| This week we look at a new rugby tendency in modern rugby, which we call "counter rucking" - a completely legal method to slow the ruck ball down. |
| "Slowing the ruck ball down is a method which defending teams use to give their defenders more time to get into the defending line. Counter rucking is used to slow the ball down by driving players, who are bridging or shielding the ball from the defenders, back over the ball. This makes it very difficult for the scrum-half to get the ball away quickly. " - Jan Oberholzer |
| Lets look at an example of "counter rucking". |
| Number 8 is shielding the ball from any defender trying to get to it over the ruck. The ball is ready for the scrum-half to pick up. |
| Video Clip of "counter rucking" |
| Wynand Olivier start to counter ruck the number 8. |
| Note: Coaches can now clearly see that counter rucking can be very effective when there are players standing around to shield the ball. |
| He drives the number 8 over the ruck onto the ball on the other side. |
| The scrum-half throws his hands into the air out of frustration, because there is no chance that he can play the ball quickly. |
| New Tendencies in Modern Rugby |
| Week 10 |