strokeside
Larry Dwyer (12)
The Friday games are only on in the morning, so there will be time to set up, and we have had a dryer week, is there a chance of the No1 oval will be used for the finals on Saturday?
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I like to watch
David Codey (61)
Seems to me a consistent theme,amongst all the top rated sides this year.
Even some of the "star" players who are considered automatic selections,seem to be playing for themselves ATM.
Maybe it's just a lack of respect for the opposition they have faced so far,and they will play more of a team game against tougher opponents.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
This theme is recurrent when "better" sides play against "weaker" sides. Once the score gets to about a 20 point gap, it often seems to be everyone for themselves to get some mention on the score sheet.
Whether is is an intentionally selfish play or just the player backing themselves is a little moot.
The Thursday games for the fancied teams (NSW v QLD) are often the great leveler, and it is here that a team will beat a group of individuals.
Whether is is an intentionally selfish play or just the player backing themselves is a little moot.
The Thursday games for the fancied teams (NSW v QLD) are often the great leveler, and it is here that a team will beat a group of individuals.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Hugh Jarse what disturbed me about the selfishness I observed is that it seemed to owe nothing to dominance on the field or on the scoreboard. The attitude seemed to be that the ball carrier considered himself good enough to beat anyone man on man, or sometimes good enough to beat 2 opponents.
I saw some perfect opportunity for interchange passing and backing up - particularly when running back kicks - that was squandered in the apparent belief that the outside man would not be needed.
A notable exception to this observation (which I see George Smith - who, ignoring the signs, took his Weimaraner onto the oval - has picked up) was Harry Jones. He has a habit of beating his man on the outside, when there's not much on, and then immediately looking for a support on the inside. I think I saw 2 tries from this unselfish play.
Some of the other big names inside and behind him need to take a leaf out of his book, IMO.
I saw some perfect opportunity for interchange passing and backing up - particularly when running back kicks - that was squandered in the apparent belief that the outside man would not be needed.
A notable exception to this observation (which I see George Smith - who, ignoring the signs, took his Weimaraner onto the oval - has picked up) was Harry Jones. He has a habit of beating his man on the outside, when there's not much on, and then immediately looking for a support on the inside. I think I saw 2 tries from this unselfish play.
Some of the other big names inside and behind him need to take a leaf out of his book, IMO.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Inside Shoulder, it is most unusual for a venue to put a sign up saving "No Wives allowed". I know that the Jesuits have some unusual practices but that is going a little far don't you think?
La Jarse is sometimes (rather cruelly I might add and never by me) compared to a Rottweiller. What is it about Rugby Mums and European dogs? Never a Shih Tzu, Labrador, Corgi. Always Rottweiller, Weimaraner, Alsation or Cane Corso.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Not true - we did have a Rottweiler ("Daisy") prior to the arrival of kids but my wife has always had labradors: they (labradors) love the sausage sizzle that goes with most village rugby!
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Perhaps I was a little too cryptic.
I should have said why are so many Rugby Mums referred to as Continental European Dog Breeds such as Rottweiller, Weimaraner, Alsation or Cane Corso, especially at Rep Selection time.
I am sure that Mrs George Smith is not a Weimaraner.
I should have said why are so many Rugby Mums referred to as Continental European Dog Breeds such as Rottweiller, Weimaraner, Alsation or Cane Corso, especially at Rep Selection time.
I am sure that Mrs George Smith is not a Weimaraner.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Oh.Perhaps I was a little too cryptic.
I should have said why are so many Rugby Mums referred to as Continental European Dog Breeds such as Rottweiller, Weimaraner, Alsation or Cane Corso, especially at Rep Selection time.
I am sure that Mrs George Smith is not a Weimaraner.
George Smith
Ted Thorn (20)
Sadly, I am guilty of supporting the adage of "a man's best friend" on Wed and needless to say the mut is good for conversation and protection when on foreign soil. In respect to "signs" I never received one from "he almighty" unlike many of the brethren who frequented that oval and that part of the world. But I am a great believer in my ancestry for snubbing my nose at officialdom and bureaucracy. Having said that I will consider changing my ways when the hosts of this tournament cease their injustices!
Dark Shark
Alex Ross (28)
I think the selfishness is also an ingrained habit developed from a very young age where as juniors the players were the "stars" of the competition. Because they were playing against kids who were not physically developed or talented, you often saw the game plan (intentional or not) was to get it to the star to score a great individual try or four.
It is now, only when they get to a relative level playing field in terms of talent and physicality, that these "stars" who have not developed skills around using others in their team and they get found out and because the habit of "going yourself" is so strong, the players find it very difficult to adapt.
I believe this happens because it is the easiest option for the junior rugby coach to take and too often they are not strong enough or have the vision to realise the impact of making corrections when their players are as young as 10, 11, 12, 13.
Unfortunately, I see this in Jnr club rugby in Brisbane too often. This is largely because of a lack of depth in players at a club. There are a couple of Div 1 teams in the BJRU comp over a couple of different age groups, where the whole game plan can be structured around getting it to one player to make the play. However, I will say that I have seen some great coaches make valuable contributions, bringing better team structure and aligning the "stars" to play within the structure and use those around them, even though it may cost at times. But we need more of them.
In my opinion and without any doubt, I believe this is why we see some Wallaby backs over recent years with an inability to pass the ball, even when they have scores of unmarked team mates either side of them. Go and review some of the G&G Wallaby match threads over time and that quickly identifies those players. (Hey - I even blame Quade Cooper's tacking style pre 2013 on how he played the game as a junior. I believe that he must have stripped a thousand or more kids of the ball in jnr rugby and scarpered off down the field before they even knew what was happening. This habit was so ingrained that as he became a Senior player he still instinctively has always attacked the ball first and attempted a strip rather than making the tackle first.)
Great post dark, The huge influence of the polynesion boys in both codes has had an effect on how some junior games are played too. As they develop a lot quicker, they dont develop the allround skills from an early age. Quade has only started tacking in the last two years & still not nearly effective as he should be.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Some great contributions and insights.
Almost worthy of developing some of the ideas here into a Blog article for the front page, and a post in the Coaching thread.
Almost worthy of developing some of the ideas here into a Blog article for the front page, and a post in the Coaching thread.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Blue and White Grand Final
(assuming that the reverse doesn't happen and Qld II beat NSW 1)
Well done our mob.
(assuming that the reverse doesn't happen and Qld II beat NSW 1
)Well done our mob.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Good effort from the QLD II team to get as close as they did.
How good would it have been if it was a NSW II vs QLD II grand final?
Na. NSW I v NSW II is as good as it gets.
It will be a rather interesting 36 hours in the Riverview Boarding houses as the II's and I's from NSW and QLD plan for the Saturday games.
Both the II's and I's have points to prove. II's have nothing to lose, and all to gain. I's have everything to lose and little to gain.
How good would it have been if it was a NSW II vs QLD II grand final?
Na. NSW I v NSW II is as good as it gets.
It will be a rather interesting 36 hours in the Riverview Boarding houses as the II's and I's from NSW and QLD plan for the Saturday games.
Both the II's and I's have points to prove. II's have nothing to lose, and all to gain. I's have everything to lose and little to gain.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
You can never underestimate the 2nd team when they play the 1st team but on what I saw yesterday I's will be too big and too fast.
Mind you, if they dont learn to use their supports and the set them up the old "champion team" versus a "team of champions" may be the deciding factor!
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