Gordon D’Arcy

Yeah, it's like, rocking is a funny thing.

Like, you're either good at it or you're not.

And obviously trying to make the game safer and things, but like...

the reduced amount of contact and training and stuff has meant I don't think players have, and particularly in underage rugby and stuff, it's not as contestable as it probably was growing up.

I would have played schools, like we had Vinnie Murray, we had the net, we spent all our, like this just shows probably how training has evolved and differentiated over the years.

So like we used to in school play,

The net would be around the posts and we would be doing shuttles back under, body height into rucks, into rucks, into rucks.

Lads with pads at the other side and just doing it.

And then the pads go away, tackle, everything through the net, everything through the net.

Willie Anderson, huge proponent of that.

He used to bring out the net.

So when you say net, as in a physical net about a meter off the ground and you have to run under it for body height to get in and to try and win rucks.

Yeah, but like you haven't gotten, you haven't got, you haven't won the shoulder.

So that's what I mean is, you know, we don't, I'd be very surprised if anybody rucks like that, you know, starts their formative years under a net.

It's a bit like the scrummaging piece.

You know, most of the kids don't start learning to scrummage until they're 18.

or 19 when they leave school, because it's not a skill unless they come to the club game.

I just think, yeah, rucking, it's become a little bit of an afterthought, but still quite a fundamental part of the game.

Like when you look at players that, I said about Edwin from the Dog Bowl last week, when he hits rucks, they move.

Not just because he's a big lump, but also because he's got really good timing and really good technique.