on it!
All this led to turnovers happening much more. I can see why it was stopped; as with so many changes, it is about making the game “safer” for the youngsters (or rather not discouraging the parents to allow little Johnny to play the big rough game). The changes have also made the game much quicker as the ball is recycled quicker. Now, for us fatties (numbers 1 to 8) that was no good thing; we liked slow bits to allow us to get our breathe back.
When your team is on the back foot and blowing through their assss, to then see a counter ruck and the ball pop out on your side is one of the biggest momentum changes in a game. Always gets a fistpump and backslaps in my house!
Possssion of the ball being continuously in jeopardy is, in my opinion, the single biggest reason that Union >>> League.
few things are more satisfying to watch on a rugby field than a small backline player counterrucking agains a tight five forward (e.g. Smith vs Iosefa-Scott) or one against almost the whole pack (e.g. Kolisi vs Stormers)
thanks once more Mr Forde!
This is HL I have been waiting for. Rucking/counter rucking is the heart and soul of rugby
kolisi everywhere! a trojan in the rucks!
In a game you often don't notice how much loose work he is getting through until you see the post-game stats. Analysis videos like this are incredibly helpful in showing just how good he is in the loose.
Man I love me some counter rucks but its just the most frustrating thing when you do it, and at times the ref pings you for playing the 9, when it was a result of his own player bashing into him from being hit back
Siya Kolisi is a damned monster. I counted four All Black rucks he walked over almost single-handedly.
This video clearly shows there are "organized" counter-rucks, and then there are the ones where a player just goes for it and it takes everyone else a couple of seconds to react
It’s interesting how ireland and Leinster feature in most of these clips and I think that how they ruck and counter-ruck is how they manage to win and dominate matches (I.e SH not faffing around at the ruck and players challenging for counter-rucks where they can) particularly when defences in tier 1 teams are pretty tight and disciplined now (we’ll most of the time).
Where it falters is when they have an opponent who is pretty resilient at the breakdown and are also counter rucking as much as possible. As such, given they appeared in this video as often as Ireland, it will be interesting to see how SA fare, particularly if Kolisi is on the park as they will try to counter-ruck frequently, or slow down irelands ability for fast ball at the breakdown.
Nice seing some forward love 👌👌
when i use to play rugby a few years ago, for like under 15's or something, being 6ft and like 90-100kg (dont know my weight back then tbh) was fucking amazing. i was able to ruck against 2-3 people easily and win the ruck or atleast fuck them up, my team mates even understood not to stand right at the ruck and kick rocks cause ill just back up 5meters and charge right in. Rucking is the most under rated, most misunderstood thing in rugby and no one ever teaches about it. the art of rucking is fucking amazing
3:45 ladies rucking go
The most underutilized strategy in rugby.
Well it is difficult to achieve, a well anchored attacking cover is really hard to move!
I always thought Pocock was the king of this but he didn't feature in your video. Is he more of just a jackal and turnover specialist as oppose to counter ruck? Been a while since i've seen him play
He jackals quick off tackle before offense get into ruck
tight score at 5:49
Top tier content as ever Mr Forde. Truly satisfying.
Hey Andrew, great vid. Would you mind posting some more "clutch moments" videos.
Of course!
@@AndrewDavidFordeThanks mate, keep up the great content.
Always great see but best in the last few minutes when tired bodies dig deepest
Great Video!!! Love Great Rucking!!!!
I love a good counterruck, but the first one showed here is clearly illegal.
"dropping the ball" much ikr
counter rucking is possible as long as those keeping the ball don't lie on the ground sealing it
i once read a comment saying that rucking has to be done on your feet
nothing more true
Idk about the first one. You hips are supposed to be below your shoulders and you must be able support your own weight are your feet. the English player essentially crawls, using his hands to support himself on the ground. I don't think that's legal, but I could be wrong.
Not only that but he never releases either.
Not sure when the video was taken though, or when that became a law.
When you enter the ruck, you have to have your shoulders at least as high as your hips, and you can't be diving. But if whomever you were bound to or the opponent whose body yours met is no longer there, you can put one or both hands on the ground.
I love your videos Andrew, but didn’t this just used to be called ‘rucking’ ?
south Australian rugby with the wrong team names on the scoreboard
in the first clip, should that not be 'off his feet'... England player is clearly on his hands....
What you're calling counter-rucking, I just call rucking. Both sides get to ruck, don't they? Is this news?
All offside. All off their feet no whistle
Very bad example
Much better play I see all the time
coüntehr hkruhrckíng ftw?
Cracking compilation Mr Forde, well done fella!