Swarley
That was a good team you picked in your last post from the players available, but it underlines some of the problems the Oz team may encounter.
There are 7 Oz Schools players from last year by my rough count if you include some that were injured and couldn't play - and I've probably forgotten one or two. That's a bit too many IMO.
I thought that the Oz U/19 team from last year that was bullied by the England U/18s, so well conditioned were they, though a year younger, would form the bulk of the 2012 Oz U/20 squad, but only 10 of that 23 man squad in 2011 made the 2012 squad of 28. I could have missed a name or two but regardless, roughly half of them were overlooked.
Props Allan A and Paraka were still at school last year but at least they are big enough - but another school leaver, Sean McMahon is only 17 years old and 90kgs, which is OK for Sevens, but is light to play no.8 in the IRB U/20s. Someone said that Browning is being considered as a backrower so he could start at 8 because he must be 110kgs now; but he's another who was at school in 2011 and is not seasoned. Besides, he did not give a good account of himself in the Academy game in Sydney a few months ago.
Too many young players and a small backrow are two problems; another is the 2nd row, which will lack physicality. I have a high regard for Steve Cummins but he compared poorly to the Qld Academy lads, albeit a year or two older, in the game I mentioned earlier. Holloway may be playing in 1st Grade but he didn't play the house down in a game I saw. If Reiser gets picked in the main team he is not exactly a powerhouse either
Gill will make a difference to the team but I will only believe he will play when I see him run onto the park. The mobility of the backrow will make up some for their lack of size (and I suspect aggression also) but not enough.
I fear for this team in the physical contests against the likes of South Africa, England and NZ.
The backs are another matter. Frisby is a first class player and though Lucas played poorly in that U/19 match last year, it was, no doubt, a one off. His 7s form is top class. I thought Donlan would miss out because of the names of the others, but if a team unit is measured by who is omitted, the scrummies will do well. Donlan is playing the house down in Sydney 1st Grade.
I think you could be right about the older Godwin playing flyhalf instead of UJ - but who has seen either play a full game of rugby this year? Not me. Reports please.
Your back three should do well but the midfield is a concern. 12. Apo has not shown the form for his school in rep teams, or senior teams he has played in, and this is his 2nd year out of school already. 13 Allan F from Victoria is going to be a Super player one day and looks good in the Oz 7s team, but he is another who left school last year. Maybe he will do better playing next to Apo than Hingano ever did. Those two never played well together as they were too much the same.
I hope that these lads have a warm up game or two. The 6N countries have already had a tournament amongst themselves. Maybe one year the 3N or 4N teams will have an early comp for the purposes of selecting their IRB U/20 team.
To start with, a couple of games. home and away, with NZ, could be a curtain raiser for a Super Rugby game in each country. This should be held before the final selections are made. Needed Super Rugby players don't have to play: they would be shoo-ins anyway.
Let's put that on the agenda for 2013.
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