SHORE v VIEW - Carpe Diem
Every week counts but this clash carries huge weight for both teams in particular - the victor clinging on to hope of featuring in round 2, the loser slinking off into the break at 2 wins and 4 losses and out of the race.
With Joeys already at 4-1, it’s already clear that factors beyond the control of Shore and View will play a part at the back end.
Momentum cannot be under-estimated and View is short of it.
The forwards have played with heart and discipline with set piece improving week on week.
A pack of strong ball carriers - agile and fit - not the largest cohort but bending the line and in the contest each week.
Shore’s pack with less active ball runners but similarly working as a machine with dynamic players working well with those delivering torque and drive in the maul.
Bede Clout a massive “in” for Shore.
No cheerleading - both sets of forwards are capable of taking the points depending on field position.
We talk of the platform the pack affords the backs.
What we don’t reference enough is the importance of kicking game to unleash the potential of the pack, or the benefits of line breaks from the outside backs in marching the big fellas forward with a spring in their step.
That’s where this game will be won (and lost)
View’s backs have been disjointed and clunky.
Behind a lesser pack it could be 0-5 right now.
Grover and Hartman are elite - no doubt - and McGrath should not be challenged at 12 again this season.
The balance either out of depth or out of position.
Conservative passes that lack crispness - sticking to game plans without room for instinct.
Play driven by fear of making a mistake.
A lack of top end speed to go with Hartman when it’s there in the age group.
Top try scorers from a dominant 16As side in 2s and 3s when points have been hard to come by.
In contrast, Shore’s backline very stable - free-flowing rugby care of Bassingthwaighte and Conick, Kingdom and Callaghan - Barbarian style running rugby (sometimes to their detriment considering the weather) - a backline that backs itself, makes ground for its forwards and scores tries.
Charlie Francis given time and space to show his wares on the wing - coaches backing him.
This is a backline that plays the game in the cavalier style that separates quality schoolboy rugby from the 10 man, defence driven drudgery of our Super Rugby franchises.
Great to watch.
And so it goes - two very evenly matched packs with two hugely disparate backlines.
A dry track predicted with seasons on the line.
Here’s hoping the tightest GPS competition in years continues to favour the brave.
I know I know I know.
