First post on this blog so be kind.
Went down to Ashgrove on Sat to watch the boys play Peters hoping for a Marist win and was surprised by the difference in the size of the packs. Thought Marist would roll over the top of the Peters lads and set the foundation for the backs to cut loose. Not so. From the first scrum Peters set the tone and had the Ash pack on roller skates - I thought maybe this was an anomaly and sense would prevail but not at all. The Peters pack punched well above their weight and totally dominated the Ash 8 all game, except a few pick and drives when Ash made good ground and scored the first try. Other than that the Peters 8 were magnificent and actually pushed the Ash scrum off the ball 5 meters from the Ash line allowing their backs to spread wide and send the left winger over. Not long after the kick off the left winger again cut loose, combined with his 13 and followed up to score under the posts for one of the best tries I have seen in AIC rugby. There seems to be a problem with the Ash pack as a cohesive unit as they were counter rucked off the ball a number of times. Ash dominated the lineouts (as they should have as their locks towered over their opposites) but apart from that they were dominated in all other facets, and particularly out enthused by a very determined Peters pack. The backs from both sides squandered opportunities, with Ash looking too apprehensive at times. The experiment bringing up the 16A's 10 failed and the Ash 9 had a shocker with his passing game putting undue pressure on the 10 all game. If it wasn't for De Flavis at 12 deciding to take matters into his own hands and scoring and setting up a try, and generally being outstanding, the result would have been a lot worse.
Full credit to Peters, they deserved the win as they wanted it more. Enjoyable game but can't help but think Ash have believed the hype at the start of the season and expect things to go their way. Doesn't work that way lads.
Interesting to talk to someone in the know down Ashgrove way that a few big heads in the team maybe needed to be pulled into line a while ago, but weren't, and the seeds have now been sown. Shame.
As for an AIC XV, from the games I have seen Padua will dominate the selections, particularly 1-8, with (from all accounts) Pats, with maybe Ash 5 if he can pick up his workrate. Peters 11 and 12 should make it, and maybe 2. Not sure on 9, De Flavis has to be 10, 13 (you tell me) The Padua 15, and maybe Cooper (Ash) on the right wing as he knows the way to the line (scored a great try on Sat when he had no right to). No way known Tuqiri should be there and anyone picking him has no idea. His Scrummaging and workrate are poor.
