I cannot work that New 16As team out - on paper they look invincible. Running on they look huge. Yet they just don't see to be able to play as a team. The much smaller Joeys team took it to them across the park, dominated the scrums and out enthused them at the breakdown. Anyone from New have any insight?
A number of recently arrived boys in key positions, playing GPS Rugby for the first time. Champion team ( Joeys)in round one playing Team of Champions( New). After round One the lack of GPS experience, will now be replaced by greater team cohesion and a a familiarity of their opposition and what to expect from this opposition in round two. They will now have a measure of their opposition.
I would expect improved results in round two. In this regard the situation reminds of Colts Rugby. Where star studded side of rep school boys of the previous year, can run into trouble from a experienced Colts side, who were schoolboy players of undistinguished reputations two or three years before.
However, time will tell, but I believe this team will be better for its experinces in round one. They have suffered no major defeats, nor have they achieved any major wins. Sometimes to win one, you have to lose one. The meaning being the value of experience that can never be discounted. In this regard, I neither surprised or disappointed as a New supporter with our 16As. Next year the I believe, this team will constitute the bulk of our 1st XV. Allowing them to develop into a highly competitive side for 2018.
Joeys playing the New 16As in round 2 at home, on a dry surface could be a very different game from the one just played.