I also do this, I suggested reordering the buttons and linking X (PS5) to 7 person line out as a safeguard.
Patch April 1 , on xbox-s
The rucks went back to making more sense when turnovers happen. Many of pushover rucks at the steal, have been changed to passive steal (this is very good) but still some 1 vs 2 pushovers, (this should all be changed to passive steal. You can now steal more on isolation (this is very good). Bring back the Bind, bind, bind, pushover without having to press steal, once the ruck forms this used to be in the tutorial, now it in the tutorial, but the animation in the tutorial does not actual show the push over happen. Ruck are back to improving but still a way to go. We need penalties at the Ruck for the game to feel like a Rugby simulation. Hands in ruck, holding on, coming in from the side if you arrive to late, illegal crocodile rolls (some ideas). Some ways to implement the penalties in the ruck. Then I will post again the ideal way the 3 buttons should be implemented.
If you tackle and a ruck forms before a steal, you should be able to bind, and use Y to counter ruck push over for trailing defensive support, or out bind the offensive team, for a 1 vs 1 clear out, 2 vs 1 , clear out, or 2 vs 2 clear out depending on who has joined the ruck or 3 vs 2 clear out or 3 vs 3 clear out.
If you try to x(steal) instead of Y pushover/clear-out then you could get away with a hand in ruck passive possession or get called for a hand in the ruck.
This is the best way to put this ruck system together and when each type of animation should trigger. The system is complete, they just have to put it together better. The three-button system for rucking can work and the animation for them are there. They just have to make it work better.
There is not a difference in difficulty, with the same two teams had the same scores lines on easy or on hardest. Actually, almost felt like the game played more realistic on easy, it felt a little slower (not sure though) less frantic, yet the scorelines and the rucking felt better on easy, not sure why.
The AI has to be more aggressive on rucks steals, with a possible hand in the ruck penalties, we should be able to hold on with a risk of penalty, in the game there was not reason for me to try and hold on, because the AI was never to good at ruck steals in any case. Although I do play conservative and try to run were I have supporting rucking players, but most of the time a only bind 1-2 on offense, and 0-2 on defense given the situation. With the rare all in, which a few patches ago would cause a 3 man counter ruck, but now it seems removed(add it back in please).
The fend should be timed not a hold down and it will happen, it is still to overpowering or easy to do. And it doesnāt matter who is doing it, there seems to be a lack of individual player skill sets. It seems any player can have successful fend and any time. A timed fend would be better suited.
I do feel the AI has improved in the April 1 patch, more passing and offloads and fends. Now have to add better AI sidesteps, barges, dummies, and kicking game, like in the Big Ant league games. Having said that I was never in fear of losing any game. (And that takes lots of the fun out of it)
Scrums have to have a better risk / reward system, if you play them well increase your meters on the field, if you play them bad get pushed back, or penalized for collapsing the scrum( this is in the game) but the reward part is not, the only reward is possession it should go beyond that if you play the scrums to perfection. This will make the scrums more worthwhile and fun to play, the AI never gets penalized in the scrums. Again, its a good system, just not fully implemented.
Looking forward to more updates, But it does feel at times it is 2 steps forward 1 step back. Hopefully it can start being 3 steps forward and maybe only 1 step back. Thanks again Big Ant for continuing to improve the game. It has all the pieces to make a great rugby game, just got to piece it all together.
4 Likes
Penalties from Rucks are SOOOO crucial in order to feel like a real rugby simulationā¦. Hold on from opponent, hands in the rucksā¦. Actual steals are pretty rare IRL.
That and kicking from opponent when stuck in its own 22ā¦.
2 Likes
I dont know what people are smoking, because even though the AI is passing and offloading more (all be it without purpose), they are still not able to score anymore than they did before, which is sad because EA 6 or so had great AI scoring.
Just tested AI vs AI on 10min half, with a 7-7 score line and both tries were from invincibility, so really it was 0-0. They still have no purpose on attack, dont use kicks, still take scrums on penalty, still dont make replacements, there is clearly no improvement.
Im not saying BA added improvements to recent patches and its having no effect, Im saying that people are delusional at this point.
Time to take another long break until AI gets a major, purposeful, update
7 Likes
Would like to know others peopleās thought / feedback on local multiplayer. You just canāt win a ruck. Had 5 games and who ever has the ball will retain the ball 99% of the time. There is zero skill to it and does not work. 3 on 1 and player with 1 still wins the ball every time.
Just wondering would be possible for a second referee just to mix it up slightly ? Or maybe 3 or 4
I donāt think we need create a referee although would be nice but maybe a choice of referee would just heāll with immersion
7 Likes
What about some simple gameplay options for a more strat approach ?
- a button to trigger pressure from your dĆ©fensive line when opponent uses the ball out of the ruck. If triggered too early itās offside and penalty advantage for opponent. Simple but powerful feature cause if your timing is good it can really block opponent plays but if itās poor timing itās gonna get opponent penalties.
- Quick choice for width and depth cover ? A la Rugby 22/Rugby Challenge.
- create a bridge with forwards to protect your halfback when boxkicking
- Option to see movement lines from your backs on set plays. So you knows where you should pass it. This was in RLL right ?
AI wise, i dont get why itās stil not some pre set set plays AI play when in possession ? I dont know like if itās mid zone AI plays randomly 3 to 6 foward plays before launching a combination with back among 5-6 different combinations possible?if itās in its own 22 itās 1-2 forward play and thenbox kick or a territory kick by designated kicker. Because currently itās really messy and you dont get what AI tries to do, it doesnt make much sense rugby wise.
1 Like
Agreed and it should be a timing thing as well. If the offensive team plays the ball quick , maybe he gets away with a 3 or 2 vs 1, but if there is any delay the counter ruck should happen, causing the pushover animation. Unless the offensive player get called for not releasing.
Its a good system with good animation, just not fully implemented , how it should be. Needs , ruck penalties, ruck penalties, ruck penalties.
1 Like
Hi Big Ant,
Thanks for the latest update, its good to have some really competitive matches! My most recent one I almost lost but managed to hold up a try in the final play!
Just a note, the rucks seem very random and turnivers not frequent enough. I had the AI win a 3vs1 against me which doesnt make sense especially with Julian and Ardie Savea in there
Other notes include:
- Back line set peice plays, these still need adding.
- Advertising in all stadiums
- RAIN effects - the screen shot above is during a wet match, but apart from some hardly noticeable rain drops, you cant tell. Also this doesnt seem to affect handling.
- kit only download on the community space
- AI decision making, passing into space and playing a kicking game. Less fend offs too.
- player stat balancing, and exagerating superstar players to make them worth signing to your team.
- Still needs to be more difficult, though this will probably happen with more updates to rucks, balancing, set moves etc
Again, game seems to be going in the right direction again after the kost recent update, keep it up!
5 Likes
When playing online. Off loads success rates is too high, makes scoring tries too easy from 1st phase play. Handoffs issue was noted already. On defense, not responsive enough to put pressure on guy attacking, but maybe if offloads and handoffs issue is fixed, then should be more competitive. Our online community is currently playing without handoffs and offloading all the time, makes it so much better to play. But scoring tries is still way too easy.
1 Like
If we canāt update the squads today after the update, I will give up until we can
Hi everyone
I had some extra credit on Takealot, so I went ahead and bought the game, here is what I experienced.
The main menu and accompanied music is well designed and implemented, a lot of tournaments, but half of which I will probably never play, the Bangladesh League, really? What about the Rugby World Cup, The Rugby Championship, NPC, Currie Cup, EPCR, Challenge Cup? Perhaps adding a trophy cabinet would motivate a player to play those tournaments I have never even heard of? I can create a tournament, but only in league form with knockouts at the end, but no group stages, so trying to create the world cup in the correct format is not possible.
The cutscenes of the players running onto the field are nice, but then you get greeted by the commentators who sound like they were just woken up from a deep sleep and forced into a chair to say a few words, and they stay like this throughout the whole match. Why is it so hard to get the commentary right in a friggin rugby game? Even the few words theyāre forced to say, they get wrong, as mentioned numerous times, you get roasted for successfully kicking the ball out after a penalty. Where are the national anthems and the traditional pacific island challenges?
For me, the speed by which a prop can cover half of the field is so unrealistic, even a winger cannot possibly run 50 meters in 3 seconds, it looks like theyāre flying, and all the motions of the players look unnatural, there is no flow to their movements. The lineouts are stupid, I cannot get a kick away because I have no time before I get charged down, sidestepping is useless, scrums are useless as there will always be a penalty given to the opposing team because I won the scrum.
What on earth am I supposed to do at a ruck? There is no structure, nothing to indicate whether I will be stealing, or keeping the ball.
Passing is unresponsive I have to press pass twice to make sure I get the ball away.
The crowd is boring when it comes to cheering for a line break or a try. The chants and colours in the crowd are well done.
I have never seen a referee hold a whistle like that.
If my player gets tackled over the try line itās automatically āHelp Upā, what the hell?
So many players not yet in the game with only there number shown where their name should be.
Thatās all I can think of for now.
Thank you
2 Likes
@JNT_BA will we being seeing more cards for consistently infringing? Or will we be seeing more high tackles as atm I barely see or get any high tackles in the game. Almost making the trophy/achivment void for the sin bin
3 Likes
Are you not seeing high tackles? I was getting wrecked with them this week.
2 Likes
I know the topic is tackles here, But Squad Management @JNT_BA , when will we be able to add and remove players, and add them to Custom Teams as well, how big of an ask is this to be fulfilled for us as gamers?
4 Likes
Havenāt seen a high tackle in long time, used to get them every game if I plan it correctly but lately Iām just getting low tackles.
Ive not recieved a card yet for any high tackles, neither has the AI. Is there a way to deliberately do this?
Sidenote: Usually you dont get a warning in rugby, and just go straight to the bin. Itād be good to see this in-game too! Ive not had one, nor the AI in the games ive played so far.
4 Likes
Iāve just seen the patch notes for today. I will be interested to see the adjustment for AI.
Also regarding penalties, infringements etc. The only penalties Iāve seen so far on a regular basis are the knock ons and offsides. Even these though are not regular enough. I may see1 or 2 in a whole game. There should be more than that.
Iāve had the odd high tackle, but this is only getting punished with a scrum to the opponents. Do we have yellow and red cards implemented in game at all?
Normally a high tackle can risk a yellow card, or in more severe cases a straight red. So far Iāve not seen any cards given in the game.
Whilst on the topic of penalties are Collapsing the Scrum, Not Rolling Away After The Tackle, and Handling The Ball on the Ground in Rucks in game at all? If so Iāve never seen these occur. If not are these something the team are going to add in game?
Also repeat offending will run the risk of yellow cards. These are all things that if added to the game will add so much more dynamic to it.
The other thing Iām noticing is an awful lot of scrums being used after a penalty is awarded. Thatās fair enough when itās a minor infringement such as a knock on or forward pass. But for offsides or high tackles, depending where they are committed, shouldnāt we be seeing more varied options taken such as Kick for Goal, Kick to Touch, Quick Tap and Go.
If all these are added to the game it would make it so much better. Donāt get me wrong Iāve really liked the last few patches we have had. I am also looking forward to trying out todays patch when it lands.
Many thanks 
Elephant in the corridor: When can we expect an update patch, and not simply ātweaksā, that means:
- set plays
- lineouts
- mauls
- kicks
Real (re)works. Thanks.
7 Likes
Hello about the new update. Is it good? The difficulty is better?