The Great Ruck Debate.

[DJC]

Are you arguing with me or trying to summarise everything i've been saying over the years?

I've done analysis on TOG% for both before.

Short version equates to basically this.
In a game where you have 2 genuine rucks, a ruck is taking up a spot on the bench for a full quarter MORE than if you have 1 ruck.
So that means there is 1/4 worth of time LESS rotation for others to share. (30 minutes more time others play apread across them).

When you go one step further and realise that an extra small would take place of the ruck on top of that (in the 1 ruck model) you basically get a whole extra player/rotation to add to that, so basically 75% game time from the extra mid.

So you have an extra mid for the whole game more rotation wise
vs
A genuine ruck over a backup ruck for 25% of the game and largely hiding them for the other 75% or hoping they can fit in.

....and people also try and debate how pointless the ruck stats are.....but still want the 2nd ruck over an additional mid.

I’m not arguing, just providing some data … but you’re wrong about two rucks meaning more time on the pine.  Tom and Pitto’s TOG shows that. 

There’s no hard and fast rules about one or two rucks.  It depends on the opposition, whether the rucks can do more than take part in ruck contests, game plans, and the other players in the 22.

I would definitely play Tom and Pitto against Xerri and Teakle.