The Great Ruck Debate.

[kruddler]

I probably see this thread as more a place to discuss not only the "one or two ruck" argument but all aspects of our ruckmen including their progress, but tactics, strengths and weaknesses etc....

It'll soon drift down the board if we don't use it but it will keep the ruck discussions out of multiple threads, which some folk find a distraction.

For clarification, i've been debating things so long that i use shorthand in how i say things. So this has been turned into a '1 ruck vs 2' debate. In truth, thats not how it started exactly.
If we want to play 2 rucks, we need to have a genuine second position for them when they are not rucking. At the time of this debate, neither TDK or Pittonet had any claim over a second position.
Since then TDK has shown more promise as a genuine forward option......and has also shown to be next to useless as a genuine forward option. The lack of consistency is key.
Both have improved their around the ground efforts, both hitting the scoreboard.......but still, not quite genuine options.

So because of the above, we have 2 rucks who play best as 2 #1 rucks.....and don't offer much around the ground.
Which is how this debate started.

So TDK or Pitto was never the issue. Whoever performs best wins. Despite Pittos dominant form prior to injury, he can not reach the same heights that TDK has done in recent weeks with plenty of career best stats. So TDK gets first crack at #1 ruck until his performance begins to wane.


Another arm of the debate was about which ruck was better.
Which led to statistical analysis of ruck stats.
People who didn't understand it, poo-pood it.
Others debated the relevence of it in the scheme of playing 'as a ruck' which embodied more than just ruck craft. Which was fine.
That lead to statistical comparisons of clearances, marks etc etc, which due to reasons mentioned previously, are not comparing like for like. This is when 'aternate rucks' came into the picture in comparison to what they could do around the ground vs a ruck (when not rucking). As players play different positions. This is more 'vibe' type of feeling and personal opinion.

Ultimately the debate is specific to OUR team, when including Harry+Charlie as fit forwards (and/or when Silvagni/Young are fit and picked) and the overall team balance that is created / destroyed by playing too many talls.

If Harry is out, play Pitto and TDK in the same side. Simple.

Doesn't matter how many genuine rucks the opposition have, pick the best team with team balance for us to win the game.
We are good enough that teams need to defeat us, not us trying to limit them.