Just finished watching the game, and lifting of the "cone of silence" about what happened yesterday at Ballymore.
A huge vote of thanks is due for ARU QRU, ASRU and whomever else arranged the filming and streaming of the game. While we can't get the game broadcast live like they do in NZ, a live youTube stream is pretty good given the status of Rugby in Australia. Bravo.
The Game. Australia were outplayed, out-executed and out-coached by The Darkness, and full credit must be given to the mob from across the Tasman for doing that. Not for the first time have they used "warm up" games as trials to sort out their game plan, tactics, strategy and combinations for the final match against the Men in Gold. Meanwhile, we tend to rest on our laurels, and be overly optimistic in our assessment of our own abilities, and rely on X Factor inter-school competition scrapbook reputations to get us over the line.
In recognition of Forum Rules, and the fact that we are discussing a game played by school children, not seasoned full time professional athletes, I think many on here need to take a bit of a deep breath before typing, as will I.
The well thought out NZL game plan was executed to perfection. Our Piggies were beaten in nearly every facet of the game by the NZL players, particularly the loose forwards, and as we all know, the Hairdressers will always look bad if the Engine Room is unable to assert dominance over their opponents. To those harbouring an agenda on the basis that their favourite player missed out on a gig in the big show due to some perceived interstate bias or weird predetermined numbers ratio, I doubt that any of the Barbarians (or Shadow) players could have made a difference to the scoreline yesterday. Yes I acknowledge that in a "trial" match the Barbars nearly beat the Darkness, and that the Barbars thrashed Samoa by more than the Men in Gold did, but it isn't really comparing apples with apples is it? Different conditions, different motivations on different days against teams with different agendas and squads.
Congratulations to all the Australian Barbarians and Australian Schoolboys players. I'm pretty sure that none of them went out there yesterday with an intention of doing other than their utmost best. Well done to all of them. We couldn't ask more of them than to do that. If their best is not good enough, then it isn't good enough and nothing can change that.
If we are to go on a scapegoat hunt, then perhaps we should be looking beyond the playing group, and take a bit of a look into the Coaching, selection, preparation and administration side of things. On the back of a threepeat of losses to The Darkness, perhaps some questions should be asked in these areas. Before we do so, we need to remember that these folk are, by and large, unpaid volunteers doing it for the love of the game, and they are doing their absolute best to help our kids along the Pathway to Gold.
Also some posters need to understand that dominant players in local interschool competitions do not always carry that dominance to the next level. I reckon that there are a few too many people around that seem to believe the player hype on G&GR Schoolboy forum threads, youtube highlight reels, facebook, snapchat, and the gossip in the dunnies at School. Reality can be a bitch sometimes.
Howl for the head of the Coaches and Selectors as much as you want, but remember this is only a game that was played by Schoolchildren, and ... ... ... does it really matter? We have won the RWC twice, but yet we had a very poor record of beating NZL at schoolboy level in the 4-6 years prior to those RWC victories. Look at the statistics of how many ASRU representatives continue to dominate representative selection in Colts, U20's, Grade, Super Rugby and ultimately the Wallabies. Not many. It is Talent, Application and Attitude that will get you there, not just talent alone. A full Junior Rugby/School Rugby scrapbook is no guarantee of future success.
Being Positive:
1. Well done NZL. As usual, you saved your best till last, and it was an enjoyable tactical game of rugby to watch. Veteran Schoolboy Rugby observers would not be surprised with the result.
2. IMHO many will not be happy with how they played (or were allowed to play due to opposition pressure) but Harrison Goddard was my MOM for the Men in Gold, in a team that was well beaten.
See you all in Colts, Grade, NRC and Super Rugby in a few years. Stay fit and listen to your coaches.
