NSW Schools - Trial Games and Selections 2012

[Joshua B Cummings]

As i stated i would only return to this forum if need be. How on this earth did the "manbear" get chosen over the "manswine" this is like robin having the star role in a batman movie. It doesnt make sence! i am truly annoyed with this selection i dont possibly see what the selectors find positive in the "manbears" game other than his size. he doesnt play as hard as tom robertson and i feel compelled to start calling him the "teddybear".



Elcapitano it is lovely to see your return but for you to call opl a teddy bear is outrageous, he has sheer presence and aggression on the paddock which I believe he has earnt his 1s selection but knowing the potential of sprinting fridge - Tomas Robertson. He plays well next week he will find and Australian jersey to use as his bib, but for opl he does have to pick up his work rate if he is going to selected further but for his presence the man has 15inch arms...

This is in no way a personal attack on opl as a player i am just puzzled as to how the best schoolboy prop in australia and the strongest(gym based) in over a decade has been left outside of the nsw 1s side

 

[Gristlechewer]

El C and JBC I just stopped at Rat Park for a captain cook at the 1's and now have no doubt that OPL is the man. Doing everything that was asked of him and some more. I don't know why you all doubt him. Big, muscular and vibrant, I am sure he end up with a spot on The Rugby Club given the opportunity. He's a keeper.

 

[Done that]

I find the comments & debate re the front row positions intriguing , in particular the comments regarding GPS props & their alleged superiority.
I attended all the recent school games between the various associations in recent weeks , & whilst it was clear that the GPS team was the superior team overall ,I did
not think that the GPS scrum was obviously superior to their opponents .Those that watched the CAS game last week would have seen the GPS forwards on top in
general play,rucks & mauls , & the lineouts , but if you take a particular interest in scrums & the technique involved as I do , you would have to have noticed that the two scrums were pretty equal.
In fact there were occasions when the CAS pack had GPS on the back foot .The exception to this equality was when Satui of CAS , left the field to go to the blood bin for a period &
then GPS subsequently exerted notable pressure on their opponents.When he returned to the field the scrums became more of a contest again.
My point is that the selection of the front row was/ should not have been as simple as some are suggesting.

 

[Lee Grant]

You make good points there Done That but some of the remarks about Robertson being picked in the Twos instead of the Ones have some merit.

He has been the best LHP in the GPS this year playing in a dominant Joeys scrum in trials, and was superb otherwise also, yet he was switched to the TH side by the GPS to accommodate OPL who is new to propping.

At least he will get a chance to prop against the excellent 2011 Qld U/16 front row in the Oz Schools tournament though again, it's as a THP.

But what would have happened if he was picked by GPS in his proper position?
.

 

[Joshua B Cummings]

Well lee if you had have rocked up to rat park this afternoon you would have seen Tomas Robertson chewing through the nsw 1s front row, opl was monstered and after 2 Scrums he went off, Henry Pederson filled in and was converted to a bent coat hanger. Robertson is growing in confidence lee and the coaches themselves see him as a seriously recognized force at tight head - jbc out!

 

[Joshua B Cummings]

Lee you want to see video footage of this ask Manu Sutherland who has footage

 

[Brian Westlake]

You make good points there Done That but some of the remarks about Robertson being picked in the Twos instead of the Ones have some merit.

He has been the best LHP in the GPS this year playing in a dominant Joeys scrum in trials, and was superb otherwise also, yet he was switched to the TH side by the GPS to accommodate OPL who is new to propping.

At least he will get a chance to prop against the excellent 2011 Qld U/16 front row in the Oz Schools tournament though again, it's as a THP.

But what would have happened if he was picked by GPS in his proper position?
.

Well lee if you had have rocked up to rat park this afternoon you would have seen Tomas Robertson chewing through the nsw 1s front row, opl was monstered and after 2 Scrums he went off, Henry Pederson filled in and was converted to a bent coat hanger. Robertson is growing in confidence lee and the coaches themselves see him as a seriously recognized force at tight head - jbc out!

JBC and LG, I heard from within the 1's team that this was the case yesterday. Can they the selectors move Robertson up to 1's if Lees doesn't perform?
On a down side, I just watched a very average game of Rugby with the Reds. Not good.

 

[Lee Grant]

No, they usually keep the same teams come hell or high water because they train together. If there are injuries they put shadow players into the reserves of the team with the injury, with the original reserves stepping up.

I can't think of a case where it was otherwise, though my memory is not the sharpest these days. Come to think of it - it was pretty dull at the best of times - if I remember right.

I wouldn't feel too sorry for the lads in the NSW IIs front row: they will be playing against a very good Qld Is front row and their value for Oz Schools selection will be all the more obvious - for better or worse.

Incidentally, according to one of the Joeys forwards, 1. Robertson is the fastest in the pack and 2. Carolan and 7. Murphy are 2nd =.

I have no idea if that is right, or not, but that is one fast Piggy.
.

 

[Man on the hill]

No, they usually keep the same teams come hell or high water because they train together. ...
.

That would be consistent with this being more about player development / pathway, than (necessarily) about being the champion team - the real pot of "gold" has an Australian schools jumper in it!

 

[bossmaster]

Both LG and New, why not look to sanctions such is happening in Subbies ATM. I realise you can't take points from these teams, but, if this is going to be the kids main pathway of earning, what are refs and touchies supposed to do? Stand back and cop a gobful from a petulant grub? Fine them. Then their school if they cannot pay. All of a sudden I can see a lot of Sports High Schools, not just having training on the curriculum, but Manners 101. Stand the offender down from all sports not just RU in case as many are dual codes. Make these children take accountability for their actions.

of course we should not have these chs scum saying rude words

 

[Gristlechewer]

of course we should not have these chs scum saying rude words

It isn't just CHS players b, it is endemic amongst quite a lot of all players at schoolboys age. They honestly think that they are invincible and accountable to no one person, club or school. Narcissism reigns supreme amongst these boys. You may have to ask your teachers on this one.