I think that the most important thing is to incorporate the key factors of rugby into the game. For example, in offense, the keys to success are running lines and exploiting gaps, therefore what happens off the ball is as important as what happens on the ball, therefore you should somehow be able control the support runners, perhaps using the R2/L2 buttons, such as the man running outside you is running a straight line, but assuming he is to your left, R2 makes him run an out to in line, and L2 makes him run an in to out line in an attempt to lose his marker, and making sprinting constant, because lets be honest who ever "jogged" anywhere in rugby 08?
The key to defense is a flat line and good tacklers. Perhaps have a more intelligent AI attacking force who look to exploit gaps if you step out of the line and fail to make the hit? And dedicate a button to tackling, where a tap is a tap tackled, a press is a normal tackle and a short hold is a dump tackle, but the longer you press the button the more risky the tackle is for conceding penalties, and if you try and make the wrong type of takle, eg trying to dump a winger sprinting past you for example, there is a decent chance of the tackle being unsuccessful?
Moreover in the modern game kicking and pick-and-go's have become much more important. Kicking animations should be quicker with more variety of kicks such as chips or low punts, and in turn the defense should be more receptive of this, with wingers standing slightly back out of the line as in real life and the odd back row perhaps lingering deep in anticipation of a kick? As for the pick-and-go's they depend on the rucks, you should be able to get as quick ball as the situation would reward, and the less forwards you commit to the ruck in order to win the ball the more men you should have to leach on to a pick and go and secure the ball at the next breakdown, etc, you should also have the ability to choose to either pick and go or commit to the ruck.
EXTRAS
As we see more and more wingers tracking in field nowadays such a Chris Ashton, perhaps this should be incorporated, and expanded, with more intelligent automatic placing of players off the ball, like the blindside wingers coming in-field, or excess forwards lingering in midfield ready to offer support.
If possible also some create modes like create a set piece move would be good, as the ones on rugby 08 were very ineffective. If not, at least be able to execute simple switches, miss pass and crash ball moves instantly and 9/10 times successfully perhaps through pressing an arrow button?
Just general presentation:
much improved commentary
better graphics
crowds chanting their teams songs such as england: swing low, france: aller les bleus, northampton: oh when the saints
Video ref's are called into action at least 1/2 times every match and play a massive role in the results so they would be a massive bonus to have
just generally the whole match day experience, all the build up etc all add to the success of the game
ultimately it is a rugby SIMULATION game, therefore all the little presentation details are important
and i understand that they are on a limited budget, but they say they are focusing on gameplay and not doing a career mode therefore they should really be able to incorporate the majority of the above as i dont think any of it requires to much money or effort to implement
