Martin's Rugby Coaching Forum

Hi Martin,

I have played prop since I was 12 in England. Moved to the states and now I am currently playing over here. We have a large pack in general, all are built like tanks pretty much. Myself I am around 265lbs but I am at match fitness when the season gets going.
My question is two fold, firstly, I seem to be making every fitness requirement in practice, but I don't seem to be held in the same view on my rucking and open play in the eyes of my coach. There is competition for the A-side tight head prop and I have much more experience than the newer player.
However, I seem to find myself in the wrong place and not punching through the holes like I should when the ruck is finished up. I know not to block the scrum-flyhalf link, but I can't figure out if I'm just not stepping up and calling for posession from the scrummy myself or if I'm not staying with my pod.
Secondly, I watch a lot of professionals on tv come into the ruck and bridge over the tackled ball carrier. Some refs are against that as it can be dangerous play. Should I be just driving them off the ball or if I am the man to get to the ruck first, should I be bridging over the ball as to allow the scrummy time to get there?

Any info you could offer up would be greatly appreciated, and make sure you put it into small words. I've taken one too many knocks to the head.