Number 10 for SS - did very well indeed.
2014 IRB Junior World Championship – New Zealand
- Thread starter Hugh Jarse
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I am amazed at the extreme eastern centric focus on your rugby discussions. In fairness, I suppose you have no opportunity to watch the local WA talent (or country boys) developing and focus predominantly on your Sydney and Qld boys. I am pleased to say that, thanks to the Force Academy and RugbyWA (great work by Dwayne Nestor in nurturing young talent), there is a good stream of local WA boys developing and some will be future stars-such as Luke Burton (flyhalf/inside centre )and Brad Lacey (winger).
There are also some good forwards developing such as Corey Thomas, Ross Haylett-Petty (yes- brother of Dane),Kane Koteke , Dicky Hardwick, Rusty Scoble, amongst others. All these boys played for SS and together with the substantial contributions from the other SS boys (Staniforth et al), were instrumental in the wins against Qld and Tonga.
Both Burto and Lacey played in the U20's in France last year and Burto, in particular, did a great job at inside centre-devastating tackler , good hands and footwork, plus a reliable goal kicker (kicked 4/5 and helped win the second game against Ireland, scored first try against NZ and a try and strong game against Fiji, and think he kicked 8/10 against Tonga yesterday, plus involved in plenty of try assists). Lacey is a fast and strong winger and these boys have been nicely developed by the WForce .
So watch out for the WForce (good team spirit, self-belief amongst the players) and some exciting young talent devloping in the wild west. Maybe try and be less myopic and bear in mind the rugby talent that is developing outside your small fishbowl of Sydney and Brisbane!
There are also some good forwards developing such as Corey Thomas, Ross Haylett-Petty (yes- brother of Dane),Kane Koteke , Dicky Hardwick, Rusty Scoble, amongst others. All these boys played for SS and together with the substantial contributions from the other SS boys (Staniforth et al), were instrumental in the wins against Qld and Tonga.
Both Burto and Lacey played in the U20's in France last year and Burto, in particular, did a great job at inside centre-devastating tackler , good hands and footwork, plus a reliable goal kicker (kicked 4/5 and helped win the second game against Ireland, scored first try against NZ and a try and strong game against Fiji, and think he kicked 8/10 against Tonga yesterday, plus involved in plenty of try assists). Lacey is a fast and strong winger and these boys have been nicely developed by the WForce .
So watch out for the WForce (good team spirit, self-belief amongst the players) and some exciting young talent devloping in the wild west. Maybe try and be less myopic and bear in mind the rugby talent that is developing outside your small fishbowl of Sydney and Brisbane!
You are absolutely right! These boys have played extremely well and I am confident that Burton and Lacey (and possibly others you've mentioned) will make the team. Just on personal note. I dont write on this forum at all. It happened that I watched the comp and was asked to share my views which I did. Your comments are justified, lets hope that WA may soon become the 3rd power of Aus Rugby.
Apologies Redhead, but i am new to expressing an opinion on this forum and my remarks were not directed against you personally, (appreciate you have not made any comments on this forum that warrant criticism) but aimed against the general thread of the commentary on this forum- which has a very strong eastern centric bias
Really good to see how rugby and young talent is developing in WA which is a very AFL dominated town.Also good to see how well the Force have been playing and would be nice to see a tilt in the rugby balance towards the West
Really good to see how rugby and young talent is developing in WA which is a very AFL dominated town.Also good to see how well the Force have been playing and would be nice to see a tilt in the rugby balance towards the West
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
@Zulu, The banter on the forums it is Eastern seaboard centric because the majority of the posters are posting from here, and we can only post on the games we watch, and the boys we know.
The ViC and WA boys get pretty fair treatment at the national tournament time, and Uncle Lee Grant continues to ask for volunteers to write match reports or to take photos or whatever. The forum is only as good as the contributors.
To get more talk about the young men from the West (the real West), you will need to encourage as many of your mates to join the wanging session on these threads. Post a little more frequently yourself.
We don't bite, and we normally play nicely. You will have some fun if you join us more regularly.
The ViC and WA boys get pretty fair treatment at the national tournament time, and Uncle Lee Grant continues to ask for volunteers to write match reports or to take photos or whatever. The forum is only as good as the contributors.
To get more talk about the young men from the West (the real West), you will need to encourage as many of your mates to join the wanging session on these threads. Post a little more frequently yourself.
We don't bite, and we normally play nicely. You will have some fun if you join us more regularly.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
To be fair it is difficult for Easterners to comment on Western matters because there is not enough information or news from there in the forum to comment on and we don't see the players play here.
Had the tournament been in Sydney I am sure there would have been more comments because we would know what we were talking about.
It's only from the occasional excellent posts like yours that we know something about your young lads, especially from the time they leave school until the time we see them on TV playing in the U20s.
Then there is another gap until they get into a Super Rugby squad and we see them come of the bench.
One thing I like about the NRC is that we will see these young men earlier than we otherwise would.
Keep your posts coming and get a few more WA people to join up.
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PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
While we at the forum talk, how did the Zulu on my stoep got over the Indian Ocean and end up @ Perthfontein and not supporting the mighty Springbok?
Howzit Paarlbok!
PFP(packed for Perth )in mid 1980's , emigrated, raised a family, two rugby mad sons, born and reared in Perth, turned me into a pathetic rugby tragic .Most grateful to live in beautiful Perth and easily became a' verraaier' (traitor)and switched my allegiance to the Wallabies and then Force in 2006.Still have great respect for the mighty and formidable Boks, but always go for the Wallabies/Force (against my better judgement at times)
mooi bly
PFP(packed for Perth )in mid 1980's , emigrated, raised a family, two rugby mad sons, born and reared in Perth, turned me into a pathetic rugby tragic .Most grateful to live in beautiful Perth and easily became a' verraaier' (traitor)and switched my allegiance to the Wallabies and then Force in 2006.Still have great respect for the mighty and formidable Boks, but always go for the Wallabies/Force (against my better judgement at times)
mooi bly
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Awesome and welcome on the Aussie Board.
As long as you keep that Springbok respect its all good. Suppose your SA province is the Sharks otherwise that Zoeloe name wont stick.
Newbie
Bill McLean (32)
@Hugh Jarse did you happen to see how well Folau Fainga'a (NSW) went? I used to watch this lad as a junior and he always impressed me.
Unfortunately his stature always counted against him as far as junior representative selections were concerned, however as I always say,"cream will eventually rise to the top."
From reading the team sheets he seems to have warmed the bench for a good deal of the championship, nevertheless he is still an U/19 and will hopefully get more exposure next year!
He is a credit to his mum (Mālie Folaha) and dad!
Unfortunately his stature always counted against him as far as junior representative selections were concerned, however as I always say,"cream will eventually rise to the top."
From reading the team sheets he seems to have warmed the bench for a good deal of the championship, nevertheless he is still an U/19 and will hopefully get more exposure next year!
He is a credit to his mum (Mālie Folaha) and dad!
Totally agree Dyson. The majority of the Australian U20's will have been in the Australian Schoolboys, certainly if NSW selections are anything to go by. There are better Colts out there who never get an opportunity. I think you blokes have even greater challenges to face than us in NSW, who despite poor performances, still get the squad numbers.
Ultimately, the proof will be in the pudding. It's going to be hard to do worse than a 7th place ranking per last year.The big 3 (England, NZ and SA) will be rubbing their hands again and we'll say we'll learn lessons again. Part of me thinks the powers that be dont actually care about the result as long as the private school train keeps rolling on.....
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
@newbie, I was not on site at the champs. My "reports" were just consolidations of tweats from the twiterati that were there.
Fainga'a is an interesting fellow that has risen to the top. About the only past reference I can find to him is that he was playing Colts 2 last year with Sydney Uni as hooker behind Tom Wilson. Pretty sure he is not of the Koala Club, and is not on the previous NSW Schools reps lists. Up until a year or so ago, there didn't seem to be lists of the CHS, CCC or AICES boys posted on these threads, so not sure if he represented his school association.
Obviously his selection is a reward for the hard work he has been putting in at Uni Colts, and the faith that they obviously have in him. If he has another tilt at next years U20's then he will have gained valuable experiences from this year that should stand him in good stead for 2015.
IMHO right across the board in Aust Rugby, we are rather weak in the #2 jumper with little depth. One to look out for?... hmmm ... you are usually not too far off the money with your tips... I'll keep an eye out for him.
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
Harry Scoble. Dead set.
Brian Westlake
Arch Winning (36)
What happened to Chewie Kays young bloke? He was supposed to be the great white hope of hookers through school. Has he quit?
And Tevita Vea is a big lump and pretty mobile as far as hookers go. I can see him stepping up when the time comes.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Tevita Vea is a young brute, yet skilful: the type of player U20 Aussie teams need.
I saw him play for the NSW Colts v. the Aus Barbarians before the NSW team was finalised, and he looks better now playing U20s with his contemporaries than he did at school playing with U18s.
This is not usually the case with ethnic Islander lads, since many of them mature early.
Talking of no. 2s: what has happened to Tom Wilson the goal-kicking hooker from 2012 Oz Schools?
I saw him training with the NSW Colts in December but haven't spied him since.
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Barry Johns
Frank Row (1)
I thought the #2 for Combined States looked pretty impressive in this competition.
Harry Scoble I think - wore red headgear. He was a big unit and very mobile around the paddock. Very strong in the scrum.
Work rate was impressive.
Vea looked good as well but I lean towards Scoble.
Harry Scoble I think - wore red headgear. He was a big unit and very mobile around the paddock. Very strong in the scrum.
Work rate was impressive.
Vea looked good as well but I lean towards Scoble.
Micheal
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
As far as I understand, Tom Wilson sustained an injury to his back (or neck?) last season and has subsequently been told hell never be able to play in the front row, or forwards, ever again. I've heard he's now considering how to move forward in rugby. A great shame, he was a good player and continues to be a great lad.
However, as I understand, Lau Fainga'a was the preferred hooker to him at Sydney Uni and played a large amount of the season in the Colts 1s. I have only seen him play a handful of times, but I know his peers rate him very highly.
As for Vea, I wasn't that impressed with him at schoolboy level. Don't get me wrong, he was a good player and a good leader for Newington, but I wasn't convinced itd translate into higher levels as he progressed. But alas since the formation of the NSW volts squads I've heard very favorable reviews, and apparently he brings a lot of mongrel on the field - something crucial at any level. I often feel that in Australia that raw aggression is trained out of our forwards as they progress - its rare that you see an Etzebeth come out of the Australian system, so it's good to see players like Vea, Dempsey, Buckling etc running around.
Newbie
Bill McLean (32)
@Lee Grant
LG is there any particular reason why I can no longer quote other members? As it stands when I hit the 'Reply' link only a blank dialogue box appears without the quote to which I wanted to refer.
This strange phenomena does not occur when I access G&GR from my iPhone and quote and post.
Anybody else experiencing this outcome???
LG is there any particular reason why I can no longer quote other members? As it stands when I hit the 'Reply' link only a blank dialogue box appears without the quote to which I wanted to refer.
This strange phenomena does not occur when I access G&GR from my iPhone and quote and post.
Anybody else experiencing this outcome???
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
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