Shute Shield 2010

[DPK]

Exactly, they have virtually the whole Waratahs side to themselves, what more do they want?

Seriously, it's become that sick a joke in recent years the NSWRU may as well permanently house the Shute Shield at Sydney University.

Eastwood fan here who occasionally despises Uni.

Topo is right. Sydney Uni get the advantage this year, but it's not like the system was brought in this year.

Who's to say that Uni's opposition wouldn't prefer the opportunity to prove themselves against some truly world class players, and to learn a thing or two afterwords?

I saw Eastwood play the Two Blues this year at TG. Post game, Matt Dunning and the Parra prop had a lengthy discussion on the pitch about scrum technique, with plenty of advice and compliments being shared around. The ten that comes up against Barnes this week will learn so much from this experience; they may get beaten, but many semi-pro player thrive on challenges and would love this opportunity.

Besides, what's better than an upset win? An upset win at their home ground.

 

[Gnostic]

The only thing that really needs to be considered in the whole debate on the Uni Home ground thing is the state of the pitch. It like, Coogee has a bloody cricket pitch in the middle of it (OK off to the side) and generally the grass coverage was poor when I was there last a few months ago. Given it was winter I cannot see that this situation has improved.This is the only complaint I would give weight to out of the Rebels camp. Surely some guarentee on providing a top grade surface forms part of the tender process.

This isn't a round robin game. Move all the games to Concord which has a very good pitch.

 

[I like to watch]

I agree Gnostic,
The state of the field should be considered when allocating venues.
From memory the only 2 fields in good order atm are Rat park & Concord.

 

[Des]

I agree Gnostic,
The state of the field should be considered when allocating venues.
From memory the only 2 fields in good order atm are Rat park & Concord.

Walked on Coogee after the game on Sat. Great. Would have loved to have got tackled on it myself. Agreed that state of the ground should be part of the tender process and I can remember back to last year when Uni played Eastwood at Uni and at least 3 players went off with knee injuries All over the preparation of the ground in readiness for cricket.
If Souths are good enough they will beat Uni - If they don't they should have bought a better team. Maybe next year ????

 

[I like to watch]

Where is the cricket pitch @ coogee?

 

[Gnostic]

Where is the cricket pitch @ coogee?

Eastern side near the touch line.

 

[topo]

The state of the field should be considered when allocating venues.

Uni trot their rock stars out onto it every home game. They don't seem to suffer too many injuries because of it.

 

[Gnostic]

Uni trot their rock stars out onto it every home game. They don't seem to suffer too many injuries because of it.

Come on Topo you have to agree that the finals are the end show piece of the comp and should be held on the best grounds available.

I agree totally with the money raising theme behind the bidding process and it is a laudable idea. BUT surely some guarentee should be in that tender process that the ground meet basic standards. 1st Grade games should not be played with a cricket pitch. Hard grounds and lack of grass will occur during drought and after a long season but surely if you tender for the Finals you have to ensure you pitch is in A1 condition, not start preparing for the cricket season.

 

[topo]

Come on Topo you have to agree that the finals are the end show piece of the comp and should be held on the best grounds available.

I agree totally with the money raising theme behind the bidding process and it is a laudable idea. BUT surely some guarentee should be in that tender process that the ground meet basic standards. 1st Grade games should not be played with a cricket pitch. Hard grounds and lack of grass will occur during drought and after a long season but surely if you tender for the Finals you have to ensure you pitch is in A1 condition, not start preparing for the cricket season.

I agree with you that the finals should be played on the best grounds. I don't agree with the tender process for allocating grounds for finals for exactly the reasons that have been put above. It makes it possible that one side will get an advantage that they may not appear to have earned. Uni has been on the wrong end of this a few times over recent years and copped it sweet. I would prefer a system where you earn the right for a home semi. That system works in my local comp (Central North) and everybody accepts it. However, that is not the system we have. NSW RU has come up with this bizarre set up, not Uni. If it has worked out in Uni's favour, blame NSW rugby, not Uni.
It is also worth noting that Uni have already spent a not inconsiderable sum setting up their oval for the game. Marquees, security, accommodation for the ABC TV crew, catering, arrangements for sponsors. The decision would be hard to reverse and Uni would feel rightly aggreived if it was. They are just playing by the rules.

 

[Gnostic]

No arguments at all Topo, I think the Uni conspiracy theory is just crap. People used to whinge all the time about the Wicks when we won Premiership after Premiership. Notice that even with the few Wallabies that the Wicks have missing they still made the 6 even with 60 odd players need this year because of injury and the whinging happens because three Wallaby players may make a rare appearance for their club.

My only contention isn't with Uni it is with the NSWRU for the system which has not ensured that the best fields are used for the finals. It would be harsh to remove the game from Uni Oval after the club has made the expenditure and we know the NSWRU has no dosh for compo on that score.

I do have a beef with all the clubs that start rolling a Cricket pitch in their fields before the end of the Rugby Season.

 

[Thin Thighs]

Hardly seems fair, but them's the rules, and sometimes you just got to harden up and play better to make the victory seem that much sweeter.

Judging from the comparison of the ovals on the ABC, Coogee Oval has "looked" the best with a good cover of lush grass and well presented. Woollahra Oval was looking like an Ashley Martin ad with patchy cover. Milner was not much better looking.

Lets hope SRU can sort out this rather silly situation for next years finals when they are running things.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Exactly, they have virtually the whole Waratahs side to themselves, what more do they want?

Seriously, it's become that sick a joke in recent years the NSWRU may as well permanently house the Shute Shield at Sydney University.

I'm totally sympathetic to Souths fans over this, but Uni's current period of dominance is only a recent thing. They waited nearly 30 years for a flag before their current run. I seem to recall in my youth Randwick winning something like 7 in a row and having the equivalent of a full Wallaby team running around in the 1's. It's all cyclical.

 

[fatprop]

Where is the cricket pitch @ coogee?

Coogee always seemed to be embedded with coral, prick of a ground

 

[Piggy's]

Isn't West Harbour a club , or do you see them as a feeder club for the others ?

Yes West harbour is a club, but with so many props at that club and juniors rissing from lower grades, They produce so many local talent players. I think other clubs should be able to contract these players and use them, e.g Parra, penrith and so on..the lack of props at these clubs mentioned penrith and parra has had a big impact when comming to scrummaging during there season and I think with the elite props at west and other top clubs, will benefit from it. this will also benefit from promoting good rugby players from out west and the game of rugby itself...

 

[Lindommer]

In 2009 1st grade Gordon finished 3rd and Warringah finished 6th. The elimination semi was played at Warringah's home ground. The same tendering process for semis was used. Strangely, hardly anyone seemed to notice. But when Uni are seen to get an advantage.......Let loose the dogs of war!

NO ground which has a cricket pitch on the rugby playing surface should be considered for the finals. And grounds with limited parking should be considered only for a first week's finals match. This means Chatswood, Manly, North Sydney and University Ovals don't get finals and Coogee and Woollahra get first week games only. I can't say I'd recommend Granville Oval hosting a finals match due to its poor facilities. That leaves Concord, Forshaw, Millner, Nepean and Rat Park to host the majority of finals matches. If Gordon, Manly, NS, Uni, Randwick and ES whinge about not getting finals matches, put the Colts on there.

How about the NSWRU, or the SRU, do something adventurous and take rugby finals out west to the wonderful St Marys League Oval?

 

[Gnostic]

So who wants to tip for the weekend?

Uni V Sths - Sorry Rebels - Uni by 20.

Randwick V Eastwood - Randwick of course by lots

I must say that I have enjoyed the Shield a lot this year. The rugby has been good and there seemes to be some feeling returning to the games and the comp that has been missing for a few years after the changes to the comps and Laws. Stability is a good thing.

 

[fatprop]

So who wants to tip for the weekend?

Uni V Sths - Sorry Rebels - Uni by 20.

Randwick V Eastwood - Randwick of course by lots

I must say that I have enjoyed the Shield a lot this year. The rugby has been good and there seemes to be some feeling returning to the games and the comp that has been missing for a few years after the changes to the comps and Laws. Stability is a good thing.

I can't see Randwick getting over Eastwood

 

[Gnostic]

Wash your mouth out FP, you have blasphemed Coogee and Randwick all on one page, it is a disgrace I say.

 

[fatprop]

2010 TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD
Preliminary Finals
Saturday 25 September

EASTWOOD v RANDWICK at Woollahra Oval (3:10pm, ABC TV)

Eastwood: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Matt Dunning; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Ben Hand; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Locky McCaffrey; 9. James Stannard, 10. James Foote; 11. Lachie Turner, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Tim Bennetts, 14. John Grant; 15. Ben Batger.

Randwick:
1. Sekope Kepu, 2. John Fonokalafi, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Junior Maninoa, 5. Mark Chisholm; 6. Rocky Elsom, 7. Seilala Lam, 8. Ben Mowen; 9. Patrick Phibbs, 10. Toby Browne; 11. Shaun Foley, 12. John Tamanika, 13. Nick Cummins, 14. Tom Tombleson; 15. Kurtley Beale.
Referee: James Leckie
Sunday 26 September

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY at University Oval No.1 (3:10pm, ABC TV)
Southern Districts:
1. Nic Henderson, 2. Nick Seymour, 3. Dan Palmer; 4. Rome Nifo, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Sitaleki Timani, 7. Hamish Paterson, 8. Radike Samo; 9. Dewet Roos, 10. Kurt Morath; 11. Sisa Waqa, 12. Josh Gamgee, 13. Brackin Karauria-Henry, 14. Chris Kerr; 15. Rohan Saifolio.

Sydney University:
1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Jeremy Tilse; 4. Dave Dennis, 5. Dean Mumm; 6. Ben McCalman, 7. Jono Jenkins, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Luke Burgess, 10. Berrick Barnes; 11. Lachie Mitchell, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Peter Betham; 15. Julian Huxley.
Referee: Steve Walsh

Damn fine Front row for Eastwood with Ben Alexander off the bench

 

[naza]

Interesting to see Uni have sacrificed size in the 2nd row to get McCalman into the starting lineup. I would have thought they'd have Carter or McDuling in, given the monster forward pack Souths have. I don't see Uni playing with width but I guess they've had a lot of success playing their rugby league brand of footy, so I assume they plan to wear Souths out with constant recycling. Burgess will murder Souths if they get lazy on the fringes. God I hope Souths win or at the very least Radike Samo goes on a big hitting rampage.

Hard to tip against Eastwood. I don't rate Randwick's backline one bit, though having Beale back helps them enormously there. Woodies should carve them up. I'd like to see Locky McCaffrey step up - he's been very ordinary in the games i've seen him this season. Really needs to assert himself with ball in hand.