2013 IRB Junior World Championship - France

[Sidbarret]

I don't know but the national team seems to be doing much worse than 15 to 20 years ago. Well according to this and if you look at the results
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_rugby_union_team

rasssie - I mean this in the nicest possible way, and yes that might not be very nice, but... you are a fluffybunny.

 

[I like to watch]

All this speculation as to whether blokes were considered over "a colts 2 player" is possibly a little unfair to Pulver.
As has been pointed out the points system applicable in "Shute Shield" distorts the selection processes for a club like Sydney Uni, where Pulver plays.
The points situation at Uni may mean that a strategic decision is taken to play Pulver in Colts 2's rather 1's and to play Colts rather than grade.
I would argue that this corrupts the intended levelling of the playing field - the intention presumably being that players with Oz schools points, who are up to it should go to other clubs to play in higher grades.
But whether that is true or not the point is that you cant take a line through the level at which he's playing and assume that is some universally accurate reflection of ability or form. You'd need to judge it on actually comparing the play of these players - which one hopes the coaches and selectors did - rather than juts slotting in last year's Schools players.

But they don't.Last year Merriman was also playing Colts 2's? for Uni,and was preferred to Donlan who was excelling in Shute Shield.
No doubt there are many talented kids being warehoused in Colts 2's due to the points system.But if they are not considered good enough to play in a top grade by Uni, then how can they leapfrog players who are excelling in much tougher grades?
I lost my shit last year when they selected a lock,based on his form in the Uni gym!

 

[Eyes and Ears]

How are these selctions allowed to take place. I could pick a team of left overs just in Sydney that would beat the Australian U/20's. I would even go as far to say that I would make the semi finals.

The buck stops with the Coach.

OP, please pick your team of leftovers

 

[Inside Shoulder]

But they don't.Last year Merriman was also playing Colts 2's? for Uni,and was preferred to Donlan who was excelling in Shute Shield.
No doubt there are many talented kids being warehoused in Colts 2's due to the points system.But if they are not considered good enough to play in a top grade by Uni, then how can they leapfrog players who are excelling in much tougher grades?
I lost my shit last year when they selected a lock,based on his form in the Uni gym!

I'd need to see them both play to even hazard a guess at what they see in the one in the less tough grade.
Having watched a day of State Champs I can see the problem selectors have in microcosm: a good half with dodgy forwards against a good pack competing for selection with an average half with great pigs.
I think we have said before that there is certain vested interest in the "identified talent" making it through as it validates the original talent identifier.

 

[Rassie]

rasssie - I mean this in the nicest possible way, and yes that might not be very nice, but. you are a fluffybunny.

Let me explain it to you in the nicest possible way. You can not rely on imports year after year for your senior squad. Unless you lure them on purpose those players are not something that is planned. Rugby starts with the youngsters. The U/20's and down are your future. That is where the development and all the resources and focus must be used at.

If the USA is trying to develop from the top level then you are heading nowhere.

 

[wamberal]

Fox Sports will be showing the Aussies live, kick off around 0430 Monday morning. Check your guides.

 

[tranquility]

Apparently the team has been named, but I can't find it ?

I read in an article, that McIntyre the flyhalf from the Irish game will start the game from the bench.

 

[qwerty51]

http://www.irb.com/jwc/matches/match=13945/index.html

 

[tranquility]

http://www.irb.com/jwc/matches/match=13945/index.html

Thank you !

Interesting side name, very different. Looking forward to it

 

[Stallion]

Goodness that was fucking awful to watch.

Good points: 3, 6, 8, 11, and the 9 - he was sharp. The locks were OK.

The 9? He was sub-standard. Just before anyone jumps down my throat, I do rate young Meehan highly having seen a lot of him during Schoolboys, but seriously, he comes back from playing Under 20's League with the Storm and then gets a pretty easy passage back into the academy and eventually the 20's after not spending enough time in club rugby to re-learn the nuances of playing halfback again.

He took an eternity with the ball from the back of the ruck and was guilty of often going in the wrong direction when the play should have gone in the other direction. I noticed sometimes he should of just gone in and just passed the ball out but he seemed instinctively to favour "jumping" out from the base trying to catch a "pillar" or "key" defender out as they do in League from dummy half but the Irish were more than ready for the ploy.

Seeing situations like this really does make me wonder how these squads are chosen. I wonder how the other young halfbacks felt after resisting the urge to go to League to continue plying their trades in the code only to be taken over in the queue when Meehan came back after it didnt work out in league. Something needs to be done about this. It is a bloody frustrating watching such a rugby nursery like Australia being represented in this way on the world stage. Australian are a hell of a lot better than what has been dished up over the last couple of efforts.

 

[Hawko]

http://www.irb.com/jwc/matches/match=13945/index.html

Savea at 7! I still have nightmares after his game against the Tahs, he was awesome that day. If he plays at 80% of his potential we are in for a veerryy long day.

 

[Nusadan]

After the opening stanza, 14-3 ht to AB's way not too bad for the Wallabies considering the soft try set up by the left winger.

 

[Nusadan]

The Irish referee is certainly whistle happy! Screamed at the TV for calling a 2nd scrum put in NZ's way after the front rows popped up despite the Wallabies winning against the feed well inside the opposing half. The commentators said as much too.

 

[qwerty51]

Much better effort from the boys.

14-10 to NZ 20 to go.

 

[Nusadan]

Wallabies 10-NZ 14, nice try after sustained pressure on the line by replacement winger

 

[the plastic paddy]

Gwan the Aussies!!!

 

[qwerty51]

The 3 early penalties to give NZ a 9-0 lead after 10 mins killed us. All Aus from 20 mins onwards, NZ didn't score since. Great effort by the lads but once again so close yet so far. That was a big missed opportunity.

 

[Nusadan]

Disappointed for the Aussies, they did very well to get back from the early onslaught and with bit more luck plus some fairer refereeing they could have possibly won it.

 

[Tordah]

Disappointed for the Aussies, they did very well to get back from the early onslaught and with bit more luck plus some fairer refereeing they could have possibly won it.

Are you serious? That ref was so badly one eyed in favour of the Aussies, it's beyond belief. Have a look at his ruck rulings in the 2nd half. He only reffed New Zealand, and wrongly at that. Called Ardie to drop the ball when he won a legit turnover. Called the Blacks several times for going off their feet when attacking - which wasn't not right, but only once penalised Aus for the same even though they were doing it all the effing time.
Then that last penalty, FUCK, that was such an obvious Aus hand in the ruck and he penalised NZ for offside? He was bound to the ruck?

That was a pathetic display of refereeing, almost as pathetic as the quick tap by NZ #1 with 3 mins to go.

 

[Nusadan]

What of the 3 penalties scored against the Aussies early in first half, I rest my case.

 

[qwerty51]

Our front row were excellent, that's a good sign.