Australian Schoolboys 2014

[Hugh Jarse]

Today's Tour Update:
Several boys took the opportunity to attend church this morning before a team meeting was held to review the Fiji match and plan for the Barbarians game.

Today was a cooler day (5 degrees) with steady light rain. A training session was held during the afternoon on an artificial surface in Upper Hutt (25 km from Wellington).

All went well with the team focused on preparations for upcoming games.

A quiet night tonight with an important day of training tomorrow.


Training photos from today.

Brrrrrr. Welcome to Wellington.

While terrible weather today, the forecast for the next game (Tuesday) is for a sunny day with a little cloud, no rain.

 

[Quick Hands]

^^^That HJ is Wellington in winter

 

[Dctarget]

This might be too obscure, but I wonder if anyone's heard of RJ Saaga, he's the younger brother of Fereti who is benching for the Rising currently. RJ is a very skilled prop who's completing his Year 12 studies at the moment. I always thought he was in and around the Aus School boy teams, but obviously not this time around.

 

[sarcophilus]

see post 95 this thread
HJ provided some broad front row assessments

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Australia v New Zealand Barbarians
Tuesday 30th September 2014, Porirua Park, 1.10pm (NZ Daylight Savings Time) [10:10 AEST]


Game to be televised live on Fox Sports 1. Wage Slaves, set your IQ to record.

1. Phil BRADFORD, Hunter Sports High School
2. Evan PRITCHARD, St Ignatius College
3. Gavin LUKA, St Joseph’s Nudgee College
4. Tom BLAKE, Marcellin College
5. Tuaina TUALIMA, Brisbane State High School
6. Maumau MONU, Canberra College
7. Hugh SUMMERHAYES, Cranbrook School
8. Harley FOX (CAPTAIN), Anglican Church Grammar School
9. Harrison GODDARD, Oakhill College
10. Jordan JACKSON-HOPE, St Edmund’s College
11. Sepesa LOGA-TAROGI, Newington College
12. Sione TUIPULOTU, St Kevin’s College
13. Ned YEOMANS, Kinross Wolaroi
14. Izaia PERESE, Anglican Church Grammar School
15. Jordan FULIVAI, St Francis Xavier College
16. Vunipola FIFITA, Newington College
17. Richie ASIATA, Anglican Church Grammar School
18. Shambeckler VUI, Ipswich Grammar School
19. Andrew VATUVEI, Sarah Redfern High School
20. Reece HEWAT, St Joseph’s Nudgee College
21. Nicholas DUFFY, St Joseph’s College
22. Ah-Mu TUIMALEALI’IFANO, Roxburgh Park College
23. Joey FITTOCK, The Southport School

http://www.schoolsrugby.com.au/2014/news/australian-schools-team-play-new-zealand-barbarians/

Looks like the Selectors are trying out different combinations in order to nail the #1 squad for the NZ "Test".

Interesting to see Asiata at reserve hooker. Has he had much experience there before? Can he throw lineouts? If not, who can?
Must be happy with Blake as a second row player who can play #8 or #6 if needed.
Summerhayes proves his versatility (he's a "notta") being nominated as an openside.
In many ways this looks like a typical Under 16 forward pack with 3 fatties and 5 loose forwards in the piggies. I'm not sure that this is a wise strategy at this level.

There is plenty of excitement in the princesses. but I wonder about a back up #10 if JJH gets puffed out.

I suspect that the three not named in the 23 must have cemented their place in the starting lineup for the NZ "Test".

Not in the 23:
Running Water:
Ed CRAIG
Connor O'SHEA

Kicking Tee:
Connor MORONEY



Edit: Game time in AEDT amended based on @RedsHappy info below.

 

[RedsHappy]

** Game Time Alert **

If the KO time for the Aus Schools v NZ Barbs is 1:10pm NZ time tomorrow, that will be 10:10am here in AEST as NZ went to DST yesterday.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Well spotted @RedsHappy.

Fox Sports have changed the time for tomorrows game on their planner, yet they haven't updated the description of the game.
The Live Rugby Union Special on Fox Sports 1 from 10:00 am tomorrow is still advertised as "Join host Tony Squires for rugby league's premier awards night. There'll be glamour from the red carpet plus the dramatic countdown until the winner of the game' most prestigious individual honour, the Dally M Medal is announced."

The Test on Saturday is still advertised as starting at 12:40pm on Fox Sports 3.

 

[Lee Grant]

As expected all the players who did not start against Fiji, including the three who weren't in the 23, get to start against the Baas - except Asiata who is on the bench.

It's interesting that ex-fullback, winger and no. 8 Blake is playing in the second row but he is a tall lad and athletic, so let's see how he goes.

I expected Summerhayes to play there as he did for CAS Is this year and occasionally for Cranbrook. And he's playing on the openside - I've never seen him play there.

Fox, Fulivai, Monu, Perese and Tuipulotu all start in their second game.

One expects the forwards Fox and Monu to be rested early. I'd like to see Fifita to come off the bench to play no. 8 to replace Fox. He played the position for Newington against Joeys when he returned from his injury and was very hard to stop, though he wasn't the most brilliant picking up the ball from the base of the scrum.

More likely Hewat will replace Fox and Blake go to 8.

There is plenty of excitement in the princesses. but I wonder about a back up #10 if JJH gets puffed out.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Duffy come on in that case and Goddard go to 10. He played at first receiver a bit for Oakhill when I saw them this year and has a good kicking game (and not just box kicks) and can pass the ball - you wouldn't have twigged that he wasn't a 10.
.

 

[Lee Grant]

** Game Time Alert **

If the KO time for the Aus Schools v NZ Barbs is 1:10pm NZ time tomorrow, that will be 10:10am here in AEST as NZ went to DST yesterday.

Thanks - I had already put it in the planner.

I'll record everything just in case.
.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

<snip>

One expects the forwards Fox and Monu to be rested early. I'd like to see Fifita to come off the bench to play no. 8 to replace Fox. He played the position for Newington against Joeys when he returned from his injury and was very hard to stop, though he wasn't the most brilliant picking up the ball from the base of the scrum.

More likely Hewat will replace Fox and Blake go to 8.



I wouldn't be surprised to see Duffy come on in that case and Goddard go to 10. He played at first receiver a bit for Oakhill when I saw them this year and has a good kicking game (and not just box kicks) and can pass the ball - you wouldn't have twigged that he wasn't a 10.
.

Having so many loose forwards in the team, there are all sorts of prospects in the piggies for Coach Philpotts to tinker with, if things start to go pear shaped in the hard grafter department, and he needs to sub on Vatuvei and Hewat.

Fifita has played No 8 for parts of the U16 Nationals, and for a prop, he has a remarkable turn of speed over the first 15 metres. If Asiata can throw lineouts, Pritchard could go to 7, Monu to the bench and Summerhayes to 6. Both starting locks are capable of playing 6 when Vatuvei/Hewat are subbed on.

Depending on the scoreline and injuries, the piggies could end up chopping and changing along these lines:
1. Bradford ->Luka ->Fifita
2. Pritchard ->Asiata
3. Luka->Vui
4. Blake->Vatuvei
5. Tuilima->Summerhayes->Hewat
6. Monu->Blake
7. Summerhayes ->Pritchard
8. Fox -> Fifita->Summerhayes

Goddard at backup #10 sounds exciting. Is there anything this kid can't do?
I have been told that Yeomans has played #10 for Kinross as well, but I have only seen him play at #12 or #13, and it would be a significant step up from #10 for an ISA School 1st XV to Schoolboys #10.

Can Joey the Whippet play #15? Fulivai probably has two games left in him, but the cover for him on the bench for the "Test" should get some time on the field against the Barbars. With previous #15 experience, perhaps Coach Philpotts has an Blake pencilled in as cover for #15.

 

[pablo]

This might be too obscure, but I wonder if anyone's heard of RJ Saaga, he's the younger brother of Fereti who is benching for the Rising currently. RJ is a very skilled prop who's completing his Year 12 studies at the moment. I always thought he was in and around the Aus School boy teams, but obviously not this time around.

RJ played at Nationals as a TH prop, he plays for his school as a 12 or 8....not doing his Aus chances any good!

 

[Dctarget]

RJ played at Nationals as a TH prop, he plays for his school as a 12 or 8..not doing his Aus chances any good!

Yeah well.. I'm the starting prop for that team, so I can assure you it's not because he's been pushed out of position. Our coaches are insane, and basically tried to nullify Sione (starting 12 for Aus), by putting RJ up against him.

 

[pablo]

It's interesting that ex-fullback, winger and no. 8 Blake is playing in the second row but he is a tall lad and athletic, so let's see how he goes.

You forgot flyhalf......have seen him play there for his College as well! Lots of talent but lock/6/8 are his best positions.

 

[Dctarget]

Yeah well.. I'm the starting prop for that team, so I can assure you it's not because he's been pushed out of position. Our coaches are insane, and basically tried to nullify Sione (starting 12 for Aus), by putting RJ up against him.

I really hope my coaches aren't on here.

 

[Boof]

Interesting to see Asiata at reserve hooker. Has he had much experience there before? Can he throw lineouts? If not, who can?

Phil Bradford is a very capable hooker and can throw, plays hooker in colts
.

 

[RedsHappy]

As expected all the players who did not start against Fiji, including the three who weren't in the 23, get to start against the Baas - except Asiata who is on the bench.
............

Btw: R Asiata was often heavily leg strapped for his Churchie Ist XV games this year, and incurred a slight (or worse?) injury late in the season such that he did not play in Churchie's final game vs Terrace on September 20 and he surely would have if completely fit. I assume that withdrawal was to ensure he was fit enough for the Schoolboys tour.

 

[Lee Grant]

Goddard at backup #10 sounds exciting. Is there anything this kid can't do?

He's a bit of a wunderkind, isn't he?

What price 9. Goddard and 10. McGregor for Oz Schools next year?

Not quite to the point but, geez I hate not having the Under 16s anymore because they were usually in Sydney. Now we don't get to see the young players from other parts of the country until the Opens.
.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Phil Bradford is a very capable hooker and can throw, plays hooker in colts
.

This adds a level of complexity for the Coaches and Selectors to consider as they try to choose their best front row mix.

Always a good idea to have players in a touring squad that can play in more than one position. These fellows often get selected over the specialists who can only play in one position.

 

[Lee Grant]

^^^^^^^
It was always so, wasn't it HJ, and it's the same when rep sides are picked at the state level and below that.

Now we can see why it wasn't that weird when Fox, ostensibly the third no. 8, was added to the original 23—Crichton and Blake could play elsewhere.
.

 

[Dctarget]

Hey can someone give me some insight on Fox? I know nothing of the kid, as captain I would've imagined he would be the first name down. But reading here it seems he isn't held that highly?