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Hickling's closing thoughtsI hope supporters of Army rugby have enjoyed keeping abreast of what has been happening on the training camp in Cape Town. The camp has been a tremendous success, but how successful? we will only know in the three big games to come against the RAF, New Zealand Army and of course the Royal Navy. It would be wrong of me to single out individual players. The whole squad has bought into what was required and I am delighted with the improvement in fitness and skill levels and team cohesion. All players have pushed hard for a place in the starting line up in the game against the RAF and much as I would like to be able to announce the team to take the filed on the 6 April, in Aldershot, I am afraid it is an Easter of watching the games played to date to ensure I give all players the due consideration and respect they have certainly earnt. A training camp like the one I have conducted over the last 3 weeks would not have been possible without our sponsors, Sodexho, or my management team and coaches who have been absolutely outstanding. Well done to all involved Hickling reports on the Army (21) v Northern (18) match
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ARU South African
Tour
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In many persons eyes the side selected by Hickling to start the game was the team that would take the filed against the RAF; what a difference a game makes! The Army started strongly and quickly established and early advantage with a penalty goal by Mal Roberts and an excellently worked try involving the whole team; finished of once again by Roberts. Northern, a Premier First Division side, came back strongly and exposed a weakness in the Army's defence on two occasion to take a half time lead of 15 to 11. Hickling used the whole of his bench at the break to give all the tour party a final opportunity to press for a starting place in the capped games to come. |
Army Team1. Trethewey Replacements used: Bently, Soper, Dawling, Jope, Slade Jones, Teko, Vuadreu. |
This was without doubt the best team performance to date and achieved all that the management wanted from the game. |
Hickling reports on Army (30) v Tygerberg (15) match
19 Mar 05
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Preparation for the game had gone well and Coach Andy Hickling was able to select from a fully fit squad. The Army started very well and established and early 5 point lead. The team looked solid in defence and extended the lead to 12 points mid-way through the first half. A couple of silly errors allowed Tygerberg back into the game and at half-time the Army lead 12 to 10. The Army’s forward power started to tell in the second period and 3 more tries were scored to see the Army running out victors 30 points to 15. |
Army Team1 Trethewey Replacements: Vilgeon, Lacey, Jope, Soper. |
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Hickling was very pleased with the performance saying at the end of the match:
Tries were scored by: |
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The Army faced their stiffest test to date
on tour when they took on a 1st Division Premier side fielding 5 representative
players from Western Province.
“I was especially pleased with the forward pack which dominated both scrum and lineout. However, more work is required at the contact area and the three quarters need to be sharper off in the first phase. Overall I am delighted with the progress of the team in South Africa and we must now concentrate to ensure we win the final game of the camp on Thursday evening to set us up nicely for the game against the RAF".Hickling reports training going well as the camp enters its second week
17 Mar 05
After a couple of days rest after the rigors of the first week, training resumed with a bang on Tuesday morning. Power bag relays with the bags weighing in at 30Kg, live defensive drills, fast hand drills and fast foot work were the order of the day. After 2 hours in temperatures over 30 degrees the squad were really tested; they were not found wanting. The morning session over it was an afternoon of scrum, scrum and more scrums with an hour lineout session thrown in for good measure, and of course driving maul live practice drills! The backs ran through their moves repeatedly for over 2 hours having without doubt one of their best sessions for many years.
What a great day's training. The team certainly slept well last night.
Today, Wednesday, saw just one session, 2 hours with team rucking drills, ball out of contact and free flowing hands. The session finished with patterns being run for over 30 minutes. The afternoon saw the team visit a local township where Army tee-shirts were a huge demand.
Tomorrow sees the team partaking in an hour long spinning session followed by speed work for the backs and weights for the forwards.
Friday will be a full on team run prior to the game on Saturday evening.
One aim one goal, Inter-service champions 2005
Senior XV Training Camp - A brief interview with Senior Coach, Andy Hickling, after week one - 14 Mar 05
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Interviewer |
Has the first week of the camp provided what was required for the Amy team? |
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Andy |
Without doubt, especially in terms of fitness, conditioning, team bonding and game time |
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Interviewer |
Are you happy with the performance in the two games against Durbanville and Wellington? |
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Andy |
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Interviewer |
Has any player really stood out in the first week? |
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Andy |
I do not like singling out individuals but I must mention Mark Lee who has made a tremendous contribution both on and off the pitch. He has been under tremendous pressure mentally during the week as he flew off this morning to join Scotland for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong. He did not allow this to affect him in any way during the week even though he was aware that an injury would have deprived him of a full International cap. All other players have more than fulfilled their potential and competition for places in the three capped games is fiercer than ever. |
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Interviewer |
As you are so please to date is it now going to be a tailing off for the second week of the camp? |
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Andy |
Far from it; in fact I intent to increase the intensity and really apply pressure in all sessions. Chris Budgen flies in tomorrow and Steve Trethway later in the week, which will add a little more power to the front five. I also intent for the fitness and technical sessions to become harder whilst still maintaining the quality. |
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Interviewer |
Can you give any thoughts on the team for your next game? |
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Andy |
I have planned the camp so that we can make maximum use of out time in South Africa not only from game but also training. As such we do not now play until next Saturday when we revisit Tygeberg, a team we struggled to beet last year. Fitness allowing I intend to filed as close as possible the team that will take the filed against the RAF. |
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Interviewer |
Andy, many thanks. |
Match details
Army 39 Wellington 34
Mal Roberts 1 Try, 3 Conversions, 2 Penalties
Gareth Slade-Jones 1 Try
Mark Lee 1 Try
Bruno Green 1 Try
Martin Lacey 1 Try
The Army Rugby Union Team and Management
Hickling pleased with camp to date - Army (15) v Durbanville (38)
10 Mar 05
After a frenetic start to the training camp with the team working exceptional hard the team entered their first fixture in great spirits but rather tired.
All players who had not had the opportunity against Wasps, the last fixture played in the UK were given the opportunity to impress. The opposition was Durbanville a very strong 1st Division team who ha numerous western Province representative players.
The Army started very well and established an early lead by a well worked try with numerous players involved. It was Andy Dawling who was on hand to finish off the move and score the first point of the training camp.Fatigue did begin to tell and the opposition ran out as winners 38 points to 15.
Many positives were taken from the game not least fine performances by Dawling Hughes and Lacey. It is also pleasing to report that the 2 U20s brought on the training camp, Rory Thompson and Ryan Grant both made very creditable debuts for the Army.
The next game is against the Bowlan Provinces champion club side when once again the Army will be tested to the full.
Training hard, playing hard and sleeping well.
Match details
Army 15 Durbanville 38
Andy Dawling 1 Try
Viliamu Tiko 1 Try
Rob Smart 1 Conversion - 1 Penalty
Hickling reports that the Senior XV have arrived safely in South Africa
After an uneventful flight the team are already established in the President Hotel in Bantry Bay. Greeted with temperatures in the 80s their first full days training has seen the first rain in Cape Town in over 3 months.
The boys have adapted well to intense training on both the physical and mental front.
One aim one goal - Inter Service Champions 2005
We are also going to publish a diary under the title "Postcards from the Cape" which will contain on-going comments from the players.
Hickling makes late adjustment to training Squad for South Africa
23 Feb 05
Sadly due to injury and loss of form Army coach, Andy Hickling, has been forced into a number of changes for the squad to attend the training camp in South Africa, departing Friday 4 March.
Out go Howard, Bell and Greenslade-Jones and in come, Capt Johnny Mathews RWF after a tremendous performance in the Army cup semi final, Lt Tom Hughes RE and Sig Ryan Grant Royal Signals a member of the Army U20 team who is a rising star of the future, Martin Lacey who is in tremendous form for Launceston.
Hickling announces Squad to tour South Africa in preparation for Inter Service - 11 Feb 05
I have had to make some very tough decisions and there are some very disappointed players who have not made the final cut. I am pleased with the squad selected as it contains a balance of experience and youth, capped and uncapped players.
There is genuine competition for every place and it is now up to the squad selected to prove to me, the other coaches and managemnt that they should be selected in the starting XV for the Inter Service and New Zealand Army fixtures
ForwardsCpl Beart 21 Sig Regt |
BacksLBdr M Lacey 7 Para RHA List amended 1 Mar 05 |
Management
Maj Stocks - Team Manager
SSgt Meek - Asst Manager
Lt Col Hickling - Senior Coach
WO2 Sanger - Coach
Capt Roderick - Conditioning Coach Fitness Advisor
Lt Col Thomas Senior Medical Advisor
Maj Andy Travis - Physio
W02 Price Technical Specialist
