Gits and Drew getting ready to face the Boks...by playing 3rd div subbies.

[RugbyReg]

What a fucking joke:

We need a dollar sign icon for this type of stuff.

Third division sub-districts rugby club, Balmain have confirmed Wallabies
Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau will be in their starting line up for this
weekend's home match at Blackmore Park, Leichhardt.



Both players have had an affiliation with the subbies club and wore the club
socks when they played for the Barbarians at Wembley in December (image
attached) However this Saturday will be the first opportunity for the
Wallabies to play for Balmain in 2010 and both players are looking forward
to the occasion.



Since moving to moving to Sydney this season Mitchell has been a regular at
Balmain training and home games when not playing for the Waratahs or
Wallabies. "It's been a great experience and I have enjoyed helping out
where I can. Its old school rugby and they like it that way - they train
once a week, enjoy a beer after training and have a crack on the weekend"
Mitchell said.



Mitchell will play full-back and be joined by fellow Wallaby team mate Matt
Giteau who will be at inside centre for Balmain when they take on Epping.
"We're really looking forward to running out this Saturday, it's their
annual Ladies day and they're expecting a couple of thousand rammed into
Blackmore Park. I ran the water for 1st grade at last year's Ladies day and
it was a sensational atmosphere." Mitchell said.



Kick off for the top of the table clash is at 3:00pm.

 

[RedsHappy]

What a fucking joke:We need a dollar sign icon for this type of stuff.

Imagine if either is injured, and out. (Giteau doubters, be quiet boys ;-) )

 

[barbarian]

I kind of like this. Yeah its not the best prep for SA but imagine the guy who gets to mark Gits, what a thrill. Good to get a bit of interest in subbies I reckon.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I've got no problem with it at all. Mitchell is linked to the Balmain club and Gits has decided to have a run as well. No controversy for me. Many of the blokes who have played the last 3 weeks for the Wallabies would probably be resting during this period anyway.

 

[RugbyReg]

I think its ridiculous. Here we are bemoaning the lack of another level of rep footy and when we have the chance for two of our highest profile stars to play club footy they're doing it for some pub side? Who cares about some hack from Epping. What I am more interested in is the likes of AJ Gilbert and Carlos Blanco the two young backrowers from Norths who are playing Randwick this weekend. How awesome would it be for them to take on two Wallaby stars? How awesome would it be for the likes of the force, tahs et al to see if those two young guns can match it test players.

Nah, instead the two glory boys are playing for shits and giggles at some local park.

I'd like to know the financial details too. It's no coincidence these two are two of the more high profile players going around and both enticed back east from the 4s once sponsorship money dried up there.

 

[Brumby Jack]

I'd like to know the financial details too.

If it's subbies, surely nothing more than beers and pies after the match? I didn't think they could afford anything else.

 

[MrTimms]

There are two sides really.

For: It is great to see, there are other levels to the game and a couple of people of this stature playing in one game will surely focus some attention on it. if a blokes read it, remember how they used to play the game, see them talking about a beer after the game and sign up, great. it can't hurt. it is three weeks till they play again anyway.

Against: It is not like they have come off some man of the match performances and there is nothing real for them to work on. surely their time could be spent playing against the highest class of opposition we can give them, so they should be playing in the shute shield.

I don't know what is more valid. They sure could do with the tougher preparation, but I don't think they think they can get any better, they are already awesome, so will they really benefit?

 

[fatprop]

I will be really pissed off if I get off my arse and walk around and they don't play.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

If it's subbies, surely nothing more than beers and pies after the match? I didn't think they could afford anything else.

I believe that a Balmain rugby sponsor is one of the third party sponsors that brought Mitchell to the Waratahs, so I understand that there is a reasonable amount of coin for Mitchell to play this one off at Balmain.

 

[TheRiddler]

At least the Balmain coach can see what Robbie cant and is playing Shiteau at 12

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That thought occurred to me Riddler

 

[Henry]

Mitchell has been playing against the 'highest class of opposition we can give them' and scored 5 tries in 2 matches. Its good to see them take the time and give back to the real grass roots levels of rugby. It would be a huge thrill for these 3rd div subbies players to run out and even be on the same field as gits and schmoo. Premiership first graders often play against super 4/wallaby players anyway.

 

[Linus]

Love it. Coming from a fellow Subbies player. You never quite know the level of the team you are up against. I know a few Epping boys that I will now give a gee up.

 

[Crow]

Apparently it's "Ladies Day"
I don't know if they're going for the ladies, or they are the ladies, but either way I think it's got something to do with it

 

[RedsHappy]

There are two sides really. For: It is great to see, there are other levels to the game and a couple of people of this stature playing in one game will surely focus some attention on it. if a blokes read it, remember how they used to play the game, see them talking about a beer after the game and sign up, great. it can't hurt. it is three weeks till they play again anyway.Against: It is not like they have come off some man of the match performances and there is nothing real for them to work on. surely their time could be spent playing against the highest class of opposition we can give them, so they should be playing in the shute shield.I don't know what is more valid. They sure could do with the tougher preparation, but I don't think they think they can get any better, they are already awesome, so will they really benefit?

In all seriousness, surely the ARU/RD etc must be less (potentially) reckless to permit this type of non-essential physical risk at this crucial stage of the 3N campaign. If DM was badly injured, where would we be re Wallaby wing depth, and with LT seemingly totally allocated to 7s and out of RD's books, and with JO'C hardly looking optimal at wing? Similarly with MG, OK, he may not/should not make the starting side in RSA, but he provides essential cover from reserves.

 

[barbarian]

Well according to foxsports it is still 'pending ARU approval', so I would guess there is still a fair chance of it not happening.

 

[Ruggo]

Good stuff. It ia a fantastic idea. Release more players to go out to other areas and do this.

 

[inthestands]

A couple weeks before a S14 semi in 2008 Beau Robinson went back and played for Dubbo and throught it was the greatest thing in the world. No difference here.

And as for the chance of being injured, last year Berrick Barnes and Rob Horne didn't make it out of Japan on the Spring Tour because they went over at training.

Injuries can happen anywhere and the possibility of it isn't raised just because they're playing Subbies.

 

[TOCC]

Lets be realistic here, if it wasnt 3rd Div then i doubt the ARU would even let them play, they probably would have forced them to rest, maybe not so much for Mitchell, but most likely Giteau.

At least by playing 3rd Div they are contributing something back to the grassroots level, and heck it might even allow Giteau and Mitchell to fine tune there games slightly by not playing at such a high intensity.

As has been mentioned already, yeah there is a chance of injury, but there is a chance of injury in everything these guys do.

 

[stoff]

I don't know what its like in third grade sub-districts in NSW, but if its anything like third grade was in Victoria when I was playing they would be mad to let them play. What are the chances of some bloke looking to make a bit of a hero of himself by sniping a Wallaby and taking him out?