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ADDED SUNDAY 31/08/2008
2008 UNDER 16, NOW THE REAL STUFF BEGINS I can only imagine there are a nervous group of boys waiting around now for the selection of the sides to appear on the QRU website, or for some, leaks come out beforehand (shock, surprise, horror), and they will. From a Downs perspective, if Bermingham hasn't done enough to warrant the Red 3 jersey, I know less than I think I do about the game. Hasn't had too many carries but has been effective at scrum time, and destructive in defence. He also is an imposing figure that warrants a second look at any time. I was very impressed with Brandon Purcell's trial at 12 yesterday; I thought he got mucked about somewhat positionally at TGS in season 2008, but has trialled very well in the last two weeks, yesterday at 12. Goughy, well I thought again he was superb over the last two weeks in particular, and there would not be much between him and Luke Edwards for the Red jersey number 2. Luke is a bit bigger and also a very good player, so gets my nod in the Red, with Goughy to get the white slot. No other hookers even came close. Ellis Jensen trialled really well yesterday, again under injury duress, but I think he may have the hardest road to hoe, lots of backrowers around, and all looking pretty good. Anyone could make this slot, I hope it is Ellis, but it is in the lap of the gods. That's the four college boys from up here, the other two, Ben Reuter and Mitchell Carpenter. Ben didn't trial this week due to an injured hand so he will have to hope he has done enough in previous weeks, Mitchell Carpenter I don't know alot about, except to say he is a big rangy lad that has come along way in the last few weeks. Suffice to say that only one of those lads has a pure "private rugby school" background, with Reuter and Purcell only moving to TGS in 2008 from outside schools. To be honest guys, I get terribly sick of the question, why doesn't this guy or that guy go to this school, or that school. Plenty of reasons, but my opinion is that rugby needs to open it's eyes outside the elite little circle of a few geographically convenient "rugby" schools and develop decent regional structures, and have faith in them, if the code is to grow and compete for the sponsor dollar. On a final note for the week, a throwaway line I made last week at Churchie, regarding the best footballers I had seen at a certain age, came back to haunt me. Couple of comments here guys, if you can all spend as much time on a simple comment like that over the week, then you have far too much time on your hands and need to examine your work schedules, perhaps combine two jobs into one and get some salary dollars back onto the QRU bottom line. I was called by two premier grade coaches, two school coaches, and it was mentioned to me about three times yesterday. Couldn't believe it in reality. As the Godfather says, One day, and that day may never come, I might stop being so light, fluffy and bubbly, and pull some home truths out of the old kitbag, and certainly may not turn out to be the idiot that many out there suspect me to be! Enjoy your week! |
