Australian Schoolboys and National Championships 2011

[angrydog]

Does it look like any ACT players will get a look in for the Aussie side? From the reports is seems they have been totally outclassed all over the park. Has Tom Cusack played or is he still injured?

 

[Spewn]

On the sevens front, i like seeing Broome there. I rate Gill above him. But he is quality. I don't consider last years 7s in the same class ( Connor and K'worth).

 

[Swarley]

Satui (NC) was the QLD 1 #7 last year, and is again this year. Surely he's a frontrunner for the Aus jersey?

 

[light]

Thats what I thought aswell Swarley, but so far he's been not only outplayed by his teammate (Timu) but also NSW representatives and the captain of the WA squad. I think he's in contention, but by no means a front runner.

 

[Knockers]

Light- good selections. Preen is without a doubt a very good player and fully deserved his selection in QLD II, but I don't think he will make Australian Schoolboys 'A' this year. A definite contender for next year though. Any new on how Cornelsen (QLD II) is going?

 

[Lee Grant]

Just stirring.

Tell me it ain't so.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Does it look like any ACT players will get a look in for the Aussie side? From the reports is seems they have been totally outclassed all over the park. Has Tom Cusack played or is he still injured?

Tom Cusack is not playing.

The ACT side has been outclassed in their first two games but they have never given up and played as hard as they can until the final whistle. The two players that I have been impressed with are the 13 Andrew Robinson and the 11 Jordan Read. Robinson is a solid hard running outside centre who has pace and has shown some classy touches in his matches. Read is a small winger but has a ton of pace and has competed well against the wingers opposite him.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

On the sevens front, i like seeing Broome there. I rate Gill above him. But he is quality. I don't consider last years 7s in the same class ( Connor and K'worth).

I think Gordon Broome would be an exceptional 7's player. He has pace and aggression and goes like the energiser bunny on acid around the field (looks like one too).

On the 7's front did hear that Fabian Natoli the NSW 2's bench half has been added to the junior 7's squad.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Satui (NC) was the QLD 1 #7 last year, and is again this year. Surely he's a frontrunner for the Aus jersey?

Satui may have been there last year and this year but the crop of No.7's at this tournament is exceptional. In an earlier post I rated him as no. 4 with the others showing more vigour and higher workrate in their games. The other problem I have with him is his size. He is very light and I can't see him competing against the likes of England and New Zealand later in the year given the type of sides they will produce (big aggressive forwards) and we have to compete with. I agrre with light in that he must be in contention given the team he is in this year and last but I think Aus A is his most likely team.

 

[Joe Mac]

Wells played 6 for Aus Schools last year didn't he? With abundance of 8's, he could easily play 6 again...

How is Demspsey (6 for NSW II) faring in the tournament?

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Wells played 6 for Aus Schools last year didn't he? With abundance of 8's, he could easily play 6 again...

How is Demspsey (6 for NSW II) faring in the tournament?

Wells played 8 last year for Aust Schools.

Dempsey has been going well. He has been active and defending well. he has also threatened with the ball a couple of times. He is, like a number of the younger NSW players, learning from their experience this year of what it takes to play at this national level. There are no easy games and every team is tough. He needs to increase his workrate a little and get involved in the breakdown a bit more at this level. I have seen enough to say that he will be a major player next year and a serious contender for higher honours then.

 

[Galloper]

I think deservedly so Spewn, it is one of the most contested positions in schoolboy rugby. Good to know there are quality 7's coming through the schoolboy systems, I'd like to think Australia's dominance in that position will continue, can bet your bottom dollar that NZ has quality 7's.

1. Lawley
2. Ngauamo
3.
4. Dombkins (Preen)
5. Browning (Whitely)
6. Timu (Baldwin)
7. Broome (Hardwick)
8. Wells (Maka)
9. Wessels (Meehan)
10. Davies (McIntyre)
11. Taginoa (Brimble)
12. Johnson (Burton/Stewart)
13. Scarano (Roads) - Sautia if fit
14. Goodrich
15. Gutherson (Greene/Le Lierve)

Greene is well short of the mark from what I have seen, a good kick but reasonably pedestrian in attack.

Kent looked OK in the short time he played yesterday offering at least two things Greene doesn't - genuine pace and height - and you could add evasive skills to the list as well.

I'd also be disappointed if Australia does not have a 10 with more to offer than Davies, who is solid but seems to lack variety.

The big upcoming games against NSW 1 and 2 will no doubt sort out the Qld contenders, with the first choice XV likely to start tomorrow you would think.

 

[KeenEye]

I understand that Kennedy (7 for NSW II) has only had half a game so far. How has he gone?

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

I understand that Kennedy (7 for NSW II) has only had half a game so far. How has he gone?

pat kennedy was the best forward on the ground in the first half against ACt yesterday before he was replaced at half time. I expect him to get a full game on Friday against QLD 1 with Walters possibly playing at 8

 

[random2]

Just wondering how the Joeys boys are going especially Kovacic and Guilfoyle

 

[Lee Grant]

I think Gordon Broome would be an exceptional 7's player. He has pace and aggression and goes like the energiser bunny on acid around the field (looks like one too).

On the 7's front did hear that Fabian Natoli the NSW 2's bench half has been added to the junior 7's squad.

Good player, Broome. It's a pity that he won't be a bigger man as he has the attributes of Simon Poideven. 7s could be his go though. Natoili is also small and mercurial. Both have the worm of madness in them and that is not a bad thing in a 7 or a 9.

 

[Knockers]

I'd also be disappointed if Australia does not have a 10 with more to offer than Davies, who is solid but seems to lack variety.

Davies was selected in AUS Schools A last year so obviously he has got a lot to 'offer'

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Just wondering how the Joeys boys are going especially Kovacic and Guilfoyle

Both have justified their selection without being standouts in their games.

 

[Galloper]

Davies was selected in AUS Schools A last year so obviously he has got a lot to 'offer'

I'm only going on what I have seen , I can't vouch for his form last year as I didn't see him play.

Davies didn't make GPS 1 or 2 this year, so it's possible others might share my opinion of him, i.e. a good, solid flyhalf with some limitations.

 

[Spewn]

Tell me it ain't so.

I'm afraid I have to fess up.