Caterpillar rucks

[ourla]

I think I've asked this before but what purpose do they serve in terms of making the game better to play and watch?

And would it be difficult to outlaw them?

My view is nothing and no.

To elaborate slightly. It just seems to slow the game down, allow everyone to reset and means there is less chance teams run the ball and more opportunity for aerial tennis. I actually don't mind a bit of tennis but there are ample other opportunities.

Can't you just say that once the ball is presented people can't join the ruck (might need a bit more detail!).

What am I missing, if anything?

[GB72]

I think I've asked this before but what purpose do they serve in terms of making the game better to play and watch?

And would it be difficult to outlaw them?

My view is nothing and no.

To elaborate slightly. It just seems to slow the game down, allow everyone to reset and means there is less chance teams run the ball and more opportunity for aerial tennis. I actually don't mind a bit of tennis but there are ample other opportunities.

Can't you just say that once the ball is presented people can't join the ruck (might need a bit more detail!).

What am I missing, if anything?

Nothing, I full agree.

Alternatively, actually enforce a call of use it. That would help across the board. At present they call use it then start the caterpillar.

[Scott1]

I’ve mentioned this before,once a ruck has been competed and one team has won the ball clearly no other team mate then can then join and bind on. Will give more chance for charge downs and speed the game up.

[Scott1]

I think I've asked this before but what purpose do they serve in terms of making the game better to play and watch?

And would it be difficult to outlaw them?

My view is nothing and no.

To elaborate slightly. It just seems to slow the game down, allow everyone to reset and means there is less chance teams run the ball and more opportunity for aerial tennis. I actually don't mind a bit of tennis but there are ample other opportunities.

Can't you just say that once the ball is presented people can't join the ruck (might need a bit more detail!).

What am I missing, if anything?

Nailed it,very easy to police too

[Rugbygramps]

Needs sorting out. I like the idea of no new bodies joining once the ball is available.
Also, as has been mentioned many times, once the ref calls use it your 5 seconds start, don’t then give them another reminder after the 5 seconds.
Can we also get rid of the poorly disguised dummies, which were supposedly outlawed season back

[MCC1964]

I agree. It looks ‘unnatural’ and therefore doesn’t seem right to me. Like not feeding the ball straight into a scrum and having large men with pieces of foam (or whatever it is) strapped to their thighs to assist their team mates to hurl them into the air. No caterpillars, have the ref put the ball into the scrum and no assisted jumps in the lineout. And don’t get me going about players ‘honeypotting’ around their teammate who is trying to catch a high ball….

[Robespierre]

I agree. It looks ‘unnatural’ and therefore doesn’t seem right to me. Like not feeding the ball straight into a scrum and having large men with pieces of foam (or whatever it is) strapped to their thighs to assist their team mates to hurl them into the air. No caterpillars, have the ref put the ball into the scrum and no assisted jumps in the lineout. And don’t get me going about players ‘honeypotting’ around their teammate who is trying to catch a high ball….

Yes! No more lifting in line outs, make the bu…ers jump to get possession. Scrap caterpillars too; scrum feeds down the middle to give a chance for a heel against the head; enforce penalties for obstruction for players who dither in front of the catcher.

[Rugbygramps]

I’m not as concerned about the scrum feeds as others everyone does it and it’s not as if the opposition hooker strikes for the ball any longer.
Going off the topic of caterpillar rucks, if you stop lifting in the lineout those that like to see flowing attacking moves will see a lot less, as the majority of 1st phase attacks come from off the top lineout ball. Also unlike the scrum put in it is contestable.

I’m all for getting rid of things that are unsightly and slow the game down, but imo you can’t put lifting in the line out in either of those categories, if anything it’s the reverse

[Rugbygramps]

I agree. It looks ‘unnatural’ and therefore doesn’t seem right to me. Like not feeding the ball straight into a scrum and having large men with pieces of foam (or whatever it is) strapped to their thighs to assist their team mates to hurl them into the air. No caterpillars, have the ref put the ball into the scrum and no assisted jumps in the lineout. And don’t get me going about players ‘honeypotting’ around their teammate who is trying to catch a high ball….

Yes! No more lifting in line outs, make the bu…ers jump to get possession. Scrap caterpillars too; scrum feeds down the middle to give a chance for a heel against the head; enforce penalties for obstruction for players who dither in front of the catcher.

I’m sure you’re aware but they do jump and then they are boosted, no way can you dead lift someone of that size and height if they’re not already going up

[ourla]

Thanks for the comments - seems such a simple idea/change and makes you wonder why it's not seen by the guys running the game.

Line outs to me are something that seems to be working reasonable well - all be it should be more punishments of slow set up.

[Old Hob]

I, too, thought dummies had been outlawed as they were a cheap and unappealing way of getting a penalty. I agree with a lot of the comments about the caterpillar, originally designed, I think, merely to provide more protection for the 9. Ref calls "ball available" and no-one else can join. Now, if too few have joined and there's a good counter resulting in a turnover... that would be a plus for me.

[Rugbygramps]

Part of the issue for me is too many warnings from the ref.

If we take the use it in 5 seconds and dummys at the base, the players are aware of the laws they shouldn’t need reminding every game.
By all means tell the 9 when the 5 seconds starts but they are as capable of counting down from 5 as anyone

[Big Dai]

Ref the offside line properly and there's no need fot them.

It's why the 9 dummies in the first place.

[Lutontiger]

You’d get more charge downs.

[Rugbygramps]

Yes because they’re onside and the dummy tries to draw them offside