NSW AAGPS 2025 (banter and commentary)

[Joker]

The issue with having a 7 throw is the enormous stress it puts on the team. When your best scrounger is stuck to a sideline (as coaches don't want them running across the field) you lose your best defender and ball thief. You may recall Phil Kearns who scored tries wide out as he kept on that side of the field after throwing in. The AAGPS hooker has an enormous workload as the scrounger and hard runner who then backs ups with with throwing to a new line out to players who have yet to get in sync with the throws. He may be small but damn his heart is enormous.

 

[Fantastic Sir Toad]

GPS scrum and lineout was subpar but forwards seemed to gel together later on. Would be interesting to know if CAS performance yesterday against ISA was similar

 

[Jakeburner65]

The problem when you select 3 number 6s in Fonua, Lemoto and Justice that offer the identical ball running game. Needed another scrum and lineout specialist in there.

 

[CutOutBallFanatic]

Could do with Spora (I), his lineouts are exceptional.

 

[fortheloveofthegame]

this is the point where one might question incumbency… the blight of Australian pathways

 

[Rugbynbeers]

Fonua isn’t the same type of player as the other two, he runs the lineout at kings and is Probbaly more a second rower if anything.

 

[InsiderScoop]

Freakish try set up from Scots winger in GPS 2s. Gough must’ve been fired up, he’s playing more the dominant player he should be. GPS forwards are very good in defence and strong in attack. They seem to be more connected than yesterday. Hopefully backs see some more front foot ball.

 

[Rugbynbeers]

with the GPS 1s losing it makes you think, how in the world did the selectors stuff that up?

 

[Eighty Minutes]

I do not understand the mentality of wasting hookers out on the wing. Sure if they end up there occasionally but not as a game plan. I’ve seen it a little lately and those teams are usually on the losing side after wasting a strong presence on the side when it’s needed in the middle.

 

[The Cleaner]

How did the GPS 1 scrum tonight?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Period of mourning I assume?

 

[The Cleaner]

Well done to CAS. Not going to beat the GPS boys and their performance. I think they can do the self review themselves. All I can say is, felt a bit sorry for Grover. Sorry but he needed a better partner.

 

[WLF3]

Here's a thought, just maybe the selectors weren't to blame but the CAS boys this year are better players!

From all reports the ISA should have also beaten the GPS 1s.

Truth is, the difference between the associations is minimal amongst the top schools, full stop.
This is most apparent when the schools play each other prior to their respective comps.
You can call them "trials" but all games are very real, and no school wants to ever lose a 1st XV game, and most teams are generally made up of their best players, regardless of the excuses used after a loss. Let's hope we never revert to that pathetic term used by soccer called "friendlies", NO SUCH THING, unless you are trying to make excuses.

IMO it's a very good position to be in for the sports future development.

I will lead with my chin saying that this years Wallabies will really challenge the Lions, many players of which come from these associations and QLD schools.

Long live schoolboy Rugby!

 

[Scrum_scouter]

with the gps side losing you have to consider that 3 key players out with Sheck (N) bassingthwaite (E) and Callaghan (E) all being unavailable due to injury which would have made this squad considerably stronger as some strength in the scrum and spark in the back line where missing . also this gps had many players Who had little to prove out their following their previous rep selections.

 

[Maul of Duty]

Scrum was improved and held steady. I think the CAS scrum collapsed couple of times but lighting on the field was rubbish so very hard to see exactly what the GPS team won the scrum penalties for

 

[Comeonmate]

Where are team lists for both teams?

 

[The Cleaner]

with the gps side losing you have to consider that 3 key players out with Sheck (N) bassingthwaite (E) and Callaghan (E) all being unavailable due to injury which would have made this squad considerably stronger as some strength in the scrum and spark in the back line where missing . also this gps had many players Who had little to prove out their following their previous rep selections.

Please don't. You sound like a sore loser. CAS was better.

 

[The Cleaner]

Well I'm watching on Rugby TV and that as rubbish scrum from GPS. Anyway, it's over onto the next.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I agree with a lot of what you say and it is good for the sport but the trials are very much trials in terms of intensity. Don’t know what it’s like from the other side but it’s a 6-7 out of 10 ramp up.

I know it’s arrogance but history tells us there are differences and I see the same thing said a couple times a decade when the “upset” happens.

At the top level it’s good but the drop off after the 1st XVs is a concern. Many of the top schools use to have competitive 2nds but now are turning out v 3s and lower. We don’t Rugby to be like American Football.

 

[Rugbynbeers]

I think it’s great, I also thing GPS should have lost to ISA and were saved by poor referee decisions.

but I also believe the selectors got it horribly wrong, the NSW hooker who has been in form all season put in the GPS2s? When the 1s hooker goes 0/8?

The view 3 vs Kings 3 could be different on any given day, I’d still take the Kings 3 like many others. The selection of the backline also strange.

how does a team coming 4th get the most players in by a country mile ? You look at the day kings and View played newo particular players outplayed them tenfold.

Now I would like to say fair play and respect to the CAS and ISA boys, it’s one of those years where the comps are close at the top end which is great for rugby! Let’s just hope the bottom end of these comps can catch up.