2012 Australian Schools & National Championships

What a fibber - but all good fun. I fell asleep as usual. Don't know if my scores are right but:


As in Day 1, today's Div I results went according to the form guide, which has not been that reliable in recent years. It means that the NSW II v Qld I and NSW I v Qld II games tomorrow become semi-finals.

NT 23 SA 29 Div II

It must have been one of the best half-time speeches ever from the SA coach because it was one-way traffic in the first half with NT 23-0 ahead, but after oranges SA blanked them 29-0. (Didn't see LMRDT v Tas)

NSW II 31 Combined States 19

NSW looked like they had better players but they had trouble converting that into points in the 1st half and were down 7-14 at the break. They had a good scrum but lost too much ball on contact and looked disorganised in key moments on defence. A good example was when 9. Pulver of CS burst forward around a ruck and had nothing but grass in front of him 20 metres out; so he scooted over to score.

But 7-14 down and with the wind behind them after oranges NSW settled and put on 24 unanswered points. Only a try right on the bell gave CS any joy in the 2nd half.

• Two of the best from Combined States were today's bench centres Redden, who amongst other things kicked the ball over a defender and nearly scored, and SGB, who set up a long run with a deft pass. The halves 9. Pulver and 10. James worked well together but the team lacked ability in some other positions.

• The key moment in the 2nd half was when NSW 11. H. Jones knocked a CS pass up and caught it for an interception, then ran about 80 metres to score. He set up two other tries also, one of them after he went on a long run, cross kicked then gathered a wicked bounce, dished it out to the other side of the field and NSW scored after a couple of phases. After two days he's the best winger of the week, albeit not against top opposition.

• 10. Tulloch got charged down by CS and had a poor kick for touch, but otherwise had another assured game including running through traffic to effect when a clearing kick couldn't be made safely.

• 18. Satiu started at THP and scrummaged well. Normal starter 1. Orr had a rugged game with a big engine from the bench as did 3. Robertson, who was once stopped close to the line but then forced his way between tacklers to score.

• 13. Foketi showed off some of his natural play plus a powerful fend but he was also was greedy once in a promising situation when he should have passed to a supporting player. Nevertheless he will be one to watch tomorrow.


Qld I 52 WA 0
This was another disappointing game for WA on top of their 0-46 loss to NSW II, as one wished that WA would have better schools players coming through. They had some chances but they were spoilt by poor passing or wrong options. Then after hammering the Qld line for a while they would like as not turn the pill over and Qld would score at the other end.

• The normal Queensland bench front row started the game; so the scrum was not stellar. It was even dominated a couple of times, but it improved when the regulars came on. 2. Manu had a cracking 2nd half against that opposition and set up one of Qld's tries.

• 2nd rower Korczyk played 6 for Qld and had a more dominant game in that position, where he probably belongs.

• The backs were the stars. 10. Dalgleish did some poor chips but made up for it initiating some good moves from fielding kicks, and 15. Greene made a good fist at flyhalf in the 2nd half. 23. Quick (at 12) was a solid player with a good step and set up a try after a good run.

• 11 Ioane was more involved today and was a handful most times he got the got the ball.

It should be a good game against NSW II tomorrow and the home team will have to get their defence right, early, to keep the red tide out.
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Qld II 30 Victoria 17


Queensland's running was better than its passing but they scored 3 tries in fast time and the writing looked on the wall. Then the Vics toughed it out, turned it around and got to 19 -10 at oranges. It could have been 19-14 but for two easy conversions missed.

That got the respect of Qld and they took two penalties for insurance, but the Vics hit back with a try for 25-17. Qld scored another try to end the scoring at 30-17 but the Vics played some good rugby and had some good players.


• For Victoria 10. Toeta had an excellent game. Once he went on a long run escorted by Qld defenders and offloaded at just the right moment for an eventual try. 15 Laloifi also played well – in cover and starting attacking raids.


• The Queensland stars were mainly in the backs but reserve lock 19. Roe was noticeable in open play.

• 13. Tanuvasa was outstanding - in how he was comfortable with the ball in space, in scoring a solo try, in setting up his fullback for a try, and also in hogging the ball. 15. Blackman set up a wonderful try: he ran up the touch line, attracted defenders and lobbed a pass to a space where nobody was until a team mate ran into it and caught the ball to score.


NSW I 50 ACT 14

It rained at the start of the game so there was a bit of dropped ball.


ACT had a great scrum and kept getting hit after hit. It didn't get that much better for NSW when their regular starters came on either. The NSW hits weren't coordinated and that wasn't the only area that was dysfunctional. Once ACT put up a horrible kick and two NSW players went for the ball, then didn't, and ACT got it. Whilst the two NSW guys were turning around an ACT guy was scoring a try.


The score looks like a walkover but the ACT lads played some good rugby especially in the 4th quarter on the back of their scrum. It's difficult to nominate individuals in their team as their surges were team based.


• For NSW 8 Whitely had a tougher game today whilst still being a dangerous runner. Reserve lock Lloyd also had some good runs and after one dished out a pass for a try. 6. Dempsey didn't have his best game but he's entitled to one of them. 4. Rorke was more noticeable today as an enforcer and scored a try in traffic

• 9. Natoli is often criticised for over sniping and getting isolated so it's ironic that he is being a tad too conventional for NSW. Some of his passes were ropey too. 10. Horwitz was adept at catching them however, and apart from a bad no-look pass and a dud chip kick he had a commanding game. Reserve scrummie Jenkins looked impressive in the 2nd half.

• 13. Stewart looked a class above: he set up Kellaway for a try and another time when he went to ground he popped up a nice pass for the score. 14 Kellaway (on the left wing) took his chance for the first try and fended an opponent off for the 2nd.

• 15. McIntyre also looks like gold material. His most noticeable actions were a intercept for a try and a charge down for another but all the housekeeping and putting out of fires was done a a high level. His goal kicking is improving too.
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