Australian Schoolboys 2014

[Hugh Jarse]

Harley Fox was listed as the 17. LHP prop for 2012 QLD Red U16 teams. He is also somewhat multiskilled, as well as the Blake's and Crichton's et al..

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/national-u-16-championships-2012.11190/page-9 Go to post#168.

@DCTarget. Go to the Gld GPS 2014 thread for some reports on how Fox has been going in his local Schools competition. He has been performing particularly well by all accounts in a reasonably dominant team. Bear in mind that the 2014 National Champs were held before the QLD GPS competition had kicked off, and some in that team from the GPS may have been "underdone" from a match fitness perspective.

 

[Monty Python]

The latest 'tour update' is on the Aussie a Schools website (http://www.schoolsrugby.com.au/2014/news/new-zealand-tour-dairy-2014/):

Monday 29th Sept 2014: Today was a very important day of preparation prior to our match against the New Zealand Barbarians. This morning we travelled to Porirua Park, a 30 minute journey from where we are staying at Silverstream. This is the venue for the next two matches. It provided an opportunity for the players to see and check the venue and complete a final training run on the actual ground in preparation for the game tomorrow. After training the players completed a pool session as part of their recovery and then home to Silverstream for lunch.

In the afternoon the boys had some down time to relax, study and for some boys a chance to go and watch a movie.

 

[Sideline Eye]

Interesting to see Asiata at reserve hooker. Has he had much experience there before? Can he throw lineouts? If not, who can?
[snip]
I suspect that the three not named in the 23 must have cemented their place in the starting lineup for the NZ "Test".

Craig played 2/6/7 for Eastwood 1st and 2nd grade colts this season. I believe he plays 2/3/6/7/8 for his school team, depending on where the greatest need is for any given match.

 

[Lee Grant]

Craig played 2/6/7 for Eastwood 1st and 2nd grade colts this season. I believe he plays 2/3/6/7/8 for his school team, depending on where the greatest need is for any given match.

Craig played hooker in the Waratah Cup final.

Here he is followed by over half of his opponents in the final.

.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Hey can someone give me some insight on Fox? I know nothing of the kid, as captain I would've imagined he would be the first name down. But reading here it seems he isn't held that highly?

I think that is a bit of Blue tinted glasses. Many believe he was the best player in the QLD GPS this season. Was very dominant physically, but also a very skillful 8 who captained the teamed that dominated the competition.

 

[Lee Grant]

I think that is a bit of Blue tinted glasses.

Bobby

We saw Fox in Sydney in the nationals before the Qld GPS started and haven't seen him since.

Crichton of NSW performed better than Fox did in the nationals and was chosen ahead of him in the original 23. Blake of Victoria was also chosen ahead of Fox by the Oz Schools selectors (three of the five are Queenslanders).

That was based on form and you can see why Sydney people wouldn't have rated him as highly as the other two. I agreed with the selectors at that point: though Fox had some good Higginbotham moments I thought he seagulled too often.

After the Qld GPS was underway three Queensland lads were added to the 23 - Fox was one of these.

Obviously he played better after the nationals in the Qld GPS and the three Queensland selectors would have seen that.

Good for him; and I hope he plays great for Australia.
.

 

[RedsHappy]

I think that is a bit of Blue tinted glasses. Many believe he was the best player in the QLD GPS this season. Was very dominant physically, but also a very skillful 8 who captained the teamed that dominated the competition.

BS - Churchie this year was captained by Mack Mason at 10.

 

[pablo]

Crichton of NSW performed better than Fox did in the nationals and was chosen ahead of him in the original 23. Blake of Victoria was also chosen ahead of Fox by the Oz Schools selectors (three of the five are Queenslanders).

That was based on form and you can see why Sydney people wouldn't have rated him as highly as the other two. I agreed with the selectors at that point: though Fox had some good Higginbotham moments I thought he seagulled too often.

...

Good for him; and I hope he plays great for Australia.

Agree, Crichton was the clear leader of the backrow stocks based on the Nationals.

Fox played well in patches, but was a bit of a spectator here and there (might have been fitness or form) but has seemingly stepped up and is now playing for Australia. Good on the lad for not dropping his head, having a crack and reaping rewards.

Updates this morning would be well received, FoxtelGO at work doesn't go down well.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Craig played 2/6/7 for Eastwood 1st and 2nd grade colts this season. I believe he plays 2/3/6/7/8 for his school team, depending on where the greatest need is for any given match.

Slightly incorrect:
The Colts scoresheets record Craig as starting hooker for Eastwood Colts 1 in round 4, and coming off the bench in Colts 1 in rounds 16, and round 18 (position unknown). (Colts 1 = 1 Start, 2 Bench)
He started in Colts 2 as #6 in round 16 vs Penrith, #2 in round 18 vs Rats and in two finals games v Manly and Uni, and off the bench in Round 17. (Colts 2 = 4 Starts, 1 Bench)
He started round 17 in Colts 3 as LHP. (Colts 3 = 1 Start)

Andrew Vatuvei started for Parramatta Colts 1 as Lock in rounds 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, and 18.

Several others not in Aust Schoolboys but at National Championships for NSW or CS also featured in a variety of Sydney Colts teams this year.

 

[Lee Grant]

Reminder about the time for the Foxsports TV broadcast of the Oz Schools v Baas game - it has just started.
.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Photo:http://www.schoolsrugby.com.au/2014/news/new-zealand-tour-dairy-2014/


Weather looks good. Fine and 15 degrees C, 5.8 km/hr wind. Nice looking oval as well.

NZ second rower Parepare Parkinson is 2.04m - 6' 9", with their other lock and the #6 both > 2m. Wow.

Photo from: http://www.schoolsrugby.com.au/2014/news/australian-schools-go-new-zealand-barbarians/

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Oh dear. Dump tackle penalty against #10 JJH - Red card. 2 minutes gone. 78 minutes with no #10.

Jordan Fulivai (#15) is standing at 10 for set pieces.

Harry Goddard kicks penalty. Aus 3 - NZ 0. 5 minutes gone.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

10 minutes. NZ get first meat after sustained pressure. #10 under the sticks.

#10 NZ converts. NZ 7 AUS 3.

 

[RedsHappy]

Oh dear. Dump tackle penalty against #10 JJH - Red card. 2 minutes gone. 78 minutes with no #10.

Jordan Fulivai (#15) is standing at 10 for set pieces.

Harry Goddard kicks penalty. Aus 3 - NZ 0. 5 minutes gone.

Great pity that red for our team; they all look agitated and unsettled as you'd expect.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Lots of nerves from both sides. Passes being pushed. Players falling off tackles. Catches not being made.

Barbars looking better team at the moment, but they have a 1 man advantage.

Penalty for holding on against Oz. NZ #10 lines up PK on 22 m line and nails it. NZ 10 Aus 3 after 16 minutes.

 

[Rugby Mum]

16 mins in NZB 10 Aus 3.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

NZ penalised at ruck. Harry Goddard lines up PK from 28 metres out from slightly to the left of the sticks. Bingo, he nails it.

Perfect kicking conditions. Windy Wellington? Yeah Right.

NZL 10 AUS 6 after 23 minutes.

Aus holding their own in piggies and building pressure.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

26 minutes, AUS off their feet at ruck. 5 metres out. #10 NZ lines up PK. AR's happy and raise flags.

NZL 13 - AUS 6.

 

[RedsHappy]

Go Richie!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

#2 Pritchard off for Aus. #17 Asiata on. AUS lineouts have been a bit messy, not surprising considering that NZ have 3 players over 2 metres tall. 1 poor throw from EP, and lots of pressure applied by NZ jumpers. 30 minutes gone.

NZ Offside in ruck. Harry Goddard lines up PK. Success.

NZL 13 - AUS 9 after 31 minutes.