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Pinoy
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does anyone have video of the game?
Australian Schoolboys & National Championship 2010
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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FTS
Billy Sheehan (19)
Hey Lee, last year it was infact Jake Holland carving holes for ACT Schools, Lewis Holland's older brother. Jake made the original Aus schools team but then got dropped for the tour. Then there is Lewis this year who is only still u17s age, and his younger brother Tom Holland was a standout for ACT u16s, and watch for him next year at schoolboy level. A strong rugby family!!
Informer
Ward Prentice (10)
There is no doubt the coaches should have intervened with Apo. He is a really nice kid and a talented rugby player who needs some guidance, both in attack and defence. To be honest Mali was not much better but he saw very little of the ball. Without dwelling on the issue if the crowd and Kiwis could see it how come the coaches were blind and left Apo in the same position to the end?
observer
Tom Lawton (22)
Gee I was impressed with the half back that came on. I believe it was Clint Dale. Lovely pass and made a line break as well. I would like to have seen him in the starting side.
People have been talking about the backline issues before the team left for NZ. The warning signs again appeared during the warm up games. When the warning signs appeared again in the first half why didn't the coaches act?
People have been talking about the backline issues before the team left for NZ. The warning signs again appeared during the warm up games. When the warning signs appeared again in the first half why didn't the coaches act?
FTS
Billy Sheehan (19)
I'm sure Brumbies will be licking their lips over Clint, he had a strong club season in Canberra as well. I was suprised they didn't bring him on earlier, same with big Phil Kite.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
That is very refreshing. Rest assured he will get chances at the higher levels even with his studies and he probably knows that. Good on him.
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pitbull
Guest
Where is all this bad defence talk coming from? I saw both centres make several crucial try saving tackles, namely no.12's on nz's no.6, preventing (for about 20 seconds) a sure try. Totally agree about spreading the ball, but to be honest, for the better part of a year they have been used to running straight through opposing centres, and its hard for langtry to change that over 3/4 weeks. Apart from some of the lineouts, the forwards were outstanding, and wells filled the shoes of his counterpart. Really impressed with the back three whenever they got it.
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PeterPiper
Guest
At the end of the day it is the coachs job. Fail.
Brumbies Guy
John Solomon (38)
Lee that was Jake Holland, Lewis' brother
Edit- just saw FTS already posted the same
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
Why the bitterness?
There are two parts to rugby, the centres are required to tackle as well.
who would you have selected to defend @ 12 today?
If you can nominate a stronger defender, with better hands than Apo on the tour, then and only then could it be the coaches fault.
P
PeterPiper
Guest
I actually wasnt referring to the defence that Lowe seemed to run through all day and the Tongan centres same last Saturday.
My bitch is that the coaches had ample time to deal with the 'playing style' of 12 and 13 and chose to do nothing - even when it became very apparent early in the series that there was a problem with a wide game. Believe me - it was apparent to anyone watching and to the players who many expressed their 'displeasure' in private.
As many have said before, the players selected were not up to 'team play'. If the coaches had done their due dilligence they would have found that Petaia and Sautia were very potent in a wide running attack all year at State High and Sautia carvbed up at the nationals in the centres so there is no excuse for not doinf some experimentation in the non test matches but that didn't happen.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
My point was that they needed to select the best 2 defenders to play 12 & 13, or they would have been beaten by a thousand.
Your reply is to suggest that the 2 wingers are better attackers and therefore should have been selected in the centres(you don't think Apo & Mali carved up in their School games?)
It is easy to bag Apo, give us a better alternative that was on the tour.
Your reply is to suggest that the 2 wingers are better attackers and therefore should have been selected in the centres(you don't think Apo & Mali carved up in their School games?)
It is easy to bag Apo, give us a better alternative that was on the tour.
Bowside
Peter Johnson (47)
People arnt bagging him cause hes bad, they're bagging him cause he did'nt pass the ball or make the tackles which had massive effects on the aussie attack and defence.
I thought the backline defense was poor, particularly 10,12,13 and to a lesser extent 14. They often missed the first tackle and it took 2 or 3 guys to finally get the guy down, in addition to this the inside centre was trying to do anthony fianga style rush out of the line tackles, which is all well and good if you put the guy on his arse, but if you miss, then the holes open up, and the nz were exploiting these holes all day long.
Im sure hes a nice bloke and im not really a fan of bagging schoolboys, but he needs some pointers about team play in attack and defense. It will make him a better player in the long run if he hears it now, and im sure thats what the coaches will tell him.
The Australians also seemed to be making bad decisions about kick returns deep in there own half. And I was ropable when they didnt make any attempt to counter ruck in the final moments of the game.
They played it smart at the breakdown and it worked really well. Curtis browning was killing it with the pick and drive, the reds better get him before league does. Chris Satua has a very nice step off the left foot. I had the pleasure of watching him play for his school this year and on a few occasions he went through whole teams just steping off his left. Phil Kite looks like he's 17 going on 30, im sure he has no trouble getting served at the local pub. NZ had a very classy 13/15 (he switched around).
Does anyone know if this team plays anymore games or is that it?
I thought the backline defense was poor, particularly 10,12,13 and to a lesser extent 14. They often missed the first tackle and it took 2 or 3 guys to finally get the guy down, in addition to this the inside centre was trying to do anthony fianga style rush out of the line tackles, which is all well and good if you put the guy on his arse, but if you miss, then the holes open up, and the nz were exploiting these holes all day long.
Im sure hes a nice bloke and im not really a fan of bagging schoolboys, but he needs some pointers about team play in attack and defense. It will make him a better player in the long run if he hears it now, and im sure thats what the coaches will tell him.
The Australians also seemed to be making bad decisions about kick returns deep in there own half. And I was ropable when they didnt make any attempt to counter ruck in the final moments of the game.
They played it smart at the breakdown and it worked really well. Curtis browning was killing it with the pick and drive, the reds better get him before league does. Chris Satua has a very nice step off the left foot. I had the pleasure of watching him play for his school this year and on a few occasions he went through whole teams just steping off his left. Phil Kite looks like he's 17 going on 30, im sure he has no trouble getting served at the local pub. NZ had a very classy 13/15 (he switched around).
Does anyone know if this team plays anymore games or is that it?
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baldingwingforward
Guest
I am a big fan of Roach around the field. He is fast, strong and very abrasive. However for the last 3 years i have watched him struggle at Lineout time. For a supposed player of his calibre his throwing is terrible. I have watched games where he has missed more of his throws than he has hit.
I expressed my concern to Papa during the NSW trials but he brushed it off... Seemed to be a pretty big problem today!
Surely when the key role of the hooker is to hit the lineout you would think that a player at this level would be able to do it with his eyes shut!
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
You got me there FTS - I claim a senior moment - but perhaps it was the socks down preference of both brothers that sold me a dummy.
All the lads scrambled well but I was talking about when the two back lines met each other, or in too many cases, didn't.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
If you can nominate a stronger defender, with better hands than Apo on the tour, then suggest they should have been the run on 12.
If you can't, then what's the point?
It's a little naive to suggest that he can change his style of play on a 2 week tour.
observer
Tom Lawton (22)
Have to agree with this Peter. The coaches seemed to do a great job with the forwards but the backs really were found out today. Some of it was to do with selection while the tactics of just hitting it up in the middle through the centres while we neglected the flair and pace of the back three was a huge mistake. Changes should have been made before this test.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
A lineout is a team play. Poor old hookers always get the blame when the lineout is not successful. Most times it is the throwers fault, however they are often only reacting to the call which may be wrong. The lineout also requires the synchronisation of the pods and jumpers. Not always the hookers fault.
That being said, there were two bad lineouts when the Darkness got go forward ball from throws down the back which we missed. Bloody near scored a try from one of them but anyway ended up with 3 points PK to the Darkness.
Roach was subbed off almost immediately after that throw. He seemed to have a reasonable game around the field up til then.
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