Schools Rugby 2018-19

cylerwhaa · Post by **cylerwhaa** » March 6th, 2019, 4:57 pm

What date is the final? Google is coming back empty handed

backrower8 · Post by **backrower8** » March 6th, 2019, 5:13 pm

cylerwhaa wrote:Surely the most recent was Michaels in 1988, they lost!

Redener!! How right you are! My bad...funny too given my line of commentary on here

backrower8 · Post by **backrower8** » March 6th, 2019, 5:14 pm

cylerwhaa wrote:What date is the final? Google is coming back empty handed

St Patrick's Day in the RDS

backrower8 · Post by **backrower8** » March 6th, 2019, 5:36 pm

Today’s game was much more error strewn than yesterday’s. Belvo put down a lot of passes under good line speed from Michael’s.

Bigdickenergy · Post by **Bigdickenergy** » March 6th, 2019, 5:49 pm

Although they won Michaels didn't really do much to alleviate the tag of "bottlers". They gave away 2 or 3 silly penalties in the last 5 minutes giving Belvo field position and a platform to win the game which they ultimately didn't take. Then with about 90 seconds left on the clock and around the halfway line they opt for a crosskick. Crazy game management. If that was Belvo they would've kept that up the jumper to try and wind down the clock or at least put in a more tactical kick looking for territory.Belvo always seem far better coached and well drilled with a rigid game-plan than Michaels who, despite having better players year after year, think they can just turn up and get the job done on pure talent alone. I honestly think that's why the bottle so many cups. They even missed touch with a penalty right at the end giving Belvo one last shot from their own line which they made a great effort of to be fair. Ultimately Michael's superiority at the breakdown won the game for them. Numerous times Belvo broke the line,another area of concern for Michaels, only for Michael's outstanding back-row to turn over ball/win penalties at the breakdown time and time again.Belvos handling also let them down a few times. Michael's should have too much power in the final but you just never know with them.

brotheroffrank · Post by **brotheroffrank** » March 6th, 2019, 6:03 pm

Re: Schools Rugby 2018-19
Post by backrower8 » March 6th, 2019, 6:36 pm

Today’s game was much more error strewn than yesterday’s. Belvo put down a lot of passes under good line speed from Michael’s.

"schoolboy errors" possibly?

backrower8 · Post by **backrower8** » March 6th, 2019, 6:15 pm

brotheroffrank wrote:
Re: Schools Rugby 2018-19
Post by backrower8 » March 6th, 2019, 6:36 pm

Today’s game was much more error strewn than yesterday’s. Belvo put down a lot of passes under good line speed from Michael’s.
"schoolboy errors" possibly?

Boom-boom!

There were fewer schoolboy errors yesterday imho

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 6th, 2019, 7:30 pm

don't think yesterdays game had the quality or talent that todays game had.

Team of the semi's:

1. Jack Boyle(St. Michaels)
2. Hugo Fitzgerald(Gonzaga)
3. Conor Cagney(Belvedere)
4. Alex Soroka(Belvedere)
5. Jack Coolican(Gonzaga)
6. Jack Guinane(St. Michaels)
7. Mark Hernan(St. Michaels)
8. Will Hickey(St. Michaels)
9. Jack Connolly(Gonzaga)
10. Justin Leonard(Belvedere)
11. John Maher(Clongowes)
12. Hugo Phillips(Clongowes)
13. Chris Cosgrave(St. Michaels)
14. Ed Kelly(St. Michaels)
15. Andrew Smith(St. Michaels)

backrower8 · Post by **backrower8** » March 6th, 2019, 7:59 pm

mildlyinterested wrote:don't think yesterdays game had the quality or talent that todays game had.

Team of the semi's:

1. Jack Boyle(St. Michaels)
2. Hugo Fitzgerald(Gonzaga)
3. Conor Cagney(Belvedere)
4. Alex Soroka(Belvedere)
5. Jack Coolican(Gonzaga)
6. Jack Guinane(St. Michaels)
7. Mark Hernan(St. Michaels)
8. Will Hickey(St. Michaels)
9. Jack Connolly(Gonzaga)
10. Justin Leonard(Belvedere)
11. John Maher(Clongowes)
12. Hugo Phillips(Gonzaga)
13. Chris Cosgrave(St. Michaels)
14. Ed Kelly(St. Michaels)
15. Andrew Smith(St. Michaels)

Fair enough. Some close calls in there of course. Isn't Hugo Phillips Clongowes?

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 6th, 2019, 8:02 pm

backrower8 wrote:
mildlyinterested wrote:don't think yesterdays game had the quality or talent that todays game had.

Team of the semi's:

1. Jack Boyle(St. Michaels)
2. Hugo Fitzgerald(Gonzaga)
3. Conor Cagney(Belvedere)
4. Alex Soroka(Belvedere)
5. Jack Coolican(Gonzaga)
6. Jack Guinane(St. Michaels)
7. Mark Hernan(St. Michaels)
8. Will Hickey(St. Michaels)
9. Jack Connolly(Gonzaga)
10. Justin Leonard(Belvedere)
11. John Maher(Clongowes)
12. Hugo Phillips(Gonzaga)
13. Chris Cosgrave(St. Michaels)
14. Ed Kelly(St. Michaels)
15. Andrew Smith(St. Michaels)
Fair enough. Some close calls in there of course. Isn't Hugo Phillips Clongowes?

yeah that was a mistake. Could have went with a few different players at multiple positions.

backrower8 · Post by **backrower8** » March 6th, 2019, 8:26 pm

My combo Michael's - Zaga team selection:

1: Boyle - STMC
2: Fitzgerald - Zaga (v close call)
3: Shaw - Zaga
4: Fish - STMC
5: Coolican - Zaga
6: Guinnane - STMC
7: Hernan - STMC
8: Barry - Zaga (v close call)
9: Connolly - Zaga (close call)
10: Colbert - Zaga
11: O'Brien - STMC
12: O'Kelly - STMC (close call)
13: Cosgrave - STMC
14: Kelly - STMC
15: Smith - STMC

8 x 5th years in that side (5 STMC & 3 Zaga) including the whole front row and at 6, 10, 12, 13 & 14.

Zaga have the executive 2, 8, 9, 10 & 15 plus Coolican at 5 to give it a real go. They are super-drilled and fit too and Michael's will have had 3 big games in 20 days versus 3 in 34 for Zaga. Michael's coach was saying after the game today that they were still tired from Rock match 9 days ago.

Michael's 7 point favourites in my book.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 7th, 2019, 8:07 am

Michaels played Gonzaga on Jan 12th and won 21-12.

Their JCT sides also played each other and michaels won 22-5.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 7th, 2019, 9:50 am

all 4 starting outhalves in semi-finals were u18 and 5th years afaik

while all 4 starting scrumhalves were 6th years, might explain why they all seemed to play more off 9.

backrower8 · Post by **backrower8** » March 7th, 2019, 10:49 am

mildlyinterested wrote:all 4 starting outhalves in semi-finals were u18 and 5th years afaik

while all 4 starting scrumhalves were 6th years, might explain why they all seemed to play more off 9.

Not so sure if they did play more through 9 after all. Rock did in the QF. Zaga do. Michael’s more balanced in SF. Clongowes were mainly through 10. Belvo played through 10 yesterday and 9 in QF.

A lot of half back talent. Monkstown 10 is a 4th yr afaik.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 7th, 2019, 11:12 am

backrower8 wrote:
mildlyinterested wrote:all 4 starting outhalves in semi-finals were u18 and 5th years afaik

while all 4 starting scrumhalves were 6th years, might explain why they all seemed to play more off 9.
Not so sure if they did play more through 9 after all. Rock did in the QF. Zaga do. Michael’s more balanced in SF. Clongowes were mainly through 10. Belvo played through 10 yesterday and 9 in QF.

A lot of half back talent. Monkstown 10 is a 4th yr afaik.

He is.

None of the 9/10's mentioned have been involved with Ireland squads to date, apart from Gilsenan. Although I could see Connolly being called upon by Ireland u19.

TrapperChamonix · Post by **TrapperChamonix** » March 7th, 2019, 11:23 am

I havn't watched it back on TV but I think Belvo will view that as one they let slip. Michaels defense was very good but Belvo dominated possession for most of the game. Unfortunately in the 2nd half every time they built pressure, they knocked it on or gave away possession. Some of that was down to their mistakes but you would give Michaels a lot of credit for applying pressure. From a Belvo prespective, I'm sure they were very frustrated with a number of penalites against them for holding on. From my vantage point the Michaels jacklers were not supporting their weight to a very obvious degree (good example is the penalty that ends the game). I saw Coleman ask the ref after on of them. But thems the breaks and you need to adjust. Also they made plenty of mistakes on their own to relieve the pressure . Had Michaels lost I'm sure they would have rued 2 opportunities where they either held up over the line or were shunted in to touch.
2 well matched teams and a very exciting game. Even Belvo working their way from their own goal line to the 1/2 way for 4 mins and countless phases into injury time was a fitting end.
Boyle and Smith were very good for Michaels and obviously Cosgrave is a quality player. Funnily enough I think Zaga will be prefer Michaels than Belvo. The final should be close.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 7th, 2019, 11:26 am

Two years, two comebacks, two very close games decided by a point in each game. Two different winners.

thought it was noticeable how much bigger most of belvo's backs were in comparison to michaels, which probably is to be expected, given they are older.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 7th, 2019, 11:38 am

think it will be a blackrock michaels JCT final.

TrapperChamonix · Post by **TrapperChamonix** » March 7th, 2019, 11:49 am

mildlyinterested wrote:Two years, two comebacks, two very close games decided by a point in each game. Two different winners.

thought it was noticeable how much bigger most of belvo's backs were in comparison to michaels, which probably is to be expected, given they are older.

Except for Murphy the back line were all 6th years. 9 10 12 13 14 all stated in at least 1 game in last years cup run and 15 was close to the team until Lacey came back from GAA in Dec. So pretty experienced. The bench had a number of 4th years but they played well when the got their chance.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » March 7th, 2019, 11:53 am

TrapperChamonix wrote:
mildlyinterested wrote:Two years, two comebacks, two very close games decided by a point in each game. Two different winners.

thought it was noticeable how much bigger most of belvo's backs were in comparison to michaels, which probably is to be expected, given they are older.
Except for Murphy the back line were all 6th years. 9 10 12 13 14 all stated in at least 1 game in last years cup run and 15 was close to the team until Lacey came back from GAA in Dec. So pretty experienced. The bench had a number of 4th years but they played well when the got their chance.

Shame Lacey went with GAA but hardly unexpected, expect Dywer to do the same.

Hopefully the rest are involved with Leinster over the summer. Although Murphy may chose GAA over Rugby.

Belvo could take a step back next year given the losses they will suffer. But I could be way off, while Michaels will be heavy favourites for next year, given 10 players who played yesterday return:

1. Boyle
2. Barron
3. Power
4. Woods
5.
6. Guinane
7.
8. Hickey
9.
10. Carroll
11.
12. O'Kelly
13. Cosgrave
14. Kelly
15.

Plus three players on the bench in Booth, Woods & McWade.