2017 Under-20 Competitions including Oceania & World U20s

[CB Set]

If i could, I would like to give my assessment of the game.

Thought the NSW forwards were well and truly up to scratch with the benchmark of a great U20's pack.
Their mobility and ball skills were far greater then their larger opposition numbers, with great work being done at set piece.

The Rebels took the award for best halves with Goddard out playing his rival and McGregor doing his job quite nicely.

Both teams midfield duos where solid with some exciting bits of plays coming from all.
Rebels #12 showed great class and proved why he has had numerous Super Rugby appearances.

Melbourne Rebels #15 was very entertaining to watch with regular moments of electrifying play.

NSW #14 took out one half of the my wingers section today with some exhilarating runs whilst Rebels #11 took out the second half with a very class performance.


Team of the match

1- NSW
2- NSW
3- NSW
4- NSW
5- NSW
6- NSW
7- VIC
8- NSW
9- VIC
10- VIC
11- VIC
12- VIC
13- VIC
14- NSW
15- VIC

 

[The sage]

The Melbourne scrum was dominant in patches against Qld early on: so too against the Brumbies.
In the second half they just lent on them and were pushed a couple of times.
I suspect they're not fit.

Well done to gen blue, good comeback after a hard first half. Not trying to be a party pooper but read the last line of inside shoulders replay above. Very true

Just cannot have a lot of the rebels forwards or players for that matter, who could not make 60 mins.

Irrespective I thought the rebels 9&10 had very good games (can't believe McGregor is not in the wider list???).

Thought Cody walker had a great game and was the cornerstone of the gen blue scrum. Also thought the gen blue line out was still a lill off their best. The game was proof of the old addedge that forwards win games. Well done gen blue on a good team effort.

Cody walker my mom. Closely followed by the 5&6.

For the rebels 7,9,10 &15.

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[The sage]

Thought the level of defence by both teams was below average and in particular by the rebels was at times close to poor. Would of liked a dollar for each missed tackle.

Plenty of work for the Aussie coach ahead.

On the positive side the gen blue forwards were very good with the counter ruck and general break down.

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[The sage]

Damn I missed it by 1!!


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Can't believe I missed it by sooo much!!!! Ah well cricket today and the Reds tomorrow.

 

[The sage]

They played against a good team

They played a good team for 60 mins and then the slow-mo zombies for 20 mins. Besides playing a Gen Blu team that needed to win and did what they had to do, I'm at a loss to the lethargy of the Rebels, shot all their bullets too early?? Not fit enough?

Both teams looked good for certain passages of play and seemed to be in control, but boy if the Aussies are to do well we may need all the contracted player and maybe even the 7's (complete back flip by me on the 7's guys). Rather have fit players at this level than to be beaten as the Rebels were run down last night.

 

[sidelineview]

They played a good team for 60 mins and then the slow-mo zombies for 20 mins. Besides playing a Gen Blu team that needed to win and did what they had to do, I'm at a loss to the lethargy of the Rebels, shot all their bullets too early??

I agree.
The big Rebels boppers lack fitness but credit goes to Gen Blue for hanging in there and not panicking.
They showed composure under pressure and turned their scoring opportunities into points when it counted.
It was a confidence booster and the good news is they still have plenty of improvement left in them.

 

[Silverado]

^^^^
Agree, but the reason NSW didn't panic is that they have to come from behind every week. They started both halves half asleep before working their way into the game. They won't have that luxury against the Reds,


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[CB Set]

Hi all,
Is anyone able tell me the location and time for next weekends Grand Final?
Looking forward to the rematch!!

 

[Happy to Chat]

Sunday 2nd at Ballymore and I'd say it would be 14:00


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[Lee Grant]

Question is with that roster why do they need comebacks?
Tahs system must spend their time practicing slow starts.

Truth be told the Gen Blue roster is not that strong. The tight five forwards were always going to be sound but you could see that even in warm-up games the backs were no great shakes.

I just thought they just needed some time together in comp games but they haven't improved. At least their bench has helped them in all three games, forwards and backs, even though they are not the same players every week: most of them have been rotated.

Scrumhalf Strang was always going to be contender for the Aussie backline and a few of the other Gen Blues backs have a show of getting on the plane, but none of them are real rainmakers. As I said last week and it's the same this week - centre Chee-Kamm keeps getting wraps from the commentators with not much evidence to support the comments. Maybe he will show me more when he's playing with different players if he makes the cut for the Oceania games.

But talking of Strang: others gave him wraps for his performance yesterday but I thought it was one of the worst games I saw him play, and I've seen him play a lot. He made some notable blunders - it was probably the only match I can remember that he was ordinary in.

I don't like the selection of the flyhalves they have chosen for the preliminary squad, after shaking the tea leaves and looking where they have placed the players in the squad list.

I've always considered Jooste a Debreczini type - a big fullback who can play flyhalf, McNamara is a utility, and I don't know what Sevens player McDermott is supposed to be, but he is listed after Strang who is listed after three specialist scrummies.

Fair enough to experiment in practice sessions I suppose but in my eyes there is only one specialist flyhalf in the bloated squad - Stewart. I hope they are not thinking of using Strang in the 10 jersey - he is not a bloody Frenchman to whom 9 and 10 are just numbers.

Like the late and great Johnny Cash sang: "I hear the train a'coming, it's rolling round the bend…" - I see a train crash coming and young Stewart is in the train. What then?

The game yesterday confirmed to me that McGregor should be on the plane let alone in the preliminary squad. Sure sometimes Jack Mac is not square-on enough when he passes and thereby not using enough deception but he's very bloody good, and he's a specialist 10.

Not having another specialist flyhalf in Georgia, or at least what I would call such, and using too many composite players instead, will lead to tears.

The best predictions are true when you make them.
.

 

[Lee Grant]

As usual I can't find a link to the livestream of today's game. I'm hopeless.

It's supposed to be on the Rugby.com site but I can't find it.

Anybody got a link to the exact page please - or have I missed it already?
.

 

[JuanBarn]

Followed the link from the ARU email I received. Was the redirected to the reds site and the live stream apparently does not start for another 23 hours or so???


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[Lee Grant]

Thanks - I had a senior moment and was fooled by the first game being on Friday, not Saturday.

I'll see myself out.
.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Not having another specialist flyhalf in Georgia, or at least what I would call such, and using too many composite players instead, will lead to tears.

The best predictions are true when you make them.
.

based on my observations of previous U20 World Cups there will be no easy (or easier) pool games as there usually are in RWC. I suspect if there is an easy game in the pools it may be hard to pick which one it will be.
I hope that is not their thinking on 10s.
On the other hand I think Strang is the second best 10 of those in contention but that says more about the other 10s. I dont think he would cut it at 10 in Georgia.
There is certain amount of dejavu about this. Despite major personnel changes.
I have a hunch that the present wider squad is nomination based, in part.

 

[lightning rod]

"I have a hunch that the present wider squad is nomination based"
that is a sham.e.
but it is comforting to think the nominators are invested in all of their state charges and not just those from their clubs. Because they have all the strength speed fitness data in front of them as well as performance at training. And Mr Simon was fairly pointed the week before the squad was named in describing what he was looking for

yeah ... your right that might explain the "more to be added "

 

[Wood Rat]

yeah
the Easter bunny will be here in three weeks too

 

[Inside Shoulder]

"I have a hunch that the present wider squad is nomination based"
that is a sham.e.
but it is comforting to think the nominators are invested in all of their state charges and not just those from their clubs. Because they have all the strength speed fitness data in front of them as well as performance at training. And Mr Simon was fairly pointed the week before the squad was named in describing what he was looking for

yeah . your right that might explain the "more to be added "

All I meant was that I suspect that the selectors won't have seen enough of some of the players to know and so they have taken the views of their provincial coaches into account - I think thats perfectly acceptable if it is the case because there are no final decisions yet.
Thompson and Gaffney were at the Brumbies v Force game last week. For all I know Cron was too.
If they were they should have added Kotz to the squad based on what I saw.

 

[The sage]

Just started watching the Reds v brumbies (27 mins in ). Only 7-3 to the Reds!

Brumbies playing a stiflingly game, frustrating the Reds. D swain #4 having a blinder


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[Inside Shoulder]

Liked the look of the Reds 10 and 15, and though he got few chances the 14 looks pretty quick.
Both Reds locks look Super rugby height.
Final score doesn't reflect the grit of the the brumbies pigs.

 

[Happy to Chat]

Well done Silverado, 1 point shy of a perfect score this weekend.


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