Overall brilliant update for me, it feels more difficult to break the line and score freely and I actually managed to have a few games on the edge of my seat. I’m playing career with The Sharks and went up 35-0 at half time against Cardiff, but goodness knows what that coach told those guys in the locker room because I found myself level 35-35 with 10 minutes to go, only managing to score in the corner with the clock in the red, winning 42-35. Next I had the Bulls who made me work with them leading 17-14 with 60 minutes on the clock, again, I managed to score with about 5 minutes left and won 17-21. This was what I’ve been yearning for, now please add the atmosphere needed in the game when it gets as close as this. The crowd is so boring, the commentators, oh boy the commentators.
Another thing I found quite annoying is that changing to a player on defence never seems to change to the most obvious choice, looking at the player you would expect to be the next obvious choice to change to and then find yourself running the complete opposite way because it changed to a guy way down the defence line is very annoying. Also, where is the Fullback on defence? Why can a player that broke my line still run almost the length of the field before the Fullback realizes that he probably needs to come up and make a tackle?
Drop goals are not working, the ball barely lifts of the ground and just gets caught by the opposition gratefully plucking a free gift out of the air 10 meters down the field.
The defence around the ruck need to be better please, I still find myself picking the ball and running 30 - 40 meters untouched.
Just another question for career mode, if I accept an international coaching offer from a weaker nation, will I still get offers from the bigger nations later, or should I just keep declining until I get the team I want?
Mmm it’s something I had a discussion about today among some other things with rucks. We certainly don’t want it going really far back to early EA version where you would get super speed occurring and them zipping from around the field. But it’s something we certainly want to look at since lots of people have mentioned it.
The only thing I will say for now to remove this thinking we “promised” this is we never promised this would be a thing as far as any comments or releases I could find. But please prove me wrong, I’m fine with that.
While gameplay is a much easier topic, if I can’t give an answer that will be true “I” won’t give one. Nor will I make a false promise. We read all the comments we know its something you guys want. But it’s not something you will be getting an answer to yet.
Rucks is a major issue. Lots of times player just standing there even when pressing bind.
It will be much appreciated if this can be looked at.
Another big issue that kills the game for me is the depth and spacing of my back line. It’s great that the AI positioning is being worked on but can you please look at players positioning too. Would love my player running on to the ball at pace. Thanks
Hopefully it’s been worked on in the background, but the ai needs to kick for territory. It’s a big part of union rugby and it’s completely lacking here . Also draw and pass for ai also doesn’t really happen especially to the wingers on breaking the line.
Good work in the penalty decision making tho , big improvement there…
Hi BA,
Affraid to repeat myself, but i take my chance : are lineouts and mauls in discussion actually? That aspect is clearly unfinished. I don’t shout or argue but just want to know what are expectations and roadmap on this aspect.
@JNT_BA If you know it’s a highly requested feature and let’s be honest a very basic for a sports game (please name another that doesn’t allow you to make team edits?), is it part of the plan or should we give up mentioning it? Not knowing if you are considering it or not is frustrating. Do you have a roadmap or is it more agile?
But it is unrealistic, no team or player gets consistent hand offs and as I suggested a few times, it is even more unlikely if it is a double tackle. I think if its a double tackle an offload should go to ground or be knocked on.
Offloads, handoffs and nr9 pick up and go way to easy. No real rugby skill needed to win games. Defense also needs to be more responsive. Just attacking game now, too easy
Thank you BA for all your hard work on the game, Would be a nice thing if the ai controlled team made subs independently instead of having to make them for them, and are you planning on adding more competition to the game? Also will there be and update for the norther hemisphere teams for 2025/2026 season if the add and remove player isn’t going to be in the game
(PS5)