Effectiveness of fetchers

It seems to me that a new trend has started to emerge in this years Super Rugby competition. From the games I have seen, which admittedly is not as many as I would’ve liked, traditional fetchers like Brussouw just don't seem to be as effective as in past seasons. As far as I can see the reason for this is teams are using their big forwards to just bulldoze the "fetchers" out of the way when it comes to ruck time. In the Bulls Cheetahs game for example, Brussouw simply did not feature, and as far as I could see it was because whenever a ruck formed he was just barged out of the way by the Bulls forwards. An ineffective Brussouw left the Cheetahs looking very ordinary.

The Bulls dominance over the Cheetahs was simply the result of seamless flow from tackle to ground and with very quick recycles. They were very careful. Brussow was very prominent in the Brumbies game though. In fact, I have watched all games so far, and the best fetchers have been definitely been a factor. The impact of the law changes from 2010 mean the fetcher cannot make the tackle and contest the ball like Brussow did throughout the entire 2009 season. But you cannot simply brush them aside now. If Brussow gets hold of the ball, you will effectively drive him ball and all back to present the ball to his own team! so, in short, the Cheetahs lost because they were absolutely hammered in the collisions. The speed of the Bulls and their work in protecting the ball gave the Cheetahs very little room to build any momentum. It was a team loss.

Thanks Card you have summarised very well what I have been saying for some time.

Bluebok is correct. No use playing Brussouw if you tight give are under the cosh and he gets no real support from anybody. I think I mentioned this a season or two ago that Brussouw was being knocked off the ball.

I would like to see Brussouw in a dominant pack, getting the proper support. It maybe a problem that can be solved? Maybe the days of the small flanker also are over? Keegan Daniels is not shaping  -ditto stegsies. Is there a pattern here. The small flankers are struggling. Certainly these three are not as prominent as a few seasons ago.

Hence Brussouws place in the Bok set up has to be in doubt. Wee Daniels and wee Stegsies can resign themselves to not playing Bok rugby and blame it on their lack of size.

Very nice to see progress being made on this issue!  Could help the advent of the Beeno super pack. The ab mincer.

Yeah Beeno, in a round about way that is what I was saying. The teams are starting to work out ways of eliminating the threat of the "small" fetchers. Aristokrat makes a good point though "If Brussow gets hold of the ball, you will effectively drive him ball and all back to present the ball to his own team", but I feel the new thinking on the subject is not to challenge an opposing fetcher by getting your own forwards to secure/challenge for the ball before he can, but rather to push him out of the way before he can even make an attempt at the ball. That was Jakes philosophy in 2007, huge forwards that just bully other players out of the way.

Sad but true these little guys tend to get bullied all the time in rugby. Alas its such a shame!

But maybe Brussouw will find a way to counter all this!!! There is still some hope for the small fetcher perhaps!

These small guys mean so much to some.

Brussow doesn't need to find a counter for anything. He has been very successful already. In terms of body size, he is perfect for working in and around the breakdown. Bismarck is a perfect example of what you don't want in that facet. Poor body positioning, particularly with that upright back of his, and therefore being pushed aside easily. There will always be a place for the fetcher, and there are a couple of points to consider as well.

- The refs do not always give the defensive side the chance to compete for the ball.
- You usually target specific phases to attack.

It also comes down to organisation and creating those opportunities for the fetcher to contest the ball. What made the Bulls very difficult for the Cheetahs to handle is that they handled the tackle area in at least groups of two, but quite often three. The new laws put more emphasis on a team effort.
 

The smaller Fetcher will always be more effective because he has a lower gravity but he needs the support of the tight five to prevent him from being pushed off the ball.