On a weekend when the Crusaders won their ninth Super Rugby title and a back to back segment, an image of a fresh-faced Richie Mo’unga with Dan Carter emerged from the woodwork. Actually, Carter tweeted it on his official account.
The MVP of this year’s edition, ten years prior, as a 14-year-old fanboy, will be an enduring symbol of age grade success for many years to come. That is the brilliance of the Canterbury rep method and the Crusaders academy.
Likewise, if not to that epic proportion, several schools and their run on line ups showcased some brilliant talent at the Schools’ U16 tournament. They will, in years to come, step up and wear their 1st XV colours albeit in the local U20 setup. Hopefully, it will be with the same school they now represent. Hopefully.
Wesley and out of nowhere came Dharmaraja, along with the usual suspects, putting on an exciting two day carnival of high quality rugby football. Tens union, not very short but not that long. Somewhere in the middle and ideal for a fantastic turnout and webcast audience.
Again, they got their money’s worth. Four weekends in a row.
So, here are five striking facts we now know from the weekend gone by.
1.Wesley and their dominance
The Campbell Park school, from day one, looked to be the dominant force. They had all the skills and power to go. Partly because they had three 1st XV poolists playing in their run on ten. This is great planning by their authorities by having junior age grade reps in their wider, senior training pool. A lesson to be learnt by all schools in how to structure their “talent pool”.
Giving way to internal, home grown talent. They will now be a real force to be reckoned with over the next two to four years, provided that the rest of the competition refrain from outright “importing”.
Royal and Isipathana who were declared joint champs in the round robin league were no match in the mid-format against Wesley. Pathana fell victim to them in the quarters, followed by a game Royal who were no match.
Their effect was telling and on day two, they marched on and won with ease. Barrier to box- as you would say in thoroughbred racing. They looked every part, a champion side.
2.Gullivers in Lilliput
Given that this is the first age grade which plays the full length of the field rugby– a few players stuck out like Gullivers in Lilliput. A big Josephian and an enormous Peterite. 6 foot and almost a hundred kilos or so. They were a big lads!
Wonderful technique and a real ball carriers, they both gave it their all. Looks like they and a few of these “Gulliver” types are going to get bigger and stronger, a real force to be reckoned with as they step up in age grade. As they clashed midfield, reminiscent of a battle from Transformers, it raised the pulse of many.
All in all, on a sunny Digana afternoon they were a sight to behold. Head and shoulders above everyone else, quite literally!
3.Twin traditional derbies
Yet again, we had two absolute crackers to start day two in the main cup competition.
Bradby shield rivals, Royal locked horns with Trinity and they went the distance. After an almighty scrap with parents and well wishers cheering them on to the end, Royal edged out the baby Lions by 5-0 in sudden death.
Then came a much-anticipated Joe-Pete quarter final. Again, after a back and forth — see saw game, Joes marched to a well-deserved 12-5 victory. It meant a lot as the celebrations from both Royal and Joe’s suggested as did the crestfallen– Trinity and Peter’s.
Derbies are all the same be it 1st XV or at any age grade. It is tribal warfare. Shaking hands and hugs afterwards. Poetry in motion.
4.Respecting possession and your ball
For yet another weekend running, almost every side in the competition, be it Cup, Plate, Bowl or Spoon– showed that they had put in the hard work in preparation. This was all too evident by the way everyone showed great technique with their ruck-recycle.
They respected the Gilbert and hung on to it as if their life depended upon it. It was great to see and there weren’t too many hail Mary passing or miracle balls (for this age grade).
The level of player competence and coaching of basics was all too see– right across the board. It was only the teams with superior technique in the collision/contact area, winning turnovers made the eventual difference.
Wesley and Dharmaraja were the obvious, but everyone should take a well earned bow. I mean everyone!
5. Dharmaraja the long shot at odds
Apart from the usual suspects and high-profile schools, you would be surprised if anyone else showed their hand. Well, they did. It was Dharmaraja.
Out of nowhere, showing excellent attacking form and intent they hustled their way to the finals with incredible form. They looked unbeatable at the semifinal stage and only lost to a side which was better on their day and that was Wesley.
The Kandy school surely deserved their spot in the final and made it there thanks to some fearless and wonderful running rugby. It was elegant to watch. I couldn’t but say that they were the most deserving to win and it would take a very good side to beat them.
All this means that they too now throw their hat into that ring. A ring of fire, where if all things are equal with no obvious and immediate “importing”, they too will be a serious contender for higher age grade honors maybe in 2020 and beyond.
The afterthought
So, just like Mo’unga and his picture with Dan Carter, looking back upon his success, there will be at least one of these players who will make gains with leaps and bounds. I couldn’t specifically tell you who as no one really stood out. It was more a case of team play trumping any individual brilliance.
That, ladies and gentlemen is what rugby union is all about. Be it sevens, tens or fifteens.
