USA and Canadian Rugby

[yeahmate]

So he's an Aussie of American heritage pursuing his opportunities over there?

yeah he was born in the US but raised in Canberra
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...as-lestranges-eagles-dare-20130119-2d0ew.html

 

[USARugger]

Dolan's a rising star in terms of forwards in the US. He's a tough and confrontational player so he should go okay if he gets the support from his team mates.

L'Estrange is very inconsistent. Performed well in the ARC but he's previous outings have been very mixed. Don't know how often he played 1sts for Uni but he's been playing his Rugby exclusively for NYAC for the last few seasons.

I'm really, really disappointed by 9. Petri and 10. L'Estrange when we have Davies on the bench and Maximo D'Achaval in the wilderness.

Almost like Tolkin coached both of them before or something.

Toby L'Estrange was a flyhalf for Syndney Uni before he came to the USA.

 

[exISA]

I'm really, really disappointed by 9. Petri and 10. L'Estrange when we have Davies on the bench and Maximo D'Achaval in the wilderness.

Almost like Tolkin coached both of them before or something.

Toby L'Estrange was a flyhalf for Syndney Uni before he came to the USA.

Ye Max got one full start in the ARC and some limited time in the early games. Hes a fantastic player with a big big future . I prefer him at Fullback to fly half as he is just so rock solid at the back with good game management . He has been questioned in the past about his speed which at club level is no problem but at national level, you need a speedy full back. He is a very adapt 10 too, but he plays a more "tradiational northern hemisphere" stylle of 10 which doesnt really get backlines going forward (IMO) . He probably would have his spot on the bench if one Zach Pangalenin wasn't back from Tiger Rugby duties in Shanghai - Zach is an exciting number 10 , plays for OMBAC and I recently spent time with him when I was helping out the TIger Rugby 7's team at the Serevi 7's. So explosive with ball in hand and I really hope he gets his chance against the Maori.

 

[USARugger]

Ye Max got one full start in the ARC and some limited time in the early games. Hes a fantastic player with a big big future . I prefer him at Fullback to fly half as he is just so rock solid at the back with good game management . He has been questioned in the past about his speed which at club level is no problem but at national level, you need a speedy full back. He is a very adapt 10 too, but he plays a more "tradiational northern hemisphere" stylle of 10 which doesnt really get backlines going forward (IMO) . He probably would have his spot on the bench if one Zach Pangalenin wasn't back from Tiger Rugby duties in Shanghai - Zach is an exciting number 10 , plays for OMBAC and I recently spent time with him when I was helping out the TIger Rugby 7's team at the Serevi 7's. So explosive with ball in hand and I really hope he gets his chance against the Maori.

I'd be happy to see either Zach or Maximo given starting time at 10, especially for what is essentially an exhibition game like this one. There's been too much faith put in the same players who have consistently let the team down, kind've like the situation in Australia it would seem!

 

[p.Tah]

The USA vs. NZ Maori is live on Foxtel. Sunday morning at 11am.

Fox is brining us 12 and 1/2 straight hours of rugby starting with the Wallabies vs Italy at 12:30am on Sunday

 

[exISA]

USA put in a good performance tonihgt losing only 29-19 , they were in with a sniff of a big upset too..

 

[AngrySeahorse]

The USA vs. NZ Maori is live on Foxtel. Sunday morning at 11am.

Fox is brining us 12 and 1/2 straight hours of rugby starting with the Wallabies vs Italy at 12:30am on Sunday

USA put in a good performance tonihgt losing only 29-19 , they were in with a sniff of a big upset too..

Managed to catch this game. Very good quality game. I was impressed with the US performance. The commentators were so biased but it was more funny than annoying.

 

[tigerland12]

Good game to watch. I thought the Yanks two locks and number 8 were impressive.

The commentators were hilarious.

 

[swingpass]

i assume toby l'estrange is son of jim who played centre for sydney uni and australian universities in the 70's, elder brother peter played for melbourne uni and victoria in 70's and a further brother (? name eludes me) also for sydney. jim was CEO of the NSWRU and waratahs till 2010. from memory he worked in the US during the mid 80's

 

[wamberal]

David L'Estrange also presumably a relative?

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Good game to watch. I thought the Yanks two locks and number 8 were impressive.

The commentators were hilarious.

I thought Dolan (8) was very impressive. Close to best on fied. He should be hunting pro opportunities as I think he could make the grade. Another one that I liked the look of was Siddal.

 

[tigerland12]

I thought Dolan (8) was very impressive. Close to best on fied. He should be hunting pro opportunities as I think he could make the grade. Another one that I liked the look of was Siddal.

Yep agree on those two. Dolan was great in the air in particular (line-outs and restarts).

I was actually very suprised with how the yanks went, given they were missing their 3 top Pro players (Manoa, LaValla and Wyles), but to their credit they looked great.

 

[tranquility]

USA put in a good performance tonihgt losing only 29-19 , they were in with a sniff of a big upset too..

Damn impressive result. Lookout if they ever get proper funding / structure. The maori would give the Wallabies a very good hitout.

 

[exISA]

ahh didnt realise L'Estrange was a Marist lad.

Yep if the USA manage the game right at the top and have proper funding where players can actually play pro in the USA - watch out world rugby. Those that miss out on an NFL contract would have something to go on - and these guys that do miss out are athletes.

 

[swingpass]

i assume toby l'estrange is son of jim who played centre for sydney uni and australian universities in the 70's, elder brother peter played for melbourne uni and victoria in 70's and a further brother (? name eludes me) also for sydney. jim was CEO of the NSWRU and waratahs till 2010. from memory he worked in the US during the mid 80's

if l'estrange was born in the US but raised in canberra, he more likely to be son of Michael, the other brother who was a very senior public servant, secretary of DFAT and i think cabinet sec to john howard. also was at Berkeley uni in the 80's

 

[Antony]

if l'estrange was born in the US but raised in canberra, he more likely to be son of Michael, the other brother who was a very senior public servant, secretary of DFAT and i think cabinet sec to john howard. also was at Berkeley uni in the 80's

Some of the depth of knowledge on this site is incredible.

 

[en_force_er]

Some of the depth of knowledge on this site is incredible.

Agreed. I mean, you learn a fair bit chatting to people in clubland but G&G is like a giant network of clubland gossips feeding off each other haha.

 

[swingpass]

Some of the depth of knowledge on this site is incredible.

thank you. arcane bits of useless knowledge is my forte.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Just watching the Maori v US game and wondering how long until US threaten the Wallabies.
The olympic 7s is going to give the game a huge boost, to the extent it hasn't already.
they have ready made development pathways through hundreds (thousands?) of colleges with serious athletics programs needing to spend equal $$ on men and women.
And you get the sense from the commentary that the demands of the game have an appeal to the american psyche.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Just watching the Maori v US game and wondering how long until US threaten the Wallabies.
The olympic 7s is going to give the game a huge boost, to the extent it hasn't already.
they have ready made development pathways through hundreds (thousands?) of colleges with serious athletics programs needing to spend equal $$ on men and women.
And you get the sense from the commentary that the demands of the game have an appeal to the american psyche.

It will still be a few years yet. The key will be for them to continue the growth being experienced at the High School and youth levels. The game is being taken up more and more often at these levels and its beginning to establish itself as a Varsity level sport more and more.

This will push the game over the top at the Collegiate level. It is occurring slowly with college clubs lookin to develop more competitive structures that are able to generate both commercial returns and support on the ground in concepts such as the Varsty Cup (a 12 team post season competition) and the American Rugby Collegiate Championship.

The key will be to establish some sort of professional structure. The recent positive turn outs in Houston and Philadelphia will help bring this along. They get that sorted and they could be pushing many of the Tier 1 nations in the next decade.