Shute Shield 2019

[formerflanker]

What a great grand final.

Played between two deserving teams, each with a win against the other in the regular season.
Warringah came out breathing fire and brimstone, smashing into the breakdown and niggling as though their life depended on it. Used good tactical kicking to gain ground and possession. Sydney Uni seemed to playing as though it was just a normal day at the office and the enthused Rats led by a totally unexpected 16 - 0 at half time. Their dominance in all aspects of rugby was clear, especially the hard tackling on stationary Uni backs which led to turnovers and territory.
At about the 50 minute mark it all changed.

• Uni lost a prop to the sin bin and his replacement helped a 7-man scrum regain dominance (shades of the All Blacks).
• The ref warned both teams to stop the niggle (much of which he had missed in the first half)
• The Uni line out finally caught its own throw in.

Result - driving maul by Uni pulled down on the Rats try lie, penalty try and sin bin of the perpetrator.
Next thing you know Uni have scored another converted try and are only 2 points behind with about 10 mins to go.
Then it got even more exciting. Uni are awarded a penalty within kicking range. What to do - take the 3 and lead by 1, or strive for a try?
Hooper-like, Uni opt for touch, catch their own throw again, and score a converted try.
The script hasn't finished. The Rats can win with a converted try so the restart is deep. Phipps fumbles and the Rats scrum can deliver possession - but Uni get the pill and move the ball to the Rats 22. Still time for the men in green to pull the fat out of the fire.

Then, tragedy. Hamish Angus, the doyen of scintillating play for the Rats for many seasons tries to chase the game with a short 22 restart which doesn't cross the line. A few re-set scrums later Sir blows full time.
Uni have come from a long way behind to win the game. A game full of hard collisions, clever tactics, a gutsy come-back, many exciting breaks and outstanding rugby skills.

Both teams are an ornament to the game.

 

[The Honey Badger]

^^^ agree, a great game. Warringah played out of their skins.

Won by the Uni bench. Phipps lifted the game a knotch. Sandel was outstanding.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Not sure exactly how many titles Rob Taylor has won consecutively. But at least 2 Shields, 2 1st Colts, and an unknown number back in NZ.

Well done, RT

A super gig can't be too far off.

NSW Rugby Union, please note.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Yeah terrific grand final, really enjoyed seeing the Rats dish it up to Uni in the first half, but you just felt if Uni got a bit of front foot ball it was going to be curtains. They just went through the gears in the second half (especially when Phipps came on) and Warringah couldn't go with them. It's getting boring seeing Uni win so many flags, but you can't deny the quality of their rugby programme.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Not sure exactly how many titles Rob Taylor has won consecutively. But at least 2 Shields, 2 1st Colts, and an unknown number back in NZ.

Well done, RT

A super gig can't be too far off.

NSW Rugby Union, please note.

Totally agree. Rob Taylor (and realistically Simon Cron before him) should be featuring in the coaching plans of some Super rugby sides going forward.

 

[Lindommer]

All Blacks, Sydney University, Joeys and Wagga Waratahs continually winning (due to very strong rugby programmes), not good for the sport overall. What to do?

 

[formerflanker]

All Blacks, Sydney University, Joeys and Wagga Waratahs continually winning (due to very strong rugby programmes), not good for the sport overall. What to do?

Introduce a draft system.

 

[The Honey Badger]

All Blacks, Sydney University, Joeys and Wagga Waratahs continually winning (due to very strong rugby programmes), not good for the sport overall. What to do?

 

[The Honey Badger]

^^^ might have to add Bathurst Bulldogs to that list. 5 teams in the GF.

Something to do with the blue and gold strip

 

[Pfitzy]

Do the 2 blues or pirates have any connection with the Western Sydney universities? You have University of Western Sydney with its multiple campuses and the ACU at Strathfield. I heard on the grapevine that some players and coaches left HAC subbies last year to play with the 2 blues. Maybe a stronger connection with these organisations will help.

Connecting clubs that play at the same time of day, fighting for the same player base, is difficult.

Western Sydney clubs are eating each other to death. Subbies is amateur, Two Blues don't pay much, and the talent goes to where the bigger clubs can offer more. Or they just go play league - no rego, play for money in some cases - with try/win bonuses etc. and no shortage of places to put your boots on out here.

The only way to make Two Blues stronger is intervene in the competition structure, and that would be decried by the eastern heartland as interfering with the normal course of events. Evening the playing field is some kind of witchcraft, and punishing clubs for being successful is frowned up, and fair enough when they're doing the work to attract the sponsors and get the club running. BUT you've got clubs like the Marlins hitting up local Subbies clubs like Savers for props to fill a 5th Grade. You've got big clubs like Mosman and Colleagues fielding 7 or 8 teams in Subbies while others fold repeatedly in the lower divisions.

Often these clubs with big numbers have their own facilities, long history, and juniors programs, which are difficult to start.

There is a massive issue with the way schools and club rugby don't see eye-to-eye. You've also got administrative load at smaller clubs that people are often unprepared for.

There is also a big engagement piece that needs to come from head office overarching all this BUT it won't happen because the people at NSW / ARU often have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Anyone see a crowd figure?

Be very surprised if it was 5 figures. SRU probably disappointed.

 

[Johnny Drama]

At the end of the day it is up to those who support and play the game. And when it comes to TV, it all comes down to commercial reality. Which games rate, in other words.


We can thank Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey, two rugby people, for stripping huge money from the ABC in their first budget, which led to the ABC stopping the coverage that, up until then, had been fantastic for our game.

Incredibly spiteful of the ABC because of their hatred of Tony Abbott to stop broadcasting Club Rugby. Not surprising I suppose. I expect Rugby is viewed as a hateful symbol of the Patriarchy!!!

 

[Lindommer]

JD, crap!

 

[Johnny Drama]

So when is a deliberate knockdown just an accident or a knock up or a deflection? It's my understanding that you cannot interfere with a pass unless you have a realistic chance of catching it. Leaping up in the air to deflect a pass is a penalty. Unless it's the Shute Shield Grand Final and you play for Uni then it's ok.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Which incident are you referring to, JD?

 

[wamberal]

Not sure exactly how many titles Rob Taylor has won consecutively. But at least 2 Shields, 2 1st Colts, and an unknown number back in NZ.

Well done, RT

A super gig can't be too far off.

NSW Rugby Union, please note.

Chris Hickey had an amazing run of success until he stepped up to coach the Tahs.

If Taylor does get the gig, I hope he puts his brains into gear and works out a way to strengthen the SS competition. At the moment it is totally lopsided, and nothing good can come from that.


What on earth is the benefit of having the Tahs' two best half-backs playing for the same club, for example?

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Chris Hickey had an amazing run of success until he stepped up to coach the Tahs.



If Taylor does get the gig, I hope he puts his brains into gear and works out a way to strengthen the SS competition. At the moment it is totally lopsided, and nothing good can come from that.





What on earth is the benefit of having the Tahs' two best half-backs playing for the same club, for example?

I don't get Phipps and host of other Tahs regulars being able to play for Uni despite next to zero minutes playing for Uni during the season. I would have thought there are minimum number of games you must play to qualify playing in the finals for Tahs players...if not should be.

 

[wamberal]

Yep, there are rules about this, or there used to be. If this sort of "world domination" ethic prevails, the only direction is down for the game in Sydney, IMHO.

 

[KiwiBattler]

I don't get Phipps and host of other Tahs regulars being able to play for Uni despite next to zero minutes playing for Uni during the season. I would have thought there are minimum number of games you must play to qualify playing in the finals for Tahs players.if not should be.

Absolutely. At the very least it stops every other team from getting a real bearing of what opposition they're up against until the big dance. It's stupidly unfair for a few reasons and at the end of the day feels like a hollow result

 

[redblack]

So when is a deliberate knockdown just an accident or a knock up or a deflection? It's my understanding that you cannot interfere with a pass unless you have a realistic chance of catching it. Leaping up in the air to deflect a pass is a penalty. Unless it's the Shute Shield Grand Final and you play for Uni then it's ok.

Agree JD 72nd minute hand of god...Stopped a 3 on 1 attack 30 metres out...........but thats rugby.