Junior Waratahs 28 - Tonga A 18
Yesterday the JWs bombed any number of tries near the Tonga goal line but played more to their ability in the 2nd half.
Then in the 4th Qtr, and all the reserves on the field, Tonga scored a couple of well-deserved tries. The 2nd was like a 7s try: the Tongan lad had the ball close to the JW goal-line almost standing still, grubbered between a couple of grunters and ran past them as they turned around, and fell on the ball.
It was hard to assess the players as much of what they did was spoiled by bad teamwork - though most were guilty of contributing to it. Dropping the ball in the tackle was endemic. However – here are some remarks on some players.
• 6. Maile Latekefu continues his impressive progress. He has a nose for the ball and is a good linker; (he scored the 1st try.) I'd get him into the Oz 7s team as a Vanderglass type forward.
• All the tight 5 forwards are Super contracted players, or close to it, and their work in the set pieces was too good for the visitors, except that Ulugia was too generous to them with bad throws.
• 8. Lopeti Timani was the perfect example of spoiling good play with losing the ball too much in the tackle.
• 9. Josh Holmes had a sharper match and was like when he played well for the Rats last year. Once he went on a snipe that morphed into run down touch then infield with broken play but was dragged down just short. Naturally someone lost the ball in the tackle after that.
• 10. Rohan Saifoloi was less impressive than in his last start in Nowra. He hogged the ball and some of his passes were ill-timed and directed.
• 11. Afa Pakalani was quieter but worked well with supporting players. Made a good fist at fullback when he was switched there at the end. The old timers near me sighed and clapped when he kicked the ball out with a long torpy.
• 8. Boyd Killingworth played in the 4th Qtr. Looks like the 2010 Oz Schools player is going to be a handy senior player.
• 14. John Grant – looks like 7s has improved his footwork and passing as he is not such an up and down player any more. But the first thing he has to do is run fast at opponents, then do the other stuff.
The backs didn't get a lot of chances individually and often had to create their own luck. The new backs who look like they could make the next step up were:
• 13. Tom Kingston – is already contracted and you can see why. He is a top identifier of opportunity. Knows how to set up other players and get a the golden ball to them.
• 12. Bernard Foley – hardly ever got the ball in a good position, but when he got a slight chance you could see the potential. Bruce is right: he is a fine flyhalf type and I hope he will get the gig in the next JW game. Looked good at 10 in the 4th Qtr.
• 15. Jake Woodhouse didn't set the world on fire but showed some nice running and supporting as he did for the 2009 Oz Schools team.