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Australian Schoolboys & National Championships 2017

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Up the Guts

Up the Guts

Steve Williams (59)
We were a little scrappy on the whole but showed promise. NZ were deserving winners and, as they do at all levels, were able to finish strongly and perhaps the scoreline would have better reflected the game if we had managed to convert at the end there.

In the forwards Rorke and Kibble were the standouts and Lonegan wasn't far away either. 8 looked threatening but just lost the ball at crucial times when it seem as though he could have done some real damage. Bell will be something next year as well, he started strongly but didn't get as many carries towards the end of the first half.

The backs lacked cohesion and the kicking was undirected at times. Harrison looks the goods but just lacked a little precision with his kicking and passing, I'm sure that will come as he matures. Donaldson didn't get a lot of chances to showcase his counter but when he came into the line distributed well--he looks to be more a natural 10. Hopoate is quite something, unfortunately he only got one real opportunity carrying (and made about 50) but made a couple of try savers. The challenge will be keeping him in Union.

Well done and good luck to all involved, it made for great viewing.
 
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Pinetree

Frank Nicholson (4)
Quick Hands said:
Thanks. :)

About 5 tries to 1 from that score?
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6 tries to one....I think NZ need to find a better kicker score could have been greater however 6 tries to 1 is probably an accurate reflection of the skills gap and coaching gap although probably flatters Aust a little...I thought the NZ boys 1 to 15 had tremendous skills
 
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Pinetree

Frank Nicholson (4)
Up the Guts said:
We were a little scrappy on the whole but showed promise. NZ were deserving winners and, as they do at all levels, were able to finish strongly and perhaps the scoreline would have better reflected the game if we had managed to convert at the end there.

In the forwards Rorke and Kibble were the standouts and Lonegan wasn't far away either. 8 looked threatening but just lost the ball at crucial times when it seem as though he could have done some real damage. Bell will be something next year as well, he started strongly but didn't get as many carries towards the end of the first half.

The backs lacked cohesion and the kicking was undirected at times. Harrison looks the goods but just lacked a little precision with his kicking and passing, I'm sure that will come as he matures. Donaldson didn't get a lot of chances to showcase his counter but when he came into the line distributed well--he looks to be more a natural 10. Hopoate is quite something, unfortunately he only got one real opportunity carrying (and made about 50) but made a couple of try savers. The challenge will be keeping him in Union.

Well done and good luck to all involved, it made for great viewing.
Click to expand...

Agree Kibble had monster of a game made a real difference when he came on and when he went off, but he was one worker in a forward pack of runners/ball carriers two gigantic locks but low workrates. The backline had some real talent but agree they looked lost wonder what they have been doing all week...#13 needed more ball on attack
 
Up the Guts

Up the Guts

Steve Williams (59)
Pinetree said:
Agree Kibble had monster of a game made a real difference when he came on and when he went off, but he was one worker in a forward pack of runners/ball carriers two gigantic locks but low workrates. The backline had some real talent but agree they looked lost wonder what they have been doing all week.#13 needed more ball on attack
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Yes, 13 put some monster shots on in defence and 12 made some judicious kicks in the second half which indicates they've got the talent but fell victim to limited preparation which always creates disconnect at the schoolboy level. I think one of the best things about Kibble's performance is that he came from Barbarians to star for the Schoolboys demonstrating that there's not a lot between the players and it's not the be all and end all even if you didn't make the rep side you hoped for. A lot of players come out of the blue in the u20s so there's no need to get disheartened.
 
sidesteppa

sidesteppa

Watty Friend (18)
Exciting finish to the Barbar's game. Fiji 20-18 ahead, were awarded a penalty within range, but a good way out and to the right. Ref tells them its the final play of the game. Instead of banging it out, they carry on with the kick, fall short of the posts, B's run it back and after about 4mins get a penalty up close, and kick it over to win!
 
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