NSW Schools - Trial Games and Selections 2015

[couldabeen]

Could it be that the unfortunate demise of Country Schools has played some part in the improvement of AICES this year? Many of the boys above seem to come from the country.

It is a good observation Quick Hands,
A few thoughts
1 My son played AICES in under 16's, missed being selected for AICES in opens so went to the country Carnival, selected for Country schools (along with a couple of others who could have played AICES) who went OK and watched AICES get slaughtered. No sour grapes. But selectors don't always get it right.
2 This time AICES have gone well in 16's and Opens (Only one game though so far) and they do have a good number of Country kids playing.
3. Note however that most of the kids who played for Country Schools in my young blokes time came from Central Coast, Hunter, and then up into the North of the state. The kids playing for AICES this year do not have that same Northern reach. So I wonder about the opportunities that are available for the North.
4. NSW Country Schools provided a strong weekend Carnival, at least two training camps, OS Tours and some great exposure to a number of specialist coaches. They also made contacts with Sydney Colts teams and well represented in that competition. I don't know that AICES is yet able to offer the same level of exposure. (But that may have been the reason the Country Schools shut down - just too demanding)
In any case - your original observation is correct - lots of Country Kids in AICES and that may be a good way to take up some of the loss of Country Schools.

 

[sarcophilus]

So NSW I 2015 "Incumbents" modified a little

1. LHP Harry JOHNSTON-HOLMES, Merewether High School/CHS
2. H Jack NETTLETON St Augustine’s College/ISA or Tom HORTON St Josephs College/GPS
3. THP Will McRAE, St Augustines/ISA
Johnston-Holmes has been wearing 1 and playing 3 this year, I would rather see both these guys up here then split int0 tight heads for ones and twos
4. RL Nathanial GITTOES, St Josephs College/GPS
5. LL Ryan McCAWLLY, Scots /GPS
6. BSFTom PIRODDI, Newington/GPS
7. OSF Lachlan ANDERSON, Oakhill College/ISA
8. No8 SWINTON Knox/CAS
9. Half Harrison GODDARD, Oakhill/ISA
10. Fly Half Jack McGREGOR, St Ignatius/GPS
11. Wing Sepesa TAROGI, Newington/GPS
12. IC Luke LOUGH, St Augustines/ISA
13.
14. Wing Simon KENNEWELL, Newington/GPS
15. FB Tom WRIGHT, St Josephs College/GPS

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^Good looking team @Sarcophilus, but they're no longer the Incumbents if you add new blood.

No space for Joe WILLIAMS from Knox at OC?

 

[10to12]

So NSW I 2015 "Incumbents" modified a little

1. LHP Harry JOHNSTON-HOLMES, Merewether High School/CHS
2. H Jack NETTLETON St Augustine’s College/ISA or Tom HORTON St Josephs College/GPS
3. THP Will McRAE, St Augustines/ISA
Johnston-Holmes has been wearing 1 and playing 3 this year, I would rather see both these guys up here then split int0 tight heads for ones and twos
4. RL Nathanial GITTOES, St Josephs College/GPS
5. LL Ryan McCAWLLY, Scots /GPS
6. BSFTom PIRODDI, Newington/GPS
7. OSF Lachlan ANDERSON, Oakhill College/ISA
8. No8 SWINTON Knox/CAS
9. Half Harrison GODDARD, Oakhill/ISA
10. Fly Half Jack McGREGOR, St Ignatius/GPS
11. Wing Sepesa TAROGI, Newington/GPS
12. IC Luke LOUGH, St Augustines/ISA
13.
14. Wing Simon KENNEWELL, Newington/GPS
15. FB Tom WRIGHT, St Josephs College/GPS

I think your pretty right. A lot of the boys pick themselves. Interested why Gitts as lock and not 6which is where I would play him. Also the 13 and 15 (injured unfortunately ) from CHS would be in my starting lineup. I'm in two minds whether you play Simon at 13 and the CHS boy on the wing or the other way around. With theCHS 15 injured I'd go with Tom . Now to see what happens on friday.
The NSW2 team will be interesting

 

[Hugh Jarse]

It is a good observation Quick Hands,
A few thoughts
1 My son played AICES in under 16's, missed being selected for AICES in opens so went to the country Carnival, selected for Country schools (along with a couple of others who could have played AICES) who went OK and watched AICES get slaughtered. No sour grapes. But selectors don't always get it right.
2 This time AICES have gone well in 16's and Opens (Only one game though so far) and they do have a good number of Country kids playing.
3. Note however that most of the kids who played for Country Schools in my young blokes time came from Central Coast, Hunter, and then up into the North of the state. The kids playing for AICES this year do not have that same Northern reach. So I wonder about the opportunities that are available for the North.
4. NSW Country Schools provided a strong weekend Carnival, at least two training camps, OS Tours and some great exposure to a number of specialist coaches. They also made contacts with Sydney Colts teams and well represented in that competition. I don't know that AICES is yet able to offer the same level of exposure. (But that may have been the reason the Country Schools shut down - just too demanding)
In any case - your original observation is correct - lots of Country Kids in AICES and that may be a good way to take up some of the loss of Country Schools.

Perhaps ARU thought that the Junior Gold Cup, targeting Under 15 and Under 17 players, would go some way to provide development opportunities for talented kids outside the elite private school rugby system.

In the olden days there were too many twists and turns, on ramps, off ramps, cul de sacs, and alternate routes on the unpaved, unlit, poorly signposted Goat track to Glory euphemistically called the Pathway to Gold, but that is for another thread.

 

[couldabeen]

Perhaps ARU thought that the Junior Gold Cup, targeting Under 15 and Under 17 players, would go some way to provide development opportunities for talented kids outside the elite private school rugby system.

In the olden days there were too many twists and turns, on ramps, off ramps, cul de sacs, and alternate routes on the unpaved, unlit, poorly signposted Goat track to Glory euphemistically called the Pathway to Gold, but that is for another thread.

Yes, and if Country kids perform well through CHS and AICES and CCC that Jnr Gold investment will pay off.

 

[sarcophilus]

^^^Good looking team @Sarcophilus, but they're no longer the Incumbents if you add new blood.

No space for Joe WILLIAMS from Knox at OC?

Mostly plagiarism, though it was noted some of the rampaging CHS backs may have been injured I left that gap for either of them

 

[Wristman]

So NSW I 2015 "Incumbents" modified a little

1. LHP Harry JOHNSTON-HOLMES, Merewether High School/CHS
2. H Jack NETTLETON St Augustine’s College/ISA or Tom HORTON St Josephs College/GPS
3. THP Will McRAE, St Augustines/ISA
Johnston-Holmes has been wearing 1 and playing 3 this year, I would rather see both these guys up here then split int0 tight heads for ones and twos
4. RL Nathanial GITTOES, St Josephs College/GPS
5. LL Ryan McCAWLLY, Scots /GPS
6. BSFTom PIRODDI, Newington/GPS
7. OSF Lachlan ANDERSON, Oakhill College/ISA
8. No8 SWINTON Knox/CAS
9. Half Harrison GODDARD, Oakhill/ISA
10. Fly Half Jack McGREGOR, St Ignatius/GPS
11. Wing Sepesa TAROGI, Newington/GPS
12. IC Luke LOUGH, St Augustines/ISA
13.
14. Wing Simon KENNEWELL, Newington/GPS
15. FB Tom WRIGHT, St Josephs College/GPS

Based on yesterdays performance I would definitely keep Gittoes at number 6, the lighter workload rendered him more dangerous around the park and Piroddi played well at lock.
It will be hard to ignore Prindiville for a wing position. He has an uncanny knack of being in the right spot and with ball in hand is very hard to stop. Fast, low, strong and with a great hand off.
Kennewell, Mcgregor and Wright all looked sharp and highly deserving of a spot.
The big dilemma is at half back.
I can't comment on Goddard I haven't seen him play.
He comes with a mighty reputation but Strang is the complete package and was outstanding last night. It's difficult to imagine someone could contribute more.
What was encouraging last night was the size and mobility of the GPS pack.
And there is Girdler to potentially add to the bulk for Fridays game.
With the GPS team as it's nucleus it's shaping up to be a formidable NSW side.

 

[Lee Grant]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Harrison Goddard as the incumbent Australian Schools starting scrumhalf must be the front runner for NSW Schools. He is marvelous in the old-fashioned use of the word.

Short is a cracking player though and if there is anybody better in the country apart from HG, this augurs well for Aus Schools rugby, and for Aus rugby generally in years to come.

I predict that these two young men will be contending against each other for some time.

I forgot to mention that there is a blog on yesterday's matches here:

http://goo.gl/2UInZF

Thanks to "rod skellet" and "Rich_E" for their contributions - and to "sidesteppa" whose video highlight of Prindivile's second try was swiped (as usual).
.

 

[sidesteppa]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Harrison Goddard as the incumbent Australian Schools starting scrumhalf must be the front runner for NSW Schools. He is marvelous in the old-fashioned use of the word.

Short is a cracking player though and if there is anybody better in the country apart from HG, this augurs well for Aus Schools rugby, and for Aus rugby generally in years to come.

I predict that these two young men will be contending against each other for some time.

I forgot to mention that there is a blog on yesterday's matches here:

http://goo.gl/2UInZF

Thanks to "rod skellet" and "Rich_E" for their contributions - and to "sidesteppa" whose video highlight of Prindivile's second try was swiped (as usual).
.

Always happy for you to swipe the vids LG, that's what they are for. Totally agree about the halfback situation, both Strang & Goddard are fantastic. I have 3 Oakhill match recordings [on the ISA thread or my youtube site] for viewers who haven't seen Goddard. He has an effortless pinpoint distribution, magical kick [also goal kicking], and is cool as ice. I'll post up a bit more footage from last night's trial game soon, but i only got there just a after halftime. Couldn't believe how far away Knox is, esp at rush hour.

 

[Lee Grant]

^^^^^^
It's actually the same distance at 2pm - but I know what you mean.

Yeah Goddard is phenomenal and in addition to your plaudits he has the speed to play in the outside backs and also the ball-playing skills of a rainmaker.
.

 

[Chris McCracken]

Could it be that the unfortunate demise of Country Schools has played some part in the improvement of AICES this year? Many of the boys above seem to come from the country.

It's possible. Some certainly would have been eligible for Country Schools, though to my knowledge, only one had previously been selected for them.

The boys had a camp for the first time this year, as well. And they came straight out of the camp into the game. My understanding is also that the coaching is probably of a higher level this year, too.

I think a few things have come together for AICES this year.

 

[sidesteppa]

More footage from the second half. I missed Kennewell's try, but the others are at 2:07, 5:31, 9:26. Poor light for video recording unfortunately, but love the steam coming off those scrums. GPS lost a lot of their own scrums with the ball squirted straight out again it seems, but it would have been like a bar of soap.

 

[themanger]

So NSW I 2015 "Incumbents" modified a little

1. LHP Harry JOHNSTON-HOLMES, Merewether High School/CHS
2. H Jack NETTLETON St Augustine’s College/ISA or Tom HORTON St Josephs College/GPS
3. THP Will McRAE, St Augustines/ISA
Johnston-Holmes has been wearing 1 and playing 3 this year, I would rather see both these guys up here then split int0 tight heads for ones and twos
4. RL Nathanial GITTOES, St Josephs College/GPS
5. LL Ryan McCAWLLY, Scots /GPS
6. BSFTom PIRODDI, Newington/GPS
7. OSF Lachlan ANDERSON, Oakhill College/ISA
8. No8 SWINTON Knox/CAS
9. Half Harrison GODDARD, Oakhill/ISA
10. Fly Half Jack McGREGOR, St Ignatius/GPS
11. Wing Sepesa TAROGI, Newington/GPS
12. IC Luke LOUGH, St Augustines/ISA
13.
14. Wing Simon KENNEWELL, Newington/GPS
15. FB Tom WRIGHT, St Josephs College/GPS

Tom Piroddi at 6? plays 4/5 as his usual position.

 

[Brian Westlake]

Tom Piroddi at 6? plays 4/5 as his usual position.

I thought that too. And Gittoes seems to have laid claim to the BSF Jersey. In a big way

 

[themanger]

I thought that too. And Gittoes seems to have laid claim to the BSF Jersey. In a big way

Agreed, i think it will likley be the other way around.

On another note, can anyone inform me how the junior country team is picked? also the quality of there side. I will be watching this thursday so can do a small match report when they clash with gps white.

 

[Nectarphiliac]

Seems hardly like a GPS "dominated" side to me

 

[Chris McCracken]

Agreed, i think it will likley be the other way around.

On another note, can anyone inform me how the junior country team is picked? also the quality of there side. I will be watching this thursday so can do a small match report when they clash with gps white.

The junior country teams are chosen from the Country Championships.

This year, the 18s championships had relatively poor representation from the zones with only 3 or 4 zones at the carnival.

There are a lot of faces I don't know in the team, so the quality is a bit of an unknown for me, though.

 

[sarcophilus]

That's about as dominated as you are going to get from me,
a 50% portion of a team representing 6 associations is a pretty significant voting block and so far this year I have been very polite to our GPS friends.
remembering I understand 1st XV are selected then 2nd XV and then reserves (before the barbarians)

as for the Gittoes/Piroddi thing It seems I am not good at copying other peoples work well ....properly

 

[Bingham]

Having no sons involved in GPS so no Bias and having watched the GPS1s play I agree Strang played well and Prindiville outstanding. I thought Tom Wright played well enough but thought the No7 was a real work horse. Seemed to be everywhere and his defence was outstanding. Did he play rep last year?
Can someone confirm his name as all programs gone by the time I arrived!
Opinions?
Also No2 had a great game.
Can someone confirm if Girgler can be selected for NSW if missing games through injury?