Cape Dispatches
ARU South African Training Camp 2006

Andy Hickling's official dispatches from the ARU South African Training Camp.

Final Cape Dispatch - 7 Apr 06
Army (94) v City Suburbs (7) Match Report (6 Apr 06)

Sadly the final game of the tour was a little of a miss-match with the Army running out winners 94 - 7.

The 3rd game of the training camp did give the team the opportunity to rehearsal what had been practised the previous 3 weeks but in honesty, a sterner test would have been more beneficial at this stage in the preparations. It is pleasing to be able to report that there were no serious injuries just a few minor knocks that will be mended prior to the first inter-service fixture.

The training camp has certainly been a success and in terms of team selection for the game against the RAF I will have to re visit the videos of all this season's games before finalising the team. There is certainly very keen competition for places in 5 positions and there will be a number of new caps awarded against the RAF.

Well, after 3 great weeks in Cape Town, it is back to Aldershot on Tuesday for more training prior to meeting Easter Monday to prepare for the game against the RAF at Newbury.

Army team was:

I hope you have enjoyed the reports from all the team whilst in Cape Town. We will continue to give updates (through the Match to Twickenham page) as we reach the climax of the season.

Next match: Army v RAF 19 April 2006 at Newbury

Posted: 7 Apr 06

Cape Dispatch - 5 Apr 06
City Suburbs Pre-match Report (6 Apr 06)

This week minds have been concentrated on managing the injury situation. The game against Villages certainly took its toll and given that I conducted a full on contact session on Monday morning, which was followed by an intense skills session in the afternoon - we certainly saw some tired and battered bodies at the end of the day.

Tuesday (4 Apr) saw another highly intensive skills session, but even I had to relent in the afternoon and gave the team downtime, which they spent playing baseball. It appears that the word 'rest' is not in the players' vocabulary.

This morning (5 Apr) the most fluent team run todate took place under the Captain's direction and it is now downtime before the final game with City Suburbs tomorrow evening (6 Apr).

A number of the players are fully aware of the pressure on them as we go into the last fixture before the first of this season's Inter-Service matches. This is because places in the Senior XV are still up for grabs for the game against the RAF. I am fully confident that after tomorrow night's match when all those players have had an opportunity to demonstrate why they should be in the Army team, that I will be able to select the best team to play the RAF, on the 19th of April at Newbury.

Posted: 5 Apr 06

Cape Dispatch - 2 Apr 06
Army (11) v Villages (0)

Arriving at the ground in the shadow of Newlands, it quickly became apparent that the team were in for a very stern test. Villages 2nds and 3rds were playing a high quality touring teams from Argentina as curtain raisers to our game.

The game started at an incredible pace, with the Village's three-quarters prepared to run the ball at ever opportunity. I was very pleased that we were not only able to match their intensity, but challenge them at their own game. It was desperate defence from Villages that prevent us taking the lead at on numerous occasions during the first half. Both sides missed kickable opportunities but just prior to the break, Mal Roberts landed a conversion to allow the Army to win the first half battle of attrition:

Half-time score Army 3 Villages 0.

Adopting slightly different tactics in the second half, with a more direct approach with first phase possession, but still releasing the` three-quarter when the opportunity presented itself we saw ourselves dominate territory for long periods of the second half. After a fine move by the three quarters and fully stretching the Villages defence an outstanding try was scored that involved the whole team. The final touchdown going to Kim Vaudreu.

I was again able to introduce all replacements without any change to the intensity or pattern to the game. In fact the introduction of fresh legs and individuals desperate to impress ensured the Army were able to mount a terrific rear guard action in the closing minutes of the game.

This was a really pleasing performance and the game was certainly up there with one of the best performance I have seen in the last seven seasons from an Army team.

Well done to all involved for demonstrating exactly what it means to wear the red shirt.

Man of the Match: Rob Sugden

Army team was:

Cape Dispatch - 31 Mar 06
Villages Pre-match Report (1 Apr 06)

Another highly productive week (27-31 Mar) on the training field following a very sad start to the week when, new hooker, Lt Alex Whittaker, Green Howards, was diagnosed as having a stress fracture to his hip. This is a long-term injury and I felt it in the best interest of the player that he return to the UK to commence intensive rehabilitation.

The training this week has again focused on the basics and I am very pleased with the players reaction to criticism of their core skills. There is no doubt that basic handling has improved greatly and the speed at which set pieces are executed has also impressed me. It was interesting to note the comments of newly arrived physiotherapist, Andy Neaves, that he could see a marked improvement in the player's ability from when he last saw them in Aldershot.

It has not been all work for the team this week and I felt a day off on Wednesday (29 Mar), had not only been well deserved, but would also allow tired bodies time to recover in order for me to prepare the team correctly for tomorrow's fixture against Villages (Sat 1 Apr) , opposition we have yet to beat on South African soil.

The final team run this morning was a slick professional affair and it now remains to be seen if the players can transfer their impressive week on the training ground to the playing enclosure.

I have made 7 changes to the starting line up tomorrow and selection for the inter service fixtures is far from certain at this point in time. I am pleased that this is not because of poor performances but because all players are pushing hard for selection. To have the luxury of having 3 capped players as replacements and 3 not making the 22 ensures that I can maintain the intensity and pressure on players that I always strived for.

The players are in no doubt about what I require in tomorrow's game, a victory to keep the momentum going. It will not be easy and we will need to have a compressive lead going into the final quarter, as the training will start to take its toll in the last 20 minutes. I have great confidence in the team's ability and desire to win and hope to be able to report a resounding victory after the weekend.

Posted:31 Mar 06

Cape Dispatch - 25 Mar 06
Army (20) v Wellington (5)

After a weeks' intense training it was very important that all that had been rehearsed, both on the training park and in the numerous classroom sessions, was put into practice and that the team's performance `continued to move forward at pace.

On a stifling hot afternoon, with temperature approaching 35 degrees in the Bowland Stadium, an hour out of Cape Town in wine country and at a venue previously graced by the British Lions and All Blacks, the Army team took to the field better prepared than they had been all season. It was particular pleasing for the team that both the Chairman and Director Marketing Army Rugby had been able to make journey to South Africa to support the team, along with the CEO and Defence Director of Sodexho, the team's sponsor.

The opposition for the day was Wellington, the champions of Bowland Province for the past 3 seasons; being un-beaten in all their league fixtures. The game was also the curtain raise to the Vodacom Cup Fixture between the Bowland Provincial team and the Blue Bulls from Pretoria.

I was very pleased with the teams approach to the game, the aggressive start and the intensity at which the team came out of the blocks. The forwards were particularly dominant in the early exchanges and had the upper hand in all facets of play. It was once again the poor execution of basic skills that prevented the Army establishing an early lead. This is still an area of some concern to me and one that will be worked on in training throughout the coming week.

No player played badly and there were some tremendous individual performances. Particularly impressive were Rob Sugden and Naka Nacamavuto. Rob Sudgen just shaded it for my 'Man of the match Award'. I was also pleased to be able to introduce all seven replacements without altering the shape or performance of the team. Damu, in his first game back from a serious neck injury against Oxford, showed he had lost none of his enthusiasm for the game and score a brilliant individual try out flanking the whole of the Wellington defence. Naka continued to add to his habit of always seeming to be able to score in a red shirt and Gareth Slade Jones and Mal Roberts also got on the score sheet with well taken tries.

Wellington did get a consolation try in the dying seconds when the game was won and even I can excuse this given the temperature that the players had to perform in.

All in all a good day for Army Rugby in terms of performing in front of the sponsors and in ensuring that preparations for the big games remain on track.

Work certainly has to be done in the coming week on the very basic core skills of catching and passing. In order for this process to be speeded up I have extend training in the coming week to ensure I force home my message.

Man of the Match: Rob Sugden

Army team was:

We now look forward to a hard encounter next Saturday when we take on Villages, the top club side in Cape Town and a team that defeated Wellington last week by 28 points to 12; this will certainly be a very good challenge for the team that I am confident they will rise to.

Posted:27 Mar 06

Cape Dispatch - 23 Mar 06

After 5 days hard intensive training, I am a little disappointed that we are not quite where I would wish to be at this stage. Some of the basic skills that I would expect at this level are not there. It certainly is not a lack of effort on behalf of the squad that is at fault and all team members are working very hard to put right the areas of concern that have been highlighted by the coaching staff.

Fitness is not an issue and the squad are working extraordinarily hard to ensure that they return home in the peak of condition. Sessions to date has seen work on all aspects of fitness, from endurance, to speed, to strength. These sessions have been conducted both in the gym and on the training ground.

What has been very pleasing on the camp is the emergence of a number of new players who have forced there way into the reckoning for a place in the inter service team.

I was able to select from nearly a fully fit squad for the first game of the tour, Wellington on Saturday. Unavailable for selection were Melvin Lewis (calf), Boka Viljeon (calf) Alex Whittaker (hip) and Kim Vuadreu (stitches). The starting XV will see 3 non-capped players making the starting XV. Rob Scouthern at hooker, Rob Sugden at lock and Naka Nakamavacu in the centre.

Saturday will be a huge test for the team given the amount of training that they have undertaken in the build up to the game and there will be a few tired bodies taking the filed at 1415 on Saturday. This should be no excuse given the prize on offer a place in the starting line up against the RAF. Furthermore the game is in the Bowland stadium, a venue for previous Lions fixtures, and is the curtain raiser to a Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup game. What more could a player ask for in order to give a good performance?

I have been very pleased with my management team who, given the number of new faces, are still capable of catering for all the wishes of the players.

So, all in all not a bad first 5 days but, a long way to go. There will be no let up in the intensity of 2 sessions a day until we master the core drills that I have imposed on the team. I have thought to programme in a day off next Wednesday - given that we will have been in South Africa for 12 days!

One aim one goal - Victory

ARU Training Squad in South Africa