Confucius Say
Colin Windon (37)
Lauries have also had trials with Villa and St Patrick's?
AIC Rugby 2018
- Thread starter Garry Owens
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don't_go_latho
Chris McKivat (8)
I think the point is that they went on a 'rugby' trip to play one game against a 3rd XV. Lauries will beat SEC and that will be it. Surely there are SLC Old Boys that the school can tap into more to turn this garbage around?
Garry Owens
Alan Cameron (40)
Waiting for my phone to ring
Hands like feet
Allen Oxlade (6)
GO I believe it’s at Runcorn...unless there’s a confusion from the director and it’s at Waverley; I hear eastern suburbs of Sydney is great this time of year...
mcdonladclan
Bob McCowan (2)
sounds similiar to marist tour from what im told, boys had a lovely trip but only won 2 from 6 games
Galloper
Darby Loudon (17)
My understanding is that the 6 games involved MCA's First and Second XV's each playing:
- Sacred Heart Auckland (one of Auckland's leading rugby schools, 22 AB Old Boys)
- Hamilton Boys High School (3 x Sanix winners, 4 x NZ national champs over last 10 years)
- Tauranga Boys High School.
I know there were games won against both Hamilton and Tauranga, not sure yet in which grades those games were won but I'd say the tour should have the MCA First XV ready to go v Padua in round 1.
Interestingly, and in contrast, Padua's First and Second XV's have just returned from a tour to the UK and France. I'm sure that would have been a fantastic experience for the boys, but I do wonder if (as seemed to happen in 2015) the excitement of such a big tour might leave them a bit flat for the start of the AIC comp.
I guess we'll find out in 12 days' time.
mcdonladclan
Bob McCowan (2)
And yet Padua went on to win as undefeated premiers in 2015. Notably one of their forwards is now playing for Ulster A. I’m sure Marist will do ok this season but like last year the standard in AIC across the board has dropped considerably.
Galloper
Darby Loudon (17)
Wrong year then, it must have been 2014 when Padua lost to Ashgrove and SEC, maybe SPC as well, after a similar tour.
Geoffrey Cummins
Frank Row (1)
Villanova will be back to stir the pot this season. Mark my words.
Expect some unpredictable upsets this season and keep an eye on these boys (primed for QLD/AUS schoolboys):
- Gabriel Akkari (explosive utility)
- William Vokes (playmaker)
- Lachlan Littleton (australian schoolboy favourite)
Expect some unpredictable upsets this season and keep an eye on these boys (primed for QLD/AUS schoolboys):
- Gabriel Akkari (explosive utility)
- William Vokes (playmaker)
- Lachlan Littleton (australian schoolboy favourite)
Ali Barber
Allen Oxlade (6)
I thought all bar a couple of schools, it was a very good competition, don't sell yourselves short. My lads do the GPS thing and I like this column because they all played Club together or against to the end of U15's. A huge lot of these boys played club for Albany Creek, GPS Ashgrove, Easts, Norths, Brothers, Wests and Goldie. The others play in the GPS School sides which I watch every week of term 3. In term 2 we watch as much of St Pats, Padua & Marist and I can tell you those schools go very well and the same kids who dominated the Club footy are still dominating the school footy in AIC & GPS. I think a lot would agree Marist had an excellent Forward's pack in 2017 which dominated the competition. The AIC just needs one or two more schools in it's competition. Maybe one from the GPS schools ???
Ali Barber
Allen Oxlade (6)
HLF, I enjoy your wit as dry and politely as you can make it. You aren't a fan of the Lauries hierarchy ?
Ali Barber
Allen Oxlade (6)
Aren't the Runcorn Fields a lucky 15 point start for the home team. Which Ashgrove Batsmen or Bowlers will worry the scoreboard.
new recruit_ brisbane
Bill Watson (15)
Having seen Villa play a few trials - they are a hardworking team who are well drilled however I can't see any of them challenging for rep honours unfortunately. And a former AIC players myself I wish it wasnt the case.
Torpedo Punt
Herbert Moran (7)
Hey Mcdonladclan, Im interested in what timespan you think the AIC has dropped over ? Also interested in what ways ?
I can only compare it to 30 years ago . I can say the standard is so much better than back then.
A couple of points from that timing. Iona, and Padua are so much stronger than the schools they replaced There used to be 3 or 4 very easy games each season...not now. Also the players then only trained one term with no all year round programs like they all have now. This column criticises Lauries but they have a great new gym and professional strength and conditioning coaching program and they train all year round. I wonder if those who criticise used to get 4 easy games a year and dont understand that now there are no easy games. I would say that todays AIC teams would embarrass 90s teams by comparison. So I assume youre talking much shorter timespan. Hopefully you arent talking comparisons with GPS because that is a purely scholarship issue. Keen to hear your thoughts?
Galloper
Darby Loudon (17)
I suspect that mcdonaldclan was referring to a relatively uneven AIC First XV comp last year, compared to some in the recent past.
I'd say that the 2014 -2016 First XV comps were some of the strongest in TAS/AIC history, with at least 4 very competitive teams each year, and without thinking too hard about it I'd suggest that 2015 might have been the best ever with Padua, Ashgrove, SPC and SPLC all having very good teams with some really good top end talent.
The addition of Iona and Padua, and the massive improvement of SPC and SPLC (most years) has definitely made the AIC rugby comp stronger across the board than TAS ever was.
Of course, SEC were a rugby powerhouse too during the Dave Miles era, it would be good to see them bounce back at some point, but even now I think that they're better than the bottom teams were in the old TAS comp.
The only real negative, unfortunately, is the slide of SLC rugby. SLC were dominant at their peak in the 80's/90's but only a pale imitation now, and Villa continues to be a bit disappointing as well.
Confucius Say
Colin Windon (37)
Any idea what time is the kick off games this weekend? 2pm or 3pm
Hands like feet
Allen Oxlade (6)
I do sound like a broken record; but its complete amateur hour at SLC rugby; as an old boy you're proud of your history and as was mentioned above; the 80s and 90s were a great era for us - but we had quality coaching across the board old blokes who were hard on us but knew the game inside out.
Then you send your boys there only hoping they receive a similar experience - the funds that come from our school fees are spent on bells and whistles like tours, which don't get me wrong are great life experiences; but the money could be spent on quality coaching. People talk about the difference between AIC and GPS being recruitment of boys; yes this does certainly contribute, however I believe it's actually recruitment of quality coaches across the programs. There are so many quality coaches running around with an SLC association coaching in GPS schools, particularly at two schools nearby, one of which does not even pay coaches I believe and yet there seem to be lauries people coaching there each year?
Garry Owens
Alan Cameron (40)
Its not just Coaching investment . That comes later.
First of all you need leadership to create a vision and then build an identity around that vision , from which , comes culture.
I think , by natural osmosis , you had that through the 80's and 90's with the neanderthals that came from Souths to Sunnybank and a bit from Easts - but mainly Souths to Sunnybank.
It's a new world , and now , if a collective shit can be formed ( which I think has to come from a mix of persons from that era that are prepared to interpret "the new ground" and build accordingly - rather than just dust off the past - ) then I do believe Lauries could do some special things once again.
And not just in Rugby . Their entire sporting program needs a major kick in the arse . The boys need inspiration to get involved or to make a choice to come to Lauries because of what they can also offer in their Sporting Programs .
The maddening thing is - they have the financial capacity to do it . The question is ; does the will exist ?
First of all you need leadership to create a vision and then build an identity around that vision , from which , comes culture.
I think , by natural osmosis , you had that through the 80's and 90's with the neanderthals that came from Souths to Sunnybank and a bit from Easts - but mainly Souths to Sunnybank.
It's a new world , and now , if a collective shit can be formed ( which I think has to come from a mix of persons from that era that are prepared to interpret "the new ground" and build accordingly - rather than just dust off the past - ) then I do believe Lauries could do some special things once again.
And not just in Rugby . Their entire sporting program needs a major kick in the arse . The boys need inspiration to get involved or to make a choice to come to Lauries because of what they can also offer in their Sporting Programs .
The maddening thing is - they have the financial capacity to do it . The question is ; does the will exist ?
Torpedo Punt
Herbert Moran (7)
ASH v SLC at Runcorn ( full school trial ) Ists at 3.15. Field 1.
SLC did beat St Pats before heading to Sydney.
Talking of the strength of the AIC. St Pats used to be one of the easy games. Not anymore the whole standard has improved.
SLC did beat St Pats before heading to Sydney.
Talking of the strength of the AIC. St Pats used to be one of the easy games. Not anymore the whole standard has improved.
Teh Other Dave
Alan Cameron (40)
No disrespect to St Pat's, but alas I think it's as much a case of how far backwards Ashgrove, Iona, and especially SLC have gone.
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