CAS Rugby 2016

[Wayne McLean]

It's pretty simple. Knox have not lost to Waverley in this age group ever. I'm referring to this one that started in 2011. Yes that 2014 game was a dark day. That's when they had a star studded team that went down indeed.


Lost a game you mean? this is the Opens. Waverley 1st XV defeated Knox at Death Valley in 2014 in the biggest upset in years. I recall the Knox camp was spruiking their supreme dominance and invincibility previous to that game as well. Waverley, being the underdogs, had nothing to lose before that game as well, but Knox on the other hand .....

 

[Wayne McLean]

How do Waverley score 17 against the team of Titans you describe? I am a strong devotee of not counting chickens and it isn't over until the fat lady sings. The fact that they have never lost in this age group is somewhat irrelevant with both teams having lads from other age groups in them now. May the best team prevail and rugby be the real winner.

They've got some slick backs - those points can come in consolation when the game is blown apart in the first half.

 

[Wayne McLean]

Yeah sorry you can't write off the boys, each year the resources, training and experience grows from the last and I think this year and the next are do or die for the fellas. But, this is Waves biggest game of the season no doubt, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XV are all undefeated and I think this proves to be the deciding game of the CAS premeirship (I'd be flabbergasted if you thought otherwise - other than the reverse fixture at DV). I thought I heard the boys may be putting buses on from the College to get people out there I am not sure. Just a little bit of history, this Knox juggernaut you speak of, until last year had not won at Death Valley since 2008, and if anything this juggernaut status is new-founded, as I remember the good old days of Waverley putting 40 on them home and away in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Can't beat that feeling, anyway win or lose, if Waverley do not lose again until the reverse fixture, I gaurentee you it will be the biggest crowd I've possibly ever seen down there in all my years. And it's not called Death Valley for a reason. Waverley by single digits this weekend.

. 2009 Knox won at DV & drew at home, 2010 lost at home won away, 2011, Waves got up by 15 at home and 5 away but definitely pounded them in the first round of 2012 but a try seperated them in the following game. All there to be seen on CAS website.

 

[Wayne McLean]

Yeah sorry you can't write off the boys, each year the resources, training and experience grows from the last and I think this year and the next are do or die for the fellas. But, this is Waves biggest game of the season no doubt, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XV are all undefeated and I think this proves to be the deciding game of the CAS premeirship (I'd be flabbergasted if you thought otherwise - other than the reverse fixture at DV). I thought I heard the boys may be putting buses on from the College to get people out there I am not sure. Just a little bit of history, this Knox juggernaut you speak of, until last year had not won at Death Valley since 2008, and if anything this juggernaut status is new-founded, as I remember the good old days of Waverley putting 40 on them home and away in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Can't beat that feeling, anyway win or lose, if Waverley do not lose again until the reverse fixture, I gaurentee you it will be the biggest crowd I've possibly ever seen down there in all my years. And it's not called Death Valley for a reason. Waverley by single digits this weekend.

 

[oldandslow]

And despite (every year) Knox and Waverley supporters carrying on like it's a two horse race, last year was the first win for either since 2009 when they tied for it, with Barker x 3, Trinity and Cranbook all winning it more recently than Waverley.

This season has a long way to go yet.

 

[William88]

And despite (every year) Knox and Waverley supporters carrying on like it's a two horse race, last year was the first win for either since 2009 when they tied for it, with Barker x 3, Trinity and Cranbook all winning it more recently than Waverley.

This season has a long way to go yet.

This.

One game does not make a season.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

This.

One game does not make a season.

Is the Waves Knox game at Waverley ?

 

[Wayne McLean]

Wayne - who is the "best speed coach in Australia"?

She's American Jamaican. They've gone from some flop whose methods injured half the squad in '12-14 who then went to the Tigers & got axed within 9 months as they were wooden spoon to her. They are injury free and move well. She'll be with the Tahs or Wallabies when they figure her out. Cathy someone....'84 Olympics LA Gold medal relay team

 

[Wayne McLean]

This.

One game does not make a season.

THIS IS the Defining GAME of the season.
The other 4 teams are 20 points off at best.
It's not always this way but it's a traditional scenario if you look over history.

 

[William88]

THIS IS the Defining GAME of the season.
The other 4 teams are 20 points off at best.
It's not always this way but it's a traditional scenario if you look over history.

I disagree. One game does not make a whole season. Teams have won CAS with 8 or 9 wins in the past and it can be done again this year. To think it all rests on a single game is a far too simplistic view. Do you think joeys will consider their season over because they were beaten by Riverview? I don't think so. Would Knox consider their season over when they lose on Saturday?

 

[William88]

She's American Jamaican. They've gone from some flop whose methods injured half the squad in '12-14 who then went to the Tigers & got axed within 9 months as they were wooden spoon to her. They are injury free and move well. She'll be with the Tahs or Wallabies when they figure her out. Cathy someone..'84 Olympics LA Gold medal relay team

While its very helpful that school boys who play rugby have an Olympic gold medalist teaching then running mechanics. I just don't think any other school would be willing to pay for such a venture. But that just shows the resources being put forward for one school compared to the others.

 

[CatchnPass]

While its very helpful that school boys who play rugby have an Olympic gold medalist teaching then running mechanics. I just don't think any other school would be willing to pay for such a venture.

You'd be wrong then W88. Cathy Walsh was an athletics coach at View before joining Knox (View were apparently sorry to see her go). She primarily coaches athletics, but assists the rugby boys with sprinting and fitness.

 

[William88]

You'd be wrong then W88. Cathy Walsh was an athletics coach at View before joining Knox (View were apparently sorry to see her go). She primarily coaches athletics, but assists the rugby boys with sprinting and fitness.

Ah I should have made it clearer I meant CAS school.

 

[Snort]

It is beyond tiresome to see boosters of one school or another insisting that their side is bound to win this game or that competition because of - well, just because they're awesome. It doesn't really enlighten anyone about anything.

As a neutral, here's my take on Saturday's big game. Knox should win. They should win because they have a bigger and more efficient forward pack than Waverley and because their backs are good enough to neutralise the undoubted quality of Waverley's back line. Against most other Associated schools, Waverley's backs are good enough to make up for a less-than-dominant forward pack, but Knox has the ability to starve them of possession, and the Knox backs - while perhaps not as exciting as Waverley's - have the defensive capability to contain them.

That said, you can't count Waverley out. Their forwards are by no means bad, and their backs can do good work with scraps of possession. I expect it to be a real contest.

Elsewhere, Cranbrook/Barker and Aloysius/Trinity are too close to call. I'm inclined to say Cranbrook over Barker and Aloysius over Trinity purely on home ground advantage.

 

[Tahmen]

Tips for the weekend?

I am going to have to go:
- Knox over Waverley by 10
- Cranbrook over Barker by 12
- Trinity over Aloys by 7
Although for all of the games I think I could have gone the otherway. It should be a really exciting round =)

 

[Brian Westlake]

I myself liked 'a minor aberration v Joeys'. It is similar to saying that if not for the iceberg, the Titanic would have had a great maiden voyage.

Obviously the coin being thrown to the rugby program might be better spent?If this was a minor aberration, what constitutes a major F?<K Up?

 

[Brian Westlake]

If they can't win this they'll never win. They're as well resourced as the RFU. They've got size, scale & dosh. A true powerhouse of school rugby which was their goal I believe. That's why the Joeys game came as very surprising.

How are they going for the half yearly exams?
Hopefully the super coach and the elite troop are keeping up the primary reasoning for attending an academic institute?

 

[Karma Police]

You do realise that "best speed coach in Australia" is a massive and incredibly subjective call.

Don't you think some athletics coaches taking elite athletes might be in contention?

Have a look at the Trinity sprinters at CAS Athletics this year. They might have something to say about who is the best speed coach in CAS, let alone Australia. One boy who left last year ran 10.18 while still at school. Who coaches him?

Having said that - for one reason or another - the Trinity head of athletics does not directly help with any of the rugby program, though he has previously.

 

[Quick Hands]

Obviously the coin being thrown to the rugby program might be better spent?If this was a minor aberration, what constitutes a major F?<K Up?

I'd reckon losing to Waverley on Saturday would constitute a major f**k up.

 

[BRUMBIEJACK]

And the good thing about schoolboy rugby is its potential unpredictability because we are after all talking about teenage boys. They don't all have adult temperaments, or bulk, or decision-making skills. So the on-paper matchup doesn't always accord with the on-field results. Could go either way on Saturday.