but he has been on the RA pathway so its all good...
it doesnt matter as long as you are on the pathway your actual performance on the field is irrelevant
Except he's very clearly still worthy of selection as evidenced by the fact that there's at least 8 halfbacks playing for their state side and he is in the top 2 of those.
Players aren't just kept in these squads because they were selected once and nothing ever changes.
Some players have moved (particularly at under 19 level) to get more opportunity with another state.
his performances would speak otherwise but because he is a "pathway" player he will continue to get picked and i think that is the point you're missing.
Is he worse than all of the following players?
Darcy Standfield, Tama Tunui, Lachy Smith, Callum Reidy, James Martens, Wally Wentzel.
There are plenty of 9s playing at the same of competition around the country. I don't think it was a surprise that Martens and Sharples were picked as the top two.
I'm sorry your son didn't get selected. It's weird to fixate on one player so much though.
The Cleaner
Watty Friend (18)
NSW Waratahs pathway, don't get me started.
The Cleaner
Watty Friend (18)
Yeah and we get embarrassed as a country at a world tournament because of our pathway.
The Ghost of Raelene
Rod McCall (65)
This is a kid that hasn’t been part of the pathways at all and earnt his crack at rep sides from Club performances. He’s a country kid that’s come to Sydney.
Love to see all the supposed guns not being selected.
I have quite a bit of knowledge across the youth systems as wankerish as that sounds and 95/100 the right kids make the squads. Hardest areas are front row to get right as the physical development is huge but a lot of the others are pushed by jaded family and parochial supporters.
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Backintheolddays
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Times have changed, generally for the better but are always subject to improvement. I had the pleasure of being in elite athlete identification over 30 years ago across many sports with the AIS. Nepotism and family/ regional influence were rife.
The focus was on the specific age group however with only a very limited view to the future.
The current approach does factor much more heavily the future element but still suffers from the human condition of bias, whether unconscious or otherwise. If you choose a kid as a 14yo and he keeps on turning up it is very unlikely your objectivity will be such that if through the years no one is markedly better you will just stick with the incumbent.
Australia is well behind the States and Europe is objective athlete assessment and is still led by “the gut” across most sports. Rugby Union is well off the pace for a science based approach.
The focus was on the specific age group however with only a very limited view to the future.
The current approach does factor much more heavily the future element but still suffers from the human condition of bias, whether unconscious or otherwise. If you choose a kid as a 14yo and he keeps on turning up it is very unlikely your objectivity will be such that if through the years no one is markedly better you will just stick with the incumbent.
Australia is well behind the States and Europe is objective athlete assessment and is still led by “the gut” across most sports. Rugby Union is well off the pace for a science based approach.
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Another tough day at the office for NZ.
Don't think they'll make it past SF
Don't think they'll make it past SF
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WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Argentina got away with the win against Spain. 33-30.
House is on Fire
Frank Nicholson (4)
I think last night can put to bed the question surrounding who is the first choice halfback
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
For reference. Spain were leading 30-7 at half time. Real difference was the quality of the bench. Bit still a very good outing by the young Spanish players.
With Georgia looking at playing in the U20s RC. Spain might be a decent option in terms of a 6th.
Italophile
Watty Friend (18)
Ireland were so poor v Italy last night though that's not to sell Italy short. They were up for it in terrible hot, humid conditions. Some promising young talent on display.
We must be looking at two different players then but everyone has their own opinions and bias. Having worked with a lot of ball players 9s, 10s, 12s and 15s over the years. I was impressed with what I saw of that big guy Prass in the u20s lead up games, with his organisation, a great catch / pass and he is a solid presence on the field for a young, developing player. So would suggest a little more than just a boot!. Was chatting with an agent who knows of him and as most of us don’t get our heads out of NSW & NZ, he appears somewhat an unknown, but he was a regional Qld kid, played Qld 16s / 18s then AUS u18s, before playing prem grade for Brothers in hospital cup last year, then heading to train/play with the Force academy in both 10 / 15. He said he went well in the u20s academy games, in connecting the team/backline, making territory for an under gunned academy team, made very few handling mistakes and was 100% of the tee for all those games he played/kicked. So yes Prass fits a different mold, to the small ball running 10s AUS pushes. The boot for a ball player is just a tool to manage field position in defence, getting the team out of trouble and to gain territory with precision in attack, especially against bigger, mobile teams. In retrospect, with the underwhelming start to the AUS u20s WC campaign and the lack of precision in managing field position and poor distance / accuracy shown with the boot from both the AUS 10s (who play a similar style of 10) & 15 at this WC… it may have been a handy point of difference for the team to have a Prass type player on the field when going up against those bigger, mobile teams but that’s just opinion and we all know what opinions are like….
That's interesting, thanks for sharing
I think its somewhat hard to compare yet, as Dillion hasn't started against a fast and physically unrelenting team like SAF or England, but so far at this WC he has kept his head and made noticeably less mistakes than others. Hopefully he starts and gets good game time against England, as that will be a good challenge for a 10.
I have been really surprised by the amount of ball handling errors and in play mistakes / miss tackles, especially by the alternate 10 and outside backs including 15 (except Watters who has been solid) at this u20s elite level though. That is something AUS grass roots and pathways as a whole really needs to focus on from junior age groups at school and colts, before they get to this level. Sadly it has crept into the their game and been killing the pressure and momentum being built by the AUS team often just as they are getting on the front foot.
The Ghost of Raelene
Rod McCall (65)
Dillon has back to back SR19s titles behind him which is good badge here as nobody else has won anything. He was also the best 10 in the tournament. Whilst he came out of the Sydney GPS he wasn’t a pathways kid and really only got some note when in his last year and outperformed other guys.
He’s a lot more of a loose 10 than Fowler who’s the prototype and going to be limited by size long term since he doesn’t seem to have incredible pace or extras.
He’s a lot more of a loose 10 than Fowler who’s the prototype and going to be limited by size long term since he doesn’t seem to have incredible pace or extras.