Rugby 2008

Gosh, it has been a while since I have posted to my rugby blog. I have been very busy, my main reason for dropping back from coaching the u14 team to being an assistant coach for Sam who is managing the u15 Uni/Wests barbarians. Sam is a top-notch coach and a good guy, firm but fair with the kids in his approach, coming from first grade after sustaining an injury last season.

Some of the drills have brought a great deal more physicality and contact preparation including intense defensive drills on the goal line, tackling, wrestling, slapping face and knees - to increase confidence in contact, coordination and drive as a team. Penalties to the forwards for failing to grab and support a fellow forward are to run suicides - 10 push ups, run across the field and back, 10 push ups, and repeat ad nauseum. Fun, yeh right, and good for fitness.

The boys have had a tough season but have snaffled a few tries and won a couple of games playing as a combined, barbarians team because neither club had the numbers to field a side on their own. It has been gratifying to see the boys come together and for other Wests players, including u14s, to offer their support and to play for us.

Being a sucker for punishment, I went along to a few senior trainings and managed to play a half against the big boys of Midland. The huge Maori props explained why I was asked to prop after the second hooker declined. Notably we held up very well in the first half while I was on then the team went to uncontested scrums in the second half after I went off.

Aside from an improper scrum engagement on my part cracking a few ligaments in my neck that took many weeks to fully recover I think I had a very good game especially driving through to rucks and enabling our flankers to steal a few balls. The running took its toll and I found that I was a little slow sometimes getting to the breakdown and could not sprint when I wanted to. Sigh.

Robbie Deans the new coach of the Wallabies from across the Tasman has taken 5/5 wins against Ireland, France (twice), the South African Springboks and his home country New Zealand All Blacks, playing in Australia. The match against the Springboks at Subiaco in Perth a week ago was a revelation, a physical contest that also displayed great attacking skills from both sides.

The Wallabies dominated then and followed up in Sydney this week with a defensive pattern against the All Blacks and a rejuvenated scrum that took the All Blacks out of the game, leaving them without a platform to attack and nowhere to run. The match this weekend at Eden Park in Auckland will be telling if the Wallabies are a class above and can win away, in the process deflating the All Blacks home record.

The Tri Nations is wide open and more great rugby is about the only thing I can predict with any degree of certainty. Does anyone dare to pick a winner of the Bledisloe? The Wallabies are a chance to regain the Cup if we can win at Eden Park to make it 2/2 and making a real competition.