Preview: Shute Shield Grand Final
Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:37
The Shute Shield has come down to the two most experienced teams going head-to-head at Concord Oval on Saturday for Australian club rugby's most prestigious prize.
Super 14 stars and internationals fill both team sheets in what is arguably the best collection of players in a Sydney club match for many seasons.
Saturday, September 20
Shute Shield Grand Final
Sydney University v Randwick, Concord Oval, 15.10 (05.10 GMT)
Twelve teams started the Shute Shield with aspirations of being around on Grand Final Day, however with the season over for ten sides it is down to Sydney University and Randwick to do battle for the 2008 title.
On paper these two sides are the most talented in the competition, but that doesn't mean they haven't hit hurdles along the way in their quest for a Grand Final appearance.
Sydney University have cleared almost every hurdle with fantastic professionalism, dropping just two matches throughout the course of the season to be far and away the standout side from the home and away rounds.
Boasting the best attacking (36.9 points per game) and best defensive records (15.5 points per game) in the competition, the Students wrapped up the minor premiership with three rounds remaining, casting an emphatic stamp on their Shute Shield title defence.
Randwick finished the season ranked fourth in attack (33.8 points per game) and defence (23.4 points per game), however a victory over the Students in round 10 has both sides knowing this match is anything but a foregone conclusion.
The Students have lost flank Jono Jenkins who was stretchered from the field in last week's Preliminary Final, however his loss opens the door for Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh to move into the starting line-up.
Waratah lock Will Caldwell has also come into the starting XV, forming an all-Super 14 second row with Brumbies lock Al Campbell.
Dean Mumm joins Waugh as flank to create an all-Wallaby combination on the side of the scrum, while ex-Waratah and Force back row forward Tim Davidson will skipper the side from No.8.
Davidson this week told Tah Talk that his side struggled early after resting for the first week of the finals, but came home strongly to win and be ready for the Grand Final.
"A few of the boys got over a few niggles [in the week off], but early on we were a bit off the pace for not playing the previous week," said Davidson.
"We were a little bit rusty but I think we were better off coming home in the last 20 minutes, able to hold off Easts so we probably benefitted there."
The Students also have a potent backline, which will be marshalled around the field by Waratahs flyhalf Daniel Halangahu who has played better and better the longer the season has gone on.
Peter Playford moves into the starting line-up on the wing, with fellow Brumby Leo Afeaki looking to make an impact in the midfield.
Playing outside Afeaki is Mitch Inman, who will certainly come into contact with his brother, Randwick inside centre, Dane Inman.
Randwick is also fielding an experienced line-up, packed full of Waratah and Wallaby stars.
Adam Freier will start the match at hooker, however Atonio Halangahu will get the chance to take on his brother in the second half.
Joining Freier in the front row is fellow Waratah Sekope Kepu, who despite a knee injury sustained in the Preliminary Final has been named to play in his first Shute Shield Grand Final.
The pack also includes Mark Chisholm and fellow Brumby Stephen Hoiles who skippers the side from the back of the pack.
Hoiles told Tah Talk that having won after both leading and trailing in the last two weeks, Randwick is in good stead to take on a talented University line-up.
"Tries are going to be scored against us and we've just got to find a way to score more," said Hoiles.
"We've had some exciting games, probably a bit too exciting for our coaches the last two weeks.
"But we've managed to hold on to a decent lead against Warringah and then we came back from a couple tries down against Gordon."
The side will be controlled at the base of the ruck by Perth-bound scrumhalf Josh Valentine, while the backline includes Reds centre Morgan Turinui and new Waratahs signing Ratu Nasiganiyavi.
With both of Randwick's finals decided in the closing stages, the strength of their bench will be crucial and includes Waratah Ben Mowen, Brumby Francis Fainifo and former Wallaby Peter Jorgensen.
Jorgensen is in looking to take out yet another Premiership with Randwick, 16 years after his first back in 1991.
Sydney University has faced Randwick four times in Shute Shield Grand Finals, winning in 1926, 1939 and 1962, however Randwick won their last meeting in a Shute Shield decider in 2000.
Teams:
Sydney University: 15 Nathan Trist, 14 Ed Jenkins, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Leo Afeaki, 11 Peter Layford, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Nick Haydon, 8 Tim Davidson (captain), 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Caldwell, 4 Al Campbell, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa.
Replacements - from: 16 Jono Owens, 17 Nick Hensley, 18 Lachlan McCutcheon, 19 Tim Aistrope, 20 Nathan Sievert, 21 Jeremy Atkins, 22 Nick Edwards, 23 Jeremy Tilse.
Randwick: 15 Matt Nethery, 14 Bernie Orbell, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Dane Inman, 11 Ratu Nasiganiyavi, 10 Tim Walsh, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 Rodney Voullaire, 6 Chris Houston, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Steve Brennan, 3 Lotu Taukeiaho, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements - from: 16 Peter Jorgensen, 17 Daniel Spencer, 18 Ben Mowen, 19 Ben Toleafoa, 20 Tony Luxford, 21 Atonio Halangahu, 22
Francis Fainifo, 23 Ben Bartlett.
Referee: James Leckie
Touch judges: Ian Smith, Nathan Pearce
TMO: George Ayoub
Colin Caird Shield (second grade)
Gordon v Northern Suburbs, 13.20 (03.20 GMT)
Both of these teams have done extremely well to qualify for the Grand Final, having come from outside the top two to do so.
Norths has its sights set on going one better than last year when they lost the Grand Final and could well be in the form to do so, having overcome third-placed Manly and minor premiers Eastern Suburbs in the last two weeks.
Gordon finished six points adrift of Manly in third place, but defeated the Marlins in the dying stages last weekend and enter the Grand Final as favourites having beaten the Shoremen twice this season in closely-fought encounters.
Referee: Daniel Cheever
Touch
judges: James Scholtens, Michael Blair
Assessor: Michael Tanzer
Henderson Shield (third grade)
Gordon v Manly, 11.40 (01.40 GMT)
With just one loss this season, Gordon looks the goods to take out the Henderson Shield but will face a tough opponent in Manly.
The Marlins drew with the Highlanders in round 19 and will back themselves to lift the trophy in 2008 after easily accounting for Randwick last week.
Gordon's only loss this season came more than five-and-a-half months ago, and with that sort of form deserve to enter the Grand Final as favourites.
Referee: Steve Hardy
Touch judges: Angus Gardner, Anthony Moyes
Assessor: Wayne Erickson
Henderson Cup (fourth grade)
Randwick v Sydney University
Randwick's fourth grade averaged 50 points per game in the regular season, more than any other team in the Premiership, sending the Galloping Greens into the Henderson Cup decider high on confidence.
The Wicks have 23 wins from as many matches this year, including two strong victories over Sydney University and a 22-point thrashing of Norths in the Preliminary Final.
The Students have only dropped four matches in 2008, however they have only lost once in their last 14 encounters which has them in the right frame of mind to end Randwick's impressive winning streak.
Referee: Luke Colbron
Touch judges: Jamie McGregor, Warren Dobes
Assessor: Michael Tanzer
With thanks to nswrugby.com.au
