I heard that First Colts, although they won, missed Norton as well as a few of their other regular backline and so made heavy weather of it. It will be interesting to see if he goes back to colts for the Uni game.
Against Uni the Wicks are going to have to make less mistakes or they will be punished but it would be a sad day if the game plan changed and kicking was reintroduced.
Rather go down having a crack than resorting to kicking.
I thought Volavola played into the Wicks hands when he started to clearance kick from his line. The Wicks full back was exceptionally deep and had plenty of time to work out his return running options. This continually asked questions of the defence and kept the Wicks tails up.
Set piece could be a problem looking to Uni but the wheels certainly seemed to have stopped moving backwards in the scrums. Coach - Is this a front row thing as not much else has changed?
I also have to give a few wraps to the seven, who must have woken up with very sore shoulders on Sunday. He had the number 8 Timani running at him all day and gave him about 30 kg by the look of it.
From where I sat, Sths escaped a brace of penaltys as their 13 could easily have worn a green shirt for most of the day and their 2 spent most rucks at the back feet on the greens side.
I agree with you Sid, I'd prefer them to stick with the running-no-kicking game, but I'm a bit concerned that will play into Uni's "field position above all else" approach and mistakes at the back are what Uni thrives on. I liked Koteczky at the back rather than Ford on Saturday. He's a bit calmer and takes better options IMO. Kick return has been a strength and weakness this year, depending on the support.
I know most old front rowers reckon the locks don't push, but the Wicks scrum problems seem to have gone away since Ingram and Vatadroka came together in the 2nd row. Witness 2 tight heads against Souths on Saturday.
Tom Connor plays well above his weight at #7 and fits the Randwick success mould of years gone by ie a smallish but quick-to-the-breakdown flanker.
I thought Souths were lucky not to have more than 1 yellow card as the ref seemed to give at least 3 final warnings, including a 2 minute debate with the Souths captain.
I think Norton is in 2nds due to injuries as much as his good form in colts.
Where he plays will, I suspect, depend on who's available.
Interesting that he was also a reserve for 1st grade, but didn't get on the park.
