2019 NZ Schools
-
We could have won that.
It's a pity we'll never find out how this game would have gone with players from the 2019 NZ 1st XV Champions. Probably, better game management, better defence and - hopefully - fewer errors.
Congrats to Australia. A much better coached team and some very talented players.
-
Well done Aussies. Probably guilty of shutting up shop in 2nd half but deserved win, their defence was amazing. Good year for them over us in age groups with their 20s which bodes well for the future.
NZ just guilty over being outworked and out-passioned plus they looked a little less drilled than Aussies who looked sharpe.
Noticeably in both 20s and this game was that NZ ball skills are much worse than Aussie counterparts in 2019. Interesting.
For me Cam Church was beat NZ player. -
@Stargazer disagree with that every year the same debate is had. Although I agree some selection were a bit bizarre there was nobody who missed out that would have changed game that I can think of. Your almost taking like for like at this level or they would be in team. For me we just did not look as organised on attack and D as Aussies.
-
@98blueandgold Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong is a much better first five-eighth than the 10 and 22 in this team. Game management was very average. Jordan Thompson-Dunn is also a better midfielder than what we've seen in this game. Just two examples of players who could have made a difference.
-
@Stargazer they are good players but do not think they could have changed that game or are much better that Morgan and Wrampling. All I’m stating is Aussies had better systems and a few X factor that NZ just didn’t have incl players who didn’t get selected in squad.
-
@98blueandgold And I clearly disagree with you. We won't know whether they would have changed the game, but in the end the difference was only 4 points. So with better players (I'm convinced that these two are - particularly Smiler-Ah Kiong) and a few other different selections, we could have won.
-
-
@Stargazer watching this I’m so glad the hurricanes got Aidan Morgan and we get to keep Ollie Lewis. A shame Lewis only got 10 mins at first five in the 2 games. What did you think of Zach Gallagher.
-
I was at both games and sat next to some of the parents of the NZ Schools team, and plenty of Aussies. Interesting to overhear some of the gossip.
Anyway, it was noticeable that the Aust backs were quick off the line and NZS struggled to cope with that. Sound familiar. The Aust team were more urgent around the field and tended to be able to play on the front foot when in possession. For most of the game NZ was passing well behind the advantage line and tried to go wide before going forward. The NZS midfield was too similar but I don't think that was the winning or losing of the game.
As far as selection goes, there is a heavy Chch contingent in the squad which won't be a surprise because 2 of the 3 coaches are from the region.
I don't know if this was mentioned in the commentary but there were 2 brothers playing in the main game - one from each team.
-
-
@Stargazer said in 2019 NZ Schools:
@Bovidae Yes, that of the two brothers was mentioned (I forgot their name).
That would explain the hug between the Kiwi and the Aussie I noticed after the haka.
-
