2021 School rugby
-
-
Just got round to watching en episode of LandroverFirst XV Rugby.
Highlanders final between SBHS and OBHS. Clinched with a last minute drop goal by Finn Hurley. Man, that was clutch. He also banged over a beautiful droppy earlier.
Decline of the droppie in nz rugby has been so sad, good to see someone mastering it.
Makes the sport less one dimensional.
-
-
@stargazer I don't know if you have seen them too but I have been watching Herschel Fruean's YT videos of his top 5 in each position. Granted it is only his opinion, and he has stated that a few players might be better suited to another position and selected them there. He would watch more 1st XV footage than anyone else, so at least he couldn't be accused of ignoring players from lesser schools. Which brings me to my point, his top-rated centre is a player from Pukekohe HS, which I doubt many have seen play, myself included.
-
@bovidae I'm not entirely trusting his opinion, because he uses some kind of rating system (I think used for American basketball, but he refuses to explain it on his page) and he's been (very) wrong before about players, but it's interesting nevertheless.
-
-
-
@bovidae Just watched Herschel Fruean's video on his top number 8s. He doesn't even mention Cooper Flanders, who IMO is one of the best - if not the best - in the country in 1st XV. Hard to take him seriously. Almost all he talks about is how the players he's picked would be good in league ...
Edit: haha, he has picked him as his top openside flanker, although he's never played there for Hastings Boys'. Although I think it would be a good idea to move him to 7, it's a weird selection.
-
@stargazer He also says a few of the shorter no.8s would make better hookers going forward. From watching the videos he has mostly excluded any player already committed to RL, which the NZS coaches will too.
Flanders doesn't look as big as his brother so a move to 7 might be his best option. Torian Barnes would be the blindside and Wrampling-Alec is a beast at no.8 so putting Flanders at openside would make a good loose forward trio in a NZS team.
-
Cooper Flanders indeed isn't as tall as Devan, but Devan was just as skinny at school. I've been saying for over a year that I'd like to see him at openside, but said that with the Magpies in mind (the 6 and 8 spot already taken by MMT and his brother).
I don't know how old he is/which year at school he's in, he may still have a year to go in the Hastings 1st XV, but blindside Kaihau Pasikala is going to be one to watch. He seems to have grown a lot in one year and might become a massive unit, exactly what you want in a blindside. Also improved a lot as a player and a really exciting prospect, just like his 17-year old sister, a centre, who is already in her second year for the Hawke's Bay Tui.
-
I think Pasikala is mentioned in the blindside video, and mentions what year the players are.
Herschel also selects Che Clarke as his no.1 lock but he will definitely be a blindside at higher levels, unless he has a further growth spurt. Sometimes they just want the best players on the field in a NZS team so you see centres on the wing, 1st 5s at fullback, etc.
-
Just read the statement from the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council. It looks like the semifinals and finals for the Hurricanes Cup may still be going ahead. Not strange, considering 3 of the 4 semi-finalists were already known, despite the Wellington Premiership final not being played. Known finalists are Hastings Boys, St Pat's Silverstream and Scots College.
The 4th was to be decided by the challenger game that was cancelled between Napier Boys' and Palmerston North Boys' (challenger). If they can't play that challenger game, I assume Napier Boys will be the 4th finalist, considering 1) they finished higher on the Super 8 table than Palmy Boys and 2) they won the Polson Banner game.
The draw for the Hurricanes' semi-finals and final is still under consultation with the schools and will be published later this week.
-
It looks like the normal Hurricanes Cup Final will NOT be played, this year.
The current Hurricanes region schedule (not sure whether it's the final version) includes two Regional Secondary Schools (boys) semi-finals, to be played on Saturday, 18 September:
Hastings Boys' v Lindisfarne College
Napier Boys' v Palmerston North Boys'The Final will be played on Saturday, 25 September.
I read on the Scots College FB page that the Wellington Premiership Final will be played on Sunday, 26 September.
