With the comments suggesting that progress is heading in the correct direction, I purchased the game the weekend and did a test run.
Main issue. Crashes galore. Playing 10 minute games, it took me close to an hour play time to get one completed game. I played with the Houston Sabercats and tried various opponents (South Africa, Ugunda etc). I could not complete one game at the Windhoek stadium. I changed the stadium and could complete a game.
Reading the comments I feel most things have been touched on already so I will summarise my experience.
If you want to keep the music in the menu screens, please add an option to import our own playlists. The playlist during the menu is terrible. I muted and kept it muted.
A tutorial or free play is needed to practice. I am not 100% sure if I am doing something wrong and would like to test it in a free play mode.
In game commentary needs alot of work. There is a lack of any excitement or variation. I am getting the same line of “… receives the ball…” about 3-4 out 5 times. Get a variation or do something different. I am still opting for an option to mod this or at least import a language I do not understand. I did that with Rugby 22. I have the commentary on French because I do not understand it so it is less annoying.
Player control. It feels like driving a truck. The players run at angles contrary to my stick direction and doesn’t not correct. It doesn’t feel natural at all.
Kicking. I get this weird thing happening I do a bomb kick from behind the ruck then the indicator will bounce back behind the ruck and then move forward. The ball needs better height/carry for up and unders. Kicking at goals doesn’t feel natural, maybe a free play training session will help.
Defensive and attacking position of players are not where they should be. Attacking running lines are not realistic. Support players in attacks receive the ball static or way out of positions. Passes sometimes skip across the length of the field to go out.
Needs setup for defensive and attacking strategy setup.
Try scoring animation is not realistic rugby union. The dive over with hand in ball outreached will result in lost ball over the try line.
Selecting players doesn’t work well. I select player closest to the ball then a player that is bound in a ruck is selected. It will be fine if the player could be broken free from the ruck.
Side-step/hand-off etc appears to do nothing.
Camera changes when changing attacking team causes the controls to change and result in players running in the wrong direction.
This could end up a very good game, but I do not understand all the praise for the improvements because this is nowhere near playable. I would have expected the game to be a better state even though it is early access.