MATT Everard recently highlighted in TRP the dubious art of clearing out defenders who do not have the ball.
This tactic has been going on for a long time. The great Otago team of 1947-48 has been credited with inventing rucking whereby an attacking player would deliberately seek a tackle going forward and then go to ground, clutching the ball.
His teammates, usually front five forwards, would then drive over the ball, rucking it back with their feet and leaving a few stud marks on the unfortunate opponent who happened to be on the ground. At the same time the loose forwards ‘cleared-...