#SIRU2016 Round Five Preview:
Some bizarre results from last weekend, top marks to the Blacks for playing all three games on the weekend, I’m sure they felt every minute on Sunday! I hear that Albury were in the mix against the Phantoms, but probably need to start a bit better. Tumut v City was a tough game for both teams and there was plenty of feeling in the match!
Albury (6) v Ag College (4)
This match was a cricket score last year, 101-0 to Albury and I’m pretty confident that won’t be the case this year. Ag College are starting to string some form together and are showing the competition that they are in it together and are going to play for 80mins.
The Steamers appear to be putting some building blocks in place for the season and are adjusting to a new look team in 2016. It’s round five now though and they should be settling into some combinations and looking to the Dave Coyle’s and Aaron MacDougall’s of the team to lead from the front.
The match up between Gabe Whathisname and Aaron MacDougall in the front row should be a good one. If Richard Manion has enough brownie points for a run this weekend, he will surely have an impact on this game.
Griffith (5) v City (7)
The writing’s on the wall for these guys now. Round Five and sitting mid-table, they need to start getting some points on the ladder to be there at the pointy end of the season.
City haven’t be disgraced in any of their games so far but are probably lacking that sustained effort that allows teams to control a game for 80mins. Some of their younger players stood up for them last week and showed some class out wide and at halfback which is a positive for them as a club.
Griffith are in a similar position to City, however have managed a win over CSU early on. Successive losses to Waratahs, Leeton and Ag College aren’t what they want though and form on the road is something they need to address.
I don’t think this game will determine either team’s season, but they are both desperate for a win in this match and I reckon Griffith will be very different this week to what they were last week at Beres Ellwood. Was it @maulalltheway who described Griffith as the Jekyll and Hyde of the competition? Probably a pretty accurate description at Round 5, what will the rest of the season hold for them?
Waratahs (1) v Tumut (2) – Match of the Round
Both teams are deservedly top of the table as they have shown the most initiative across the competition to date, this game will be a good one. Get down to Conolly on Saturday if you’re in Wagga, there’s plenty to play for in this match.
An evenly matched forward pack for both teams here, although they do want to play different styles. Waratahs are keen to play outside the 15m lines and provide wide support roles to their centres. This style allows them to win the ball quickly out there, but are they vulnerable to a fast pilfer from the tackler and can they maintain this style for 80mins? Waratahs traditionally look to that “pod” style pattern from their forwards, however with some new faces in their ranks, will this take some time to fine tune?
Tumut’s forwards are able to match Waratahs in terms of size and skill, however probably favour the centre of the field to attack through the middle or look for the “exhaust” pattern and roll around the corner. Ball runners off Tino Manualevo is their preferred option to settle the play down and look for mismatches; they generally make ground here but have to work hard for those metres.
Waratahs centre Angus Le Leivre is getting the wraps he deserves; he played Shute Shield for a reason. He will need to work harder against Tumut though than he has so far this season as the Bulls don’t mind defending and have some hard shoulders to offer in defence.
There’s no doubt that Waratahs are a comprehensive outfit at the moment and have been putting some very strong results together. This creates an interesting situation for Coach Mitchell – handy players in second grade, big wins in First Grade, selection headaches across the park. What drives the team that bags the big results? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good problem to have, however big wins can breed complacency.
Saturday should bring a great day for rugby, sunny, temperature in the high teens late in the day – a near perfect day for footy. For me, the Bulls ability to hold shape in defence will be important and from a Waratahs point of view, their ability to be patient with their systems will be tested this week.
CSU (8) v Leeton (3)
Another tough gig for the Reddies against a handy Phantoms outfit this week. Reddies will not lay down in this one and will make every effort to frustrate their opposition and score against the run of play wherever they can.
Leeton need to keep working hard for each other, particularly in the later stages of the game. My scouts tell me that the Phantoms have been vulnerable in the middle of the second half and are guilty of a bit of a drop in concentration which they probably need to shore up.
They have a strong forward pack and some good ball runners through the middle of the field, a sustained effort for the full 80mins from the Phantoms would make them hard to stop.