2022 School rugby
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I still think that the issue with "pressure" in the Auckland 1A competition is created by the schools themselves, their programmes and sponsorship/scholarship deals, not by a few of a school's games per year being televised. The scouts will still be there, unless they only permit spectators that can prove that they are family or friends of the players. Even then they might still manage to get in.
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The QFs have been announced (sort of) for the World Schools Festival in Thailand starting next Tuesday (Dec 13).
QF 1 – Grey College (SA) v Trinity School (ENG)
QF 2 – St Michael’s College (IRE) v Cardiff & Vale College (WLS)
QF 3 – Sedbergh School (ENG) v Millfield School (ENG)
QF 4 – Hamilton Boy’s High School (NZ) v TBCHamilton Boys’ High School’s opponents would have been Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) from Fiji.
Unfortunately they had to withdraw from the due to the country’s educational external schedules, which impacted on the Squad with 16 of their players becoming unavailable to attend because of their examinations on the proposed week of the tournament. The examinations were moved as a consequence of covid impacting term times in 2022. A replacement is for RKS is being finalised, with a reserve team ready if required.
No Australian school involved, which is a shame.
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Playing a 25 min half. Strange, although this is makeshift opposition. Without seeing the team list, it looked to be about a 2/3 strength starting XV. Neither the first-choice 10 or 15 are playing, and a few others playing in different positions.
24-0 at HT.
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According to the South Africans online ,
No one stands a chance against their school .
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@kiwiinmelb said in 2022 School rugby:
According to the South Africans online ,
No one stands a chance against their school .
Yeah, I watched the first few minutes of the Grey-Trinity match but the chat was painful to read. So this wasn't this years Grey 1st XV but it's not like other teams don't have younger players too. There are a number of YR11 and 12 players in the Hamilton BHS team. The 1st 5 was making his debut.
I am surprised that Grey College didn't win by more based on their start and the difference in size of their players compared to Trinity. There are some big boys there!
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The full results yesterday were:
Hamilton Boy’s High School (NZ) 56 - 0 Odyssey XV
St Michael’s College (IRE) 11 - 12 Cardiff & Vale College (WLS)
Sedbergh School (ENG) 10 - 15 Millfield School (ENG)
Grey College (SA) 22 - 7 Trinity School (ENG)SFs will be:
Hamilton Boy’s High School vs Millfield School
Cardiff & Vale College vs Grey College -
Semi final results:
Grey College 14 - 11 Cardiff & Vale
Hamilton BHS 14 - 0 Millfield SchoolHBHS's handling was really poor in this game. They dropped the ball at least four times on or near the goal line, three times in the 1st half alone. Should have scored 30+ points.
The SA ref (who officiated in one of the NZ U19 tour games) was determined to penalise HBHS off the park. He was particularly harsh on attacking breakdowns and didn't reward the dominant scrum. And then there was the clear try in the 1st half that wasn't given as he said it was held up.
I'd be wanting a better performance in the final. One thing I have noticed is that the starting forward pack is quite different to that which played in the Super 8 and Top 4. A starting prop and lock are on the bench and the 7 and 8 have swapped positions. Spencer finally played and looked really dangerous in the 1st half especially, but still no sign of the 1st 5 Lunjevich.
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@Bovidae some Saffas on social media are saying this was thier 'junior' side or thier 2nd 15 otherwise thier top side would have destroyed all comers.
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@taniwharugby Yeah, those comments have been made throughout the tournament. Of course, I could point out that the Hamilton BHS team also included 15 and 16 year olds. They weren't as big as those Saffers though. There was also a SA ref.
They turned the chat off because there was so much BS in the comments I read for the SF games. I muted the commentary too.
The Festival hasn't been as good as many thought, so if this is just the first year I hope they get a more international flavour (e.g., an Australian team) in the future. But if it's to be held at this time we'll hear the same comments from the South Africans due to their school year. The Sannix tournament was the same for NZ teams as the team that qualified was usually very different to the team that participated early the following year. I just look at something like this as an opportunity for 1st XVs to tour and play international opposition.
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@taniwharugby said in 2022 School rugby:
@Bovidae some Saffas on social media are saying this was thier 'junior' side or thier 2nd 15 otherwise thier top side would have destroyed all comers.
Tough titties to them that they took their opposition too lightly to think they could beat them without their "top side" then.
