What does a 7 "do" this week

[fatprop]

Just wondering

Pocock is deemed to be playing very well, but didn't get a turnover in the Tri-Nations

What he did do was tackle himself to a standstill with very few misses and truck the ball up

So is the "fetcher" dead? McCaw in his games, got one turnover.

A few years ago both these guys would be getting 4 a game.

The change, obviously the rule interpretation, with both McCaw and Pocock are leading the tackle stats so they are on the ground, releasing and rolling away most of the time with the second or third unit there attacking the ball if they don't get cleaned out.

Conclusion? I guess it depends on the refs, but if the interpretation continues guys like Jared Saffy must start to be considered as real options for the future.

 

[MrTimms]

We have talked about this on the podcast. Link must have thought the same thing, given the way he started the year with selections, but eventually he had to go back and pick a "fetcher". Enter beau Robinson. Couple this with the lack of true sevens in the Aussie and NZ RWC squads

But the trend lines lead that way, don't they.

 

[fatprop]

This may be radical but a couple of NRL second rowers to mobile props could start to be options as well.

With a seven becoming a tackling machine, the other side of the equation is getting the ball moving forward from static ball (the biggest challenge in rugby I reckon at the moment). A number of the NRL units are damn effective in this area

 

[tigerland12]

I used to love watching 7's like Pocock and Brussouw stealing ball consistantly, but the interpretations have changed that. It's probably the only rule change that I dislike, but then again, I am a loosie.

 

[Braveheart81]

I still think that players like Pocock will always be able to excell at 7. He plays above his weight and his stamina and speed are critical to getting him around the park to make so many tackles.

Having a guy who can play 7 with good intensity for 80 minutes is so valuable.

 

[high tower]

Pocock may not have got many or any clean steals in the tri nations but he got more than one penalty for the tackled player not releasing, a penalty is more static but can be just as telling.

 

[cyclopath]

Pocock got at least one steal in that last game, but I take your point. I think it has a fair bit to do with more latitude from refs with attacking players holding on. It seems there is a longer lag time allowed before they ping "holding on" than in recent years, and by then he is getting smashed off the ball. If he fails to get the pilfer, but slows it down by a few seconds, he is doing the job.
Saffy impressed me this year, and I would not be surprised to see a lot more of him next year in some way. Good player, I reckon.

 

[Linus]

And add to it the number of times he slowed down opposition ball and reduced support play by just being involved in the ruck, it instantly adds 2-3 opposition into the breakdown and a crucial couple of seconds for the defence to realign.

 

[Jets]

I am actually looking forward to the impact that Brussouw will have for SA. He was the king of the pilfer a couple of years ago and I have a feeling that PDV might go for 2 big flankers and bring Brussouw off the bench to have an impact at the back end of the game.

 

[fatprop]

Agreed, Pocock is great and like McCaw has amended his game successfully to leverage the new interpretations, I was more wondering what happens if this trend continues.

Who do we stick in our S15 sides?

 

[tigerland12]

Saffy impressed me this year, and I would not be surprised to see a lot more of him next year in some way. Good player, I reckon.

Definatly agree with this. For a bloke coming off a long time in league, he adapted brilliantly. There isn't many converts who have played flanker, and had the ability to understand the art of pilfering the way he did. Worth keeping an eye on.

 

[DPK]

This may be radical but a couple of NRL second rowers to mobile props could start to be options as well.

With a seven becoming a tackling machine, the other side of the equation is getting the ball moving forward from static ball (the biggest challenge in rugby I reckon at the moment). A number of the NRL units are damn effective in this area

Jarrod Saffy?

I've always wondered how a fetcher would go in League, actually. A turnover is more valuable in that game.

But, in the words of LG, I digress.

 

[Ash]

A fetcher is useless in league. A fetcher scraps for the ball in the ruck, slows down opposition ball, is basically a royal pest. A fetcher is basically a master of the ruck, and league doesn't have rucks as play stops with the tackle.

The closest thing league has is guys like Dallas Johnson, David Stagg, etc who will be a tackling workhorse by following the ruck around making 40+ tackles per game.

 

[Scotty]

Agreed, Pocock is great and like McCaw has amended his game successfully to leverage the new interpretations, I was more wondering what happens if this trend continues.

Who do we stick in our S15 sides?

I think the 7 will be more effective in S15 than at Test level, due to the inferior cleaning out at the ruck, and the less attacking bodies cleaning out. 7 will still be able to get his hands on the ball.

At test level it is hard against sides physical sides like NZ and SA to get the clean steal, but the 7s job is then to disrupt clean ball. Something both McCaw and Pocock are still doing well.

 

[DPK]

A fetcher is useless in league. A fetcher scraps for the ball in the ruck, slows down opposition ball, is basically a royal pest. A fetcher is basically a master of the ruck, and league doesn't have rucks as play stops with the tackle.

The closest thing league has is guys like Dallas Johnson, David Stagg, etc who will be a tackling workhorse by following the ruck around making 40+ tackles per game.

Thankyou, having lived in Australia for 19 years I was unsure about the differences between League and Union.

I meant for the 1 on 1 strips.

 

[Ash]

Last digression, but how often in union do fetchers do a one on one strip? I can't recall one.

Anyway, I still believe a fetcher is invaluable because of the damage they do to the opposition's ruck ball. Look at the way McCaw magically ends up on the other side nearly every time, as an example. Preventing fast ball and allowing defences to realign is key, and a fetcher either scrapping for the ball, or deliberating slowly it down and getting away with it is required.

 

[cyclopath]

Thankyou, having lived in Australia for 19 years I was unsure about the differences between League and Union.

I meant for the 1 on 1 strips.

Umm, there are special bars you can go to for that...apparently.

 

[Richo]

Umm, there are special bars you can go to for that...apparently.

Just don't give them your credit card.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Flankers don't get accredited in the stats for the turnovers they cause. If Pocock or McCaw get to the tackle before the ruck forms, put their hands on the ball and then don't let go. The other team usually get pinged for not releasing the ball. If anything, this seems to be what they are going for.

 

[DPK]

Umm, there are special bars you can go to for that...apparently.

I'll have to take your word for that.

Or maybe David Campbell.