2015 Sebel Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships – Preview

Western Australia sent a young team over in 2014 but they will have a more experienced side in 2015, with a roughly-even spread of U17 and U18 players this time—including ten who played in the 2015 Junior Gold Cup recently.  They will reap the benefit of having eight young veterans returning from 2014 and a handful of additional U18’s.

The front row should be strong, led by powerful Lorenzo Mario, but they will be challenged in the set piece because the locks are virtual backrowers with a marked lack of height and weight.  Hooker Taine Oakley will need to be precise with his throws if WA is to get clean lineout ball.

In previous years the WA back line was serviceable on attack but struggled in defence when confronted with the pace and structure of the top teams. Hopefully the 2014 veterans have remembered the lessons of their previous campaign and will improve their defensive work.

The halves look strong, with the impressive veteran Nick Jooste, one to look out for at fly half. The centres have some decent heavy ball runners and should provide an improved physical presence on both attack and defence. Out wide there is more than enough pace in the back three to provide an attacking threat, provided they are given sufficient space and clean ball to work with.

Smokies for higher honours are Lorenzo Mario, and Nick Jooste, both mentioned above, and both of whom played U20 rugby for WA at this years Southern States’ U20 competition.

Australian Capital Territory – They have four players returning from their 2014 Open squad and have nearly as many Lonergans playing for them as there are Whitelocks in Canterbury rugby. In addition to this, they have five players returning from the 2013 Under 16 team, which struggled a little to hold their own at that tournament; but let’s see how they are playing now.

Expect to see a reasonably well-balanced and clinical game plan that favours set piece play executed with precision. They may struggle at the breakdown and in the lesser-structured aspects of the game, and their opponents will be looking to exploit this.

There is not a lot of gossip coming out of their isolated misty mountain principality about this team, but from past performances at Riverview, players to watch may be Nicholas Saunders, Thomas Ross, Trai Henderson and Pat Lonergan.

Victoria – They will be looking to improve on their sixth placing last year, when they lost in close games to Qld II in the pool match, and ACT in the 5 v 6 play off.  Last year’s side produced three Australian Schoolboys, with two of them going on to play for either Australia or Samoa in the recent Under 20s World Championships.

Victoria has only two veterans returning from last year, John (JP) Sauni and Robert Leota, but they will benefit from several squad members being involved with the Australian Junior Sevens’ program, and keen trainspotters will recognise eight players from the 2013 U16 Vic squad.

With this in mind, their traditional aggressive and physical game looks to be complemented with some flair and pace from the back three, especially if they are given any space. A standout name from scanning the team list is Harry Potter. The Vics will be hoping he can weave some magic on the field from flyhalf.

Up front Leota and Sauni will no doubt bring their hard running and work ethic on the trip north and look out for some zip and zap this year with the inclusion of fleet footed Sevens’ trio of Oisin Clarken, Joshua Coward and Nicholas Donghi in the touring party.

Combined States

Before 2010, the Combined States [CS] team was a combination of the best players from Division II teams (then including Vic and WA) who played at a separate, and earlier tournament.

The 2009 CS team won the Silver Medal going down to a slick Qld I outfit in the final.  It was made up of Vic and WA players (including Ollie Hoskins and Kyle Godwin), along with one each from SA and NT, plus two Lloyd McDermott kids from NSW.

When WA and Vic were granted membership of Division 1 in 2010, a CS team remained in the tournament as a lifeline for players overlooked by their state teams but capable of performing at the required standard.

Far from being rejects and misfits, if you looked at the names of previous Australian Schoolboys players, you would see quite a few CS players mentioned.

The 2010 version included Sam Reiser, Tim Duchesne as well as another couple of handy players: Jack Schatz and a large boy you may have heard of – Will Skelton.

In 2011 CS included Mark Baldwin, Will Miller and Tom Robertson (who made Oz Schools the following year). In 2012, CS included Jake McIntyre, and Angus Pulver. Ned Yeomans bolted into Australian Schoolboys from last year’s squad – Lukhan Lealaiauloto-Tui served with distinction in this year’s Australian Under 20 team at the Junior World Cup and the Energiser Bunny, James Wilkinson, is now the regular starting hooker for the Gordon First Grade team.

There is no shame being selected for Combined States.

It is difficult to choose anybody from this years CS team who will emulate them at this point, but it will be an excellent exercise for rugby’s trainspotters and “clipboards” wanting to prove a point. Look out for the physical Jordan Ieremia, and slick Ryan Longville.

It’ll take some energy to move powerful Austin Latu, and, though brutal, no. 8 Sam Musgrove plays a precise and surgical game. Michael Fenn knows where the tryline is and Joe Williams makes his second appearance at the National Championships; plus there are some highly credentialed young’uns riding the pine.

And that’s just the blokes from south of the Tweed.

Team lists for Sebel Australian Junior Rugby Union National Championships here

Riverview – a great rugby setting

The Fixtures

Sebel Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships 2015
St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, Tambourine bay Road, Lane Cove.

Div I Pools
Pool A: QLD II, NSW I, VIC & WA
Pool B: ACT, NSW II, QLD I, & Combined States (CS)

Div II Teams
TAS, Lloyd McDermott XV, SA, NT.

Fixtures

MONDAY, 29 JUNE 2015  MATCH DAY 1 Division I Pool Matches (amended)

1000 Game 1: Div 1 VIC v NSW I
1130 Game 2: Div 1 CS  v QLD I
1300 Game 3: Div 1 QLD II v WA
1430 Game 4: Div 1 NSW II v ACT

TUESDAY, 30 JUNE 2015 MATCH DAY 2 Division II Round Robin Matches
1130 Game 5: Div 2 NT v Lloyd McDermott XV
1300 Game 6: Div 2 SA v TAS

WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY 2015 MATCH DAY 3 Division I Pool Matches
1000 Game 7: Div1 WA v NSW I
1130 Game 8: Div 1 QLD I v ACT
1300 Game 9: Div 1 QLD II v VIC
1430 Game 10: Div 1 NSW II v CS

THURSDAY, 2 JULY 2015 MATCH DAY 4
Division II Round Robin Matches
1000 Game 11: Div 2 NT v SA – Second Field
1130 Game 13: Div 2 TAS v Lloyd McDermott XV – Second Field

Division I Pool Matches
1000 Game 12: Div 1 ACT v CS – First Field
1130 Game 14: Div 1 VIC v WA – First Field
1300 Game 15: Div 1 NSW II v QLD I – First Field
1430 Game 16: Div 1 NSW I v QLD II – First Field

FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2015 MATCH DAY 5 Division II Round Robin Matches (all games on First Field)
1000 Game 17: Div 2 TAS v NT
1130 Game 18: Div 2 SA v Lloyd McDermott XV

SATURDAY, 4 JULY 2015 FINALS DAY (all games on First Field)
0900 Game 19: Division I: 4th Pool A v 4th Pool B
1015 Game 20: Division I: 3rd Pool A v 3rd Pool B
1130 Game 21: Division I: 2nd Pool A v 2nd Pool B
1245 Game 22: Division I: 1st Pool A v 1st Pool B

Australian Schoolboys and Australian Schools Barbarians Teams announced.

All photos (except Super Rugby images), by Lee Grant.

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