I am sure for the coaching staff it has come around far too soon. However Sunday’s U23 match at home to Cambridge University LX Club is the last opportunity for the ongoing development before the 2012 U23 Inter Service matches. For the players it is the final opportunity to impress both in training and during the match before the final squad selections are made on Monday.
With Josh Terry back fit, the front row, gets a little more solidity about it but is still awaiting the return of Chris Davies. Chris’ namesake Tom Davies is set to continue as the team’s captain but may move to fullback. Though Tom has played most of his senior rugby at centre and has often been seen at flyhalf for the U23’s, fullback is his preferred position and would certainly give him the opportunity to bring variety to the attack.
It is likely that further changes will be made with both scrum half Klapholtz and lock forward Trehan standing down as under current regulations they are ineligible for IS rugby, a situation that I know Trevor Cottee, the Army’s Director of Academy Rugby wishes to change and is hoping he can get Scott and also the RAF coaching staff to agree. Though it may be outside of their gift!
Josh’s return along with that of Scott Puleston should give the pack some much needed ball carrying power which hopefully will create space for Tom and his backs to work off as they go in search of those much need tries.
The Navy’s opposition, Cambridge’s LX club will be looking to bounce back from the 39-8 home defeat at the hands of the Army U23s. Though technically the second side in the Varsity structure they play their Varsity match the week before Twickenham’s ‘Battle of the Blues’. As with all University sides they are sure to provide a good all round test for the Navy and despite the score line posed the Army some problems up front in last week’s encounter. In last years match the Navy struggled at the breakdown to match the intensity from the students and as a consequence lost the game by twenty points. This year this should not be the case as the Navy side should be fully aware of what is required at this key aspect of the modern game. However what they will need to do is find ways to unlock the LX Club’s well structured defence – always the hardest part of putting a team together without the luxury of time together.
The Royal Navy U23’s host CURFC LX XV at Burnaby Road, Portsmouth on Sunday 4 November. KO14:30
Combined Service Women XV
It is not only the U23s who will be having a weekend of final preparations. At Aldershot the CS Women will be meeting and starting their preparations for their match against the unbeaten ASRU Warriors. They certainly know the task in hand with both the RAF and RN suffering heavy defeats and the Army losing in a close and at time physically brutal encounter.
To be competitive the side needs to build around the Army XV but not exclusively. If they are to prevent an Australian clean sweep then I would expect to see three of the RN team in the side, on merit. Even in the Burnaby Rd defeat the play of Paula Bennett-Smith and skipper Charlie Frerickson stood up to scrutiny against Wednesday’s highest standards. I’m not sure that Paula will make her preferred backrow position but the side will benefit from her powerful ball carrying and strong work in the tackle and maul. As to Charlie, if Jane Leonard is unavailable, then she remains the class act in any potential CS back row and will be needed if the CS wish to keep the Aussie trio of Carter, Allen and Vakalahi in check. Finally the athletic Andrea Marshall would provide good lineout options where Sally Carter and Hayley Sullivan are currently dominating.
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