NSW AAGPS 2022

[wyvernboy]

Hi All

Tips for this weekend :

Cranbrook,Newington, Oakhill,Shore,Pats,Joeys,Scots,Waverley,Stannies,Gregs.

Wyvernboy

 

[Greenwhiteblack]

Interesting to see 14 and 15 A’s given the gift of playing on hallowed ground.

when we played Joeys's back in the 90's we always played on SJC1 and we were from Knox. The stories that use to fly around about this mythical untouchable rugby team, where the fields were heated and if the 1stXV lost they were hauled before the school assembly and given a verbal flogging!

 

[Joker]

when we played Joeys's back in the 90's we always played on SJC1 and we were from Knox. The stories that use to fly around about this mythical untouchable rugby team, where the fields were heated and if the 1stXV lost they were hauled before the school assembly and given a verbal flogging!

There have been some classic myths told about the Joeys 1st XV. Anyone else want to contribute? What is your favorite?

 

[Big Papi]

Got the pleasure of playing on SJC1 on 2 occasions, and a 1 win to 1 loss ratio is pretty commendable from what I've seen. One of my favourite moments was in my last year at school, I finally walked away with the hallowed "pink scalp". Always an enjoyable day when Riverview plays at Joeys.

To touch on Jokers question about the "myths," the (slang used by low IQ schoolboys)s and the dodgy timepiece are two of my favourites. You will notice that I have put quotation marks around the word myth, because as a Riverview fan, I'm not too certain that they are actually mythological.

BP.

 

[Joker]

My tips

Pius v Cranbrook- Eastern suburbs Fendi bags to prevail over the north shore lunch club
New v Augustines- Clash of the Islanders. Samoa in an upset followed by a demolition of the afternoon tea.
Oakhill v Trinity- Oakhill to smack Trinity
Shore v Knox- SHORE!!!! Gotta love a Cinderella story and their awesome pies.....mmmmm
Pats v St Aloys- God knows
Kings v Joeys- The rampant cattle dogs to quick and aggressive for the cows of Parramatta
Scots v Barker- The evil empire grows bigger in the east and it shall consume the north-men
Waverley v Riverview- Christian Brothers v Jesuits.....how I would love to see them beat each other senseless. Waverley
Stannies v Grammar- Grammar because we all need some good news
St Gregs v Riverview 3rds- Gregs to beat the lemon tart eating, latte sipping, milquetoasts of Lane Cove.

ahhhhh. Its good to be back.

 

[Absque Deo Nihil]

Hey team, this is ADN

Also, don't forget TAS vs Sydney Boys High. My predictions for the game is (17-5) because Surry Hills air pollution will definitely affects the fitness of Sydney Boys high players over a long period of time. By the time you get to half-time they will be exhausted and TAS will be able to get a couple of tries in the later half of the game. This will ensure victory for TAS and Armidale's superior air quality. After playing against a tougher side (Kinross) TAS definitely has the skills to take on Sydney high. Of course, these are only predictions, don't take my word for it.

Good luck to the other teams as well.

Out.

Absque

 

[wyvernboy]

Hi ADN

TAS for the win after their strong victory last weekend. The boys from High are used to the poor air quality ( and has proven dangerous for opposition teams especially in the 80,90's when there was only leaded fuel ) however I do agree with you that TAS has the advantage of the fresh country air that will give them their second WINd late in the game.

Wyvernboy

 

[KOB1987]

I’ll post more on the kings prospects once I see them play this weekend. They will be a little under strength with the rowers going to Henley, but realistically only one of the crew was a lock for the 1st XV - he’s a big miss though, Harry Staniforth. There’s a couple of others Leahy & Duta who might be contenders and I don’t think any of the others are really in the calcs.

There will be a lot of year 11s in the team, and the other Staniforth (Angus) should acquit well for his cousins absence.

 

[view2k22prems]

Riverview will easily beat Waverley this weekend

 

[Giddy Up]

Hey team, this is ADN

Also, don't forget TAS vs Sydney Boys High. My predictions for the game is (17-5) because Surry Hills air pollution will definitely affects the fitness of Sydney Boys high players over a long period of time. By the time you get to half-time they will be exhausted and TAS will be able to get a couple of tries in the later half of the game. This will ensure victory for TAS and Armidale's superior air quality. After playing against a tougher side (Kinross) TAS definitely has the skills to take on Sydney high. Of course, these are only predictions, don't take my word for it.

Good luck to the other teams as well.

Out.

Absque

I think ADN is inhaling too much petrol. Sydney Boys are not playing TAS this weekend.

 

[Black & White]

Fixtures out for scots, Barker a's vsing Scots B's in both 13B's and 14B's, same as last week as Barker A's vsed Oakhill B's in 13's and 14'sView attachment 13401

Although it belongs on the CAS Site, could not but notice that Cranbrook, going down to the 7ths. Well done, when you consider the school, I believe, caters for about 800 boys.

Barkers lack of depth reflects poorly on the school, when you can only win in 1’s the evidence points directly at the thing that can’t be mentioned and a total lack of interest in developing potential. I am told there is a super star at the school who only found out it is coed the day he went to collect his uniform 2 weeks before he started.

Hello Older Slower

Yes, the current Headmaster, whom I met some years ago, is an excellent Educator and a most decent person, but has a possible fault, at least from a Schools Rugby perspective. He is one for a Sports Program, based on choice, not tradition. Such a Liberal Outlook can be found at Trinity, The Cathedral School at Town Hall, ( Where He was Headmaster) Aloysius and even Knox. I believe Knox now field only about 3 teams in their age divisions. It tends to be more a CAS phenomenon, although such liberal attitudes can be found increasingly, in the all the GPS Schools, it not just as wide spread as the CAS Schools.

The Days of having Rugby Teams, going down in our age divisions to H,I and J, is rarely found. That is why I was so impressed that Scots, could field 12 Teams in their open division. Newington have had a Liberal attitude, as demonstrated by the introduction of Rules Football, together with other choices such as Winter Swimming, Orientating and Volley Ball. Of course Soccer can be seen as a villain in this matter as well. From a coaching viewpoint, I can assure that it is easier to coach a Soccer Team, than a Rugby Team. As a Rugby coach you really need to know the Game, the positions and styles of Play. With Soccer you just give the boys a ball and let them kick the ball. That qualifies as coaching a team, particularly in the Middle and Lower teams. Hence, it is easier to find school teachers, willing to coach Soccer, rather than Rugby.

So OlderSlower, the decline in Rugby at a School level, is far deeper than just a school's outlook. It is a society wide event, that reflects a changing cultural outlook. Few Headmasters, these days will push traditional sports or recruit Teachers who love Traditional GPS sports.
Its much better to get a Ph.D academic, who looks prestigious on a school's staff listing, than a less qualified, but far capable Teacher, who is a "good all rounder" and adds value to a school across the breath and depth of a school as a learning institution.

 

[Joker]

Ok, here is a team that has been gleaned by my nephew at Joeys. After years as a parent, I am slowly running out of "insider" access, but he believes this will probably be the team to take on Kings at the big paddock.

1 Jack Barrett

2 Jack Walkom

3 Harry Moxham

4 Eamon Doyle

5 Quinn Dickinson

6 Darcy Fogarty

7 Archie Campbell

8 Harry Darling

9 Hwi Sharples

10 Caleb Murphy/ Ben Playford

11 Patrick Broe

12 Oscar Jorgensen

13 Ronan Leahy

14 Will Malloy

15 Max Jorgensen


Finally, Tetera Faulkner from the Waratahs coaching staff is the new Joeys specialist scrum coach. Faulkner won his first ever Super Rugby cap for the Waratahs. He enjoyed a 10-season professional career that has seen him previously play the Western Force, the Melbourne Rebels and four Tests for the Wallabies. He has made over 100 Super Rugby appearances.

 

[Grimey]

Although it belongs on the CAS Site, could not but notice that Cranbrook, going down to the 7ths. Well done, when you consider the school, I believe, caters for about 800 boys.

Hello Older Slower

Yes, the current Headmaster, whom I met some years ago, is an excellent Educator and a most decent person, but has a possible fault, at least from a Schools Rugby perspective. He is one for a Sports Program, based on choice, not tradition. Such a Liberal Outlook can be found at Trinity, The Cathedral School at Town Hall, ( Where He was Headmaster) Aloysius and even Knox. I believe Knox now field only about 3 teams in their age divisions. It tends to be more a CAS phenomenon, although such liberal attitudes can be found increasingly, in the all the GPS Schools, it not just as wide spread as the CAS Schools.

The Days of having Rugby Teams, going down in our age divisions to H,I and J, is rarely found. That is why I was so impressed that Scots, could field 12 Teams in their open division. Newington have had a Liberal attitude, as demonstrated by the introduction of Rules Football, together with other choices such as Winter Swimming, Orientating and Volley Ball. Of course Soccer can be seen as a villain in this matter as well. From a coaching viewpoint, I can assure that it is easier to coach a Soccer Team, than a Rugby Team. As a Rugby coach you really need to know the Game, the positions and styles of Play. With Soccer you just give the boys a ball and let them kick the ball. That qualifies as coaching a team, particularly in the Middle and Lower teams. Hence, it is easier to find school teachers, willing to coach Soccer, rather than Rugby.

So OlderSlower, the decline in Rugby at a School level, is far deeper than just a school's outlook. It is a society wide event, that reflects a changing cultural outlook. Few Headmasters, these days will push traditional sports or recruit Teachers who love Traditional GPS sports.
Its much better to get a Ph.D academic, who looks prestigious on a school's staff listing, than a less qualified, but far capable Teacher, who is a "good all rounder" and adds value to a school across the breath and depth of a school as a learning institution.

Did most schools used to have teams going down to I/J ?

Knox have about 4 age group teams and 8 opens I think.

 

[Joker]

B&W you make some excellent points. Heath is very much, "do what you want, and bugger tradition" type of boss. I know him quite well too.

KNOX drop off in rugby is concerning as they were the bench mark for years in Prep rugby and this flowed through the senior school. In the good old days of the late 90's and early 2000's beating KNOX in Prep rugby was like beating the All Blacks. These lads made up the bulk of CIS rep teams and went on to play NSW Primary Schools. Because of the Prep school boss (Mr Bob Thomas.....great man) he would make sure rugby came first, then the round ball game. This flowed to the senior school as well. Year 7 would field 6/7 teams made mostly of lads who came from the Prep, Trinity went early with their "play what you want" ethos and their Prep rugby program died. This of course flowed on to the senior school and they suffered badly till someone opened their purse and "acquired" players which is perfectly allowable in the CA$ competition. Barker was one of tthe last bastions of CAS rugby but falling to this liberal left leaning, latte sipping, navel gazing, woke world of basket weaving only Waverley will be left to compete against GPS schools and they probably win their competition with regularity.

 

[Joker]

Did most schools used to have teams going down to I/J ?

Knox have about 4 age group teams and 8 opens I think.

In the GPS, before football came along, most schools would have at least 38-45 teams with most age groups going to the G's or H's. The opens you could see up to 15 teams. Since the introduction of football, schools that allow students to chose their winter sport has seen a massive drop off in rugby numbers. Small schools like Joeys placed a cap on the football teams. BUT tradition also helps keep rugby healthy as the boys are reminded they are at a rugby school. Larger schools which is pretty much every one else can almost Joeys 38 teams with rounds against Kings, View and Shore being the ones were all teams seem to play Joeys. Newington/Grammar once upon a time did the same. (I played 14G's agaisnt a Newington 14G XV once) Now we see Newington falling away.

 

[Big Papi]

I think ADN is inhaling too much petrol. Sydney Boys are not playing TAS this weekend.

Too many diesel fumes from the exhaust of large farming machinery for ADN perhaps?

BP.

 

[Big Papi]

In the GPS, before football came along, most schools would have at least 38-45 teams with most age groups going to the G's or H's. The opens you could see up to 15 teams. Since the introduction of football, schools that allow students to chose their winter sport has seen a massive drop off in rugby numbers. Small schools like Joeys placed a cap on the football teams. BUT tradition also helps keep rugby healthy as the boys are reminded they are at a rugby school. Larger schools which is pretty much every one else can almost Joeys 38 teams with rounds against Kings, View and Shore being the ones were all teams seem to play Joeys. Newington/Grammar once upon a time did the same. (I played 14G's agaisnt a Newington 14G XV once) Now we see Newington falling away.

Do you believe that it is a falling rugby culture across the AAGPS or across the entirety of Australia? I would be interested to see grass roots participation from this season compared to 10 years ago.

BP.

 

[bring back rucking]

B&W you make some excellent points. Heath is very much, "do what you want, and bugger tradition" type of boss. I know him quite well too.

KNOX drop off in rugby is concerning as they were the bench mark for years in Prep rugby and this flowed through the senior school. In the good old days of the late 90's and early 2000's beating KNOX in Prep rugby was like beating the All Blacks. These lads made up the bulk of CIS rep teams and went on to play NSW Primary Schools. Because of the Prep school boss (Mr Bob Thomas.....great man) he would make sure rugby came first, then the round ball game. This flowed to the senior school as well. Year 7 would field 6/7 teams made mostly of lads who came from the Prep, Trinity went early with their "play what you want" ethos and their Prep rugby program died. This of course flowed on to the senior school and they suffered badly till someone opened their purse and "acquired" players which is perfectly allowable in the CA$ competition. Barker was one of tthe last bastions of CAS rugby but falling to this liberal left leaning, latte sipping, navel gazing, woke world of basket weaving only Waverley will be left to compete against GPS schools and they probably win their competition with regularity.

The drop off is due to the demographic of the prep in k-4. This changes with the year 5 intake with rugby participation increasing significantly. The Knox rugby culture is still very strong and dominant within the senior school. My take is that under the compulsory sport regime (which we all support) rugby is not a “participation” sport. There are still more rugby players at Knox than soccer players and that has always been the case. Rugby is not the sport you decide to choose at Knox if sport isn’t your thing.

They were conservative with team numbers this year given that they assumed Covid would have withdrawal impacts on Friday night Saturday morning so wanted a buffer to ensure they weren’t short on Saturday morning. For instance there are enough players in the opens to field 10 teams but 8 are listed this week against shore.

The coaching and facilities in the rugby program are extremely good and well funded…. they have no issue with consistently performing against GPS schools winning 1st, 2nds, 3rds and 16as against Riverview last week after beating the much vaunted Riverview 1sts last year at Riverview which included O’Donnell (great player by the way). From all reports this week at shore may provide a sterner challenge which i find really hard to comprehend after watching Knox, Riverview and joeys play shore for the last 20 odd years…. But that’s the word on the street

All is well at Wahroonga I can assure you… would we like more boys to play rugby? of course…. It’s still an attractive proposition for those boys keen to have a crack. We have 8 boys playing rugby for the first time in year 7 and a large boarding contingent from country NSW all play rugby and add significant value to the fabric of the school

Enjoy all the rugby tomorrow…. Riverview were fantastic supporters at Knox 1 last week with Matty front and centre. Great to be back with crowds watching the best rugby in town

 

[Joker]

Thanks BP.

Rugby grassroots are still thriving. The future of rugby is the clubs. Sydney's shute sheild is very well patronized and the standard is very high. These clubs also have their smaller, village clubs that feed into them. My three lads played rugby at Drummoyne and many years ago it was a struggle to get numbers. Move forward 10 years, the juniors are thriving with many teams because the club has been spending money on promotion and getting into the community. We still battle the dark power of fumble ball, but now parents are seeing a better culture and community as an option. My wife and I still help at the club and the amount of social life we put in for the club yields results with players. Plenty of lads play to the under 15 year and then school commitments become an issue. I have two of my three sons playing colts at Drummoyne because of their juniors experience. They went back because the culture was right. GPS schools will be seen as a feeder to the elite level, but more and more players see a pathway with a club. There are plenty of club players called up to the Waratahs and beyond from their play in clubs. If we support the grassroots then it will work. Stop wasting money at the top end of the tree.

 

[Joker]

Matty front and centre.

Matty is a GPS icon and all schools enjoy his goal kicking at half time. At Joeys he has a hot lunch with the Headmaster in the dining room and other Joeys staff.. I myself was once given the duty of being Matty's minder at Joeys, just to make sure he was ok.