i hope they change the side step animation....its just too long and slow. the current sidestep consists of the player stepping, some sort of a re-balance action and then getting back to the original line of path. 2/3's of the animation is unnecessary.
all we need is a step to the left or right. and the ability to combine the sidesteps. for example flicking the right analogue stick to the left and then right(or maybe shoulder buttons) will make the player sidestep to the left and step back to the right ala christian cullen.
rucks need to be like rugby 2001.
when a player gets tackled, a ruck shouldn't form immediately. support must arrive from both teams. there should be a button which allows the attacking team to hold the ball and the same button for the defending team to steal it. (i think there is already a similar button like that in rugby 06). if the attacking team is holding on to the ball for too long while the defending team is trying to steal it, this should result in a penalty for the defending team.
in a gaming perspective a ruck should be formed when there are atleast 2 attacking supporters are trying to secure the ball from the tackled player.
when a ruck is formed, if the defending team steals the ball, this will result in a penalty.
numbers to the ruck and power applied in the ruck should determine who gets the ball.
rucks are really hard to implement in a rugby game. there is so much you can do before a ruck is formed, stealing the ball, holding the ball, pick and go, pop passing the ball to the runner when tackled player in on the ground.
hopefully we see a new rucking system in rugby 08.
