For those who missed the general preview: The Australian National Under 16 Rugby Championships starts on Monday, 1 October 2012 at Riverview in Sydney.
The annual tournament has been generously supported by the ARU for about 10 years. The championships kick-off at 9:30am on Monday 1 October when NSW Schools take on NSW Country, followed by Sydney Juniors taking on Victoria at 10:45am.
In Division I there are two teams from Queensland, three from NSW, and one each from WA, Victoria and the ACT. They will play three matches in two pools, and on Finals Day the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams in one pool play the corresponding teams in the other pool.
Division II comprises teams from South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the National Indigenous Team. They all play each other and the winner is decided on table points.
DIVISION 1
Of the three NSW teams, NSW Country had the best preparation. The squad was announced early and they got a solid preparation from the Gold Coast Carnival in the term 2 holidays. They also played Sydney Juniors in early August.
They struggled at the Carnival against the Shore and Riverview 2nd XVs, but recorded good victories against Aquinas College, and Burnham Grammar. That exposure to open grade schoolboy football will make them ready for the pace and physicality expected at Nationals. NSW Country have drawn a tough pool and need to defeat the fancied NSW Schools team in the tournament’s opening game to get into the final on Friday.
As well as the City/Country clash, Sydney Juniors recently beat a travel weary ACT Brumbies side 36-0. Some Juniors were regular 1st XV players for their school; some were young veterans of the successful 2011 NSW JRU U/15 team and several participated in the 2011 ARU Junior Gold Squad.
The Juniors have some big boppers in the pack, and scavenging loosies. The class and pace of their backline will make them hard to contain. Many of the boys play together regularly for either club, district or school; so their combinations should enable them to maintain composure under pressure. The team seems to have been selected with a game plan based on accuracy and precision in mind. They have drawn a tough pool and need to beat the fancied Qld Red team to have any chance of making the final, but it would be a brave punter who would write them off.
The NSW Schools squad has 12 lads who play for GPS Schools and also includes players from the 2011 NSW JRU Under 15 side. The majority of players were in the 2011 ARU Junior Gold Squad and several are 1st XV regulars for their schools, in key positions. This team hasn’t played any trial games yet; so it is hard to gauge their preparation comparative to Sydney Juniors.
NSW Schools have selected some bulldozers for the front row and the rest of the piggies seem to be big, fast loose forwards that at a pinch could play in the tight.
The backline has some gazelles and greyhounds with astute rugby brains which makes them suited to a game plan based on fast pace, quick recycling and rapid ball movement. But they also have the ability to switch to a field position game plan, supported by some kickers with booming punts.
On paper, NSW Schools has a slight edge on Sydney Juniors and, as usual, are not seeded to play the QLD Red team in pool play. This will enhance the chances of the most fancied NSW and Queensland teams meeting in the final.
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