The Great Ruck Debate.

[kruddler]

Why can't DeKoning be that guy?
The issue seems to be that he goes missing when Pittonet plays.
So the job for the coaches would surely be to work out why that is the case and to make it so he doesn't.

You say this like its a question without an answer.

We know the answer.

He goes missing because he cannot play another position sufficiently to warrant a spot in the side in that given position.

Thats why its a debate on whether we play 2 rucks and not if its a debate if we play Pittonet and TDK. its the same thing. TDK is a ruck. If he wasn't, it wouldn't be an issue.

You pick the best player in any given position. Do that for all 18-22 if you wish.
Then, if there is someone else that you want to shoehorn into the side for some reason, work out which position (of those you've already picked) gets booted weighing up the pros and cons in doing so.

Now whether you pick TDK or Pitto in the #1 ruck role, is irrelevent.
If you want to fit a 2nd one in, you need to look at which spot he takes from someone else and IF that is ultimately a benefit for the team.

I've been pretty clear in saying that as a team, when we have been playing at our best, was when we were on our run last year. We turned things around by going smaller and adding run and pressure. Fogarty, Martin, Cuningham were all introduced into the side at the same time and results followed. The moment we started reintroducing talls, we started to struggle again.
Coincidentally or not, the same thing has happened this year.

How many times do you want to be taught the same lesson before you accept it?

Whichever way you want to slice it, no amount of spin would suggest that playing 2 rucks over 1 (in OUR SIDE) gives us more run and pressure. Thats our thing. We want to get more of that, more of the time.
TDK can run like a gazelle for someone his height, but he can't run like a Hewett can, or a cuningham or a martin. These are the blokes who are borderline/missing out in their place.

People worry about running 1 ruck into the ground.
Alternate them as you need.
The moment TDK gets a niggle, throw in Pitto the next week.
Its a non-issue.