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| Revised on: Saturday, 23 June, 2007 | |
Despatches from Downunder
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Postcards
from Downunder - the Squad's unofficial ARU Centenary Tour
diary
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Army (11) v NZ Army (6)
- 25 May 07 |
Go to Australian
Army Rugby Union |
Read the Head Coach's End of Centenary Season (2006-07) Report - posted 22 June 2007
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British Army (11) |
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Reporter - WO2 Andy Price - Army Senior XV Head Coach The team had prepared well at our Wellington headquarters and after the 2 ½ hour drive north to Palmaston North, we arrived at the Stadium, the home of the Manawatu Turbos. The playing surface was immaculate, as was the whole facility. |
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After the National Anthems and the challenge of the HAKA, the game kicked off in front of a partisan crowd, estimated to be just over 2,000 strong. The early exchanges were as physical as we had expected and the home team had the majority of possession and territory. The Army’s defence held strong as it has done all year. The home team started to struggle at the set piece. The Army’s defensive lineout has been the focal point of much training and it certainly bore fruit 12,000 miles away from home. The NZ forwards were ‘cleaned out’ in this area of the game with Rob Sugden and Darrell Ball enjoying the dominance. The same then started at scrum time. The experienced and powerful front row of Trethewey, Kemble and Lewis destroying their opposition. It was a frustrating 25 minutes with the Army not being able to string any phases together and struggling to get into the right areas even though now starting to control possession. The deadlock was broken by the NZ 1st 5/8 (outside half in our language) Cody Hall, who kick a penalty after 23 minutes. The penalty count against the army was mounting. It has been a failing of the army team all year, but it is true that you cannot expect favours from foreign referees on foreign soil. Skipper Mal Roberts doing well to control his team’s frustration at some baffling decisions. The army were only behind for 2 minutes when Rob Sweeney returned the favour on the 25-minute mark. The game then started to change. The NZ team clearly annoyed with their lack of success after the majority of territory and their increasing frustration at being bullied at the set piece, they started to focus on taking out key players off the ball. On 35 minutes Georgie Kemble was punched repeatedly off the ball in clear sight of the 2 benches and had to leave the field with a closed eye and eventually 6 stitches. Sweeney was hit late and high after a pass to midfield in full sight of the crowd, the indcident passed by the touch judge unnoticed. |
Army Team
1 Steve Trethewey |
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The Army team rallied and gained a foothold in the opposition half. After more clean lineout ball and 4 phases, including up the middle thrusts from centre pairing Satala and Evans a cynical hand in the ruck stopped the armies attack, with men over on the blindside. Astonished that the only punishment was a penalty, Mal Roberts converted the kick to send the home team into half time, 3 -6 in arrears. 
Scrum dowm - Army v NZ Army 2007 The half-time interval was used to refocus on the rugby and not allowing ourselves to get into a dogfight. We had been dominated at the tackle area and ruck and that was keeping the blacks in the game. Changes were made with Billy Bragg replacing the disorientated Sweeney and Ben Hankinson replacing Georgie Kemble claiming to be in a red shirt for the last time!!! The second period was as ferocious as the first, with the home team still dominating the tackle area and ruck. They commited numbers and were more aggressive than any team encountered this year. The British game at this level now doesn't allow boots on bodies, it is punished harshly. Not so in NZ. The rucking was old fashioned and ferocious. Many players in red sporting body parts that resembled a contour map of Brecon!! The set piece was still functioning well and we denied possession to the hosts. It stopped them playing and they were struggling, living only on scraps. The Army (after 10 minutes of the half) had its best attacking period. The possession did not leave red hands and all the play was in the hosts 22m area. How we didn't kill the game off bewildered the crowd and is still baffling the coaching team!! No less than 4 scrums were pushed over the whitewash, only for No 8 and the player of the year Ledua Jope to pick up and drive rather than hold it in or to loose control at the base. 3 lineout drives were also shunted over the goal line only for the officials to deny the reds. Even though frustrating for the attack, it was mentally and physically energy sapping for the New Zealanders, they were ready for the taking. Eventually after 22 minutes of the half, Steve Trethewey scored after some close in drives. An amazing feat for the experienced prop that has scored in all 4 capped matches this season. | |
 Ben Hughes (RE) - Man of the Match |
The next ¼ of the game was a cliffhanger. The blacks throwing everything into attack, when they could get a scrap of possession. Perceli Nacamavuto moved from the centre to the wing, then exploded into the game. He beat 4 defenders, stepping his way over the line. Naca then lost control as he dived to ground the ball. It would of put the game beyond the reach of our hosts. Chris Johnston and Delitimana then entered the fray to freshen up the pack, which was still dominant. The hosts then kicked a penalty on 33 minutes to give themselves a chance of winning in the last 7 minute, with the score 6 - 11. The half lasted 53 minutes, every chance given to the New Zealanders to win the game. The defence again was resolute, with the reds putting their lives on the line to win. In the final play of the NZ No8 attacked the blindside and put his winger in the clear to score an inevitable try. But, in stepped the smallest member of the army squad, wing Malakai Magnus to send his man flying into touch. |
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The game was won, and a 4-cap grand slam was well won by a team, which stood up in the face of adversity to win. The team usually accustomed to winning in style with crowd pleasing running. Won with a commitment and determination rarely seen in representative rugby. A real dogged squad effort on foreign soil. The night was long and the group that will never be together again, celebrated in style. Man of the Match - Ben Hughes
 British Army Senior XV - celebrates its Grand Slam Down Under - 2007 Posted: 3 Jun 07 Extract from the NZ Army web site posted before the match: |
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After the anthems and the famous HAKA the kick off came in bright sunshine
and the temperature a sunny 22 degrees (a rare thing indeed for
NZ). The first 15 mins was a physical affair with no side gaining
territorial dominance or The Army forwards however started to gain set piece dominance. Something that we have started to take for granted from this team. With the NZ scrummage starting to creak it was clear that the opposition were going to have a hard day at the 'set piece' office!!! With very little structure to their game, the NZ academy were living on army mistakes, after a fly hack through and a foot race, the NZ centre was deemed to have beaten Gerhard Wessels to the touchdown. This is the first time in 4 games that we have failed to score first. It was time to show some grit and determination in the face of a hostile enemy. |
Army Team 1 Melvyn Lewis |
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It came on 23 minutes when the army ran through 5 phases to score out wide through the live wire, hard working Zac Vacasawaqa. The army team then realised that this was the way to play. Patience, phases and control. Rather than forcing unrealistic off loads. We then went 10 - 5 down to another NZ try. Good broken field running from loose kicks is what NZ teams do well and the swelling crowd were treated to a brand of rugby that we normally play. This time we were on the receiving end.  Denny in the lineout Again character and commitment was called for. The set piece dominance was starting to have an effect, even inconsistent and bewildering refereeing could not stop the Army 8 turning the screw. With 4 minutes to go before the break Zac Vacasawaqa scored again and on the stroke of half time Zac 'the gas' Vacasawaqa touched down to finish off a stunning 6-phase move and score his hatrick. James Balfrey added the conversion to send us into the break 17 - 10 up.
At 24 - 10 and the set piece massacre by the Army. One felt the game was over. It was now a question of how many the margin would be. To be fair to the NZ players they continued to try and hit rucks like men possessed, but the lack of ball, the leg sapping driving line out led by skipper Darrell Ball meant that the NZ players were never to be in the game again. The army went on to score another 3 tries through Percelli Nacamavuto, Ledua Jope and Apolosi Satala. With James Balfrey converting 2. Satala's try in particular was one brought from hard work, never say die chasing and clinical finishing. We ran out 43 - 15 winners. It was a morale boosting (7 try) victory for the whole squad before Friday and all the players held their hands up to give my selection team a real (but nice) problem for the team to play the NZ army.
The victory and it's manner and the set piece dominance would have certainly given my NZ counterpart and his team plenty to consider in the next 3 days. MAN OF THE MATCH - Zac Vacasawaqa Posted: 24 May 07 |
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possession
supremacy.
Next match will be |
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British Army (36) |
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Reporter: WO2 Andy Price (Welsh Guards) - Army Senior XV Head Coach After excellent preparation at our Manley headquarters we took the long drive across Sydney to Randwick Rugby club, who would play host to our first game on our Centenary tour. | |
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We were to be the fifth game of the day with the Randwick first grade league game following us. The temperature was again over 25 degrees as Mal Roberts led his team onto the field to the sounds of the Australian Army’s band.  Clapping the Army team onto the field The Australian team that we had seen play on the Wednesday afternoon had been considerably strengthened by the selection of the AARU’s President. This didn’t stop the Army going (as they have done all season) onto immediate attack. The experienced army front row (Trethewey, Kemble & Budgen) gave the smaller Aussies a torrid time right from the start and with Rob Sugden & Darrell Ball proving effective in stealing the opposition’s lineout ball, thoughts soon came back of Twickenham and the dominance of possession. |
Army Team 1. Steve Trethewey |
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The scoring was opened after only 7 minutes when after 4 quick phases and storming forward running up tight channels Slade-Jones distributed wide, Satala as he has all season showed pace and strength, (even if he appears casual) and broke the aussie defence which was in tatters. Satala strolled over and the swelling crowd of over a thousand watched the fantastic brand of attacking rugby that we have come to expect of this side. Sweeney comfortably added the extras. 
Lineout - Rob Sugden preparing to be lifted by Steve Trethewey We didn't have to wait too long to see the scoreboard tick again. In similar fashion to the first try after Evans has given us great field position by banging over the gain line. Satala (playing at his brothers home club ground and in front of a large Fijian support) again showed immense strength to power through a defence, which was after 12 minutes was being decimated by the centre combination. Sweeney again converted. As you would expect the crowd and the Australian team were shell shocked at the style of play from the usually more cautious pommes!! After 19 minutes the Army scored again. After a flowing move and great link up play by the ever solid Mark Lee and evasive running skills of the skipper Mal Roberts the skipper put his Corps team mate and flyer Malakai Magnus over for another score. | |
 Blocking an Aussie attack |
The forwards continued to dominate and our hosts were fighting to get some possession and get back some pride. They were clearly wounded. They even tried their hand at more strong-arm tactics. When the ref (a super 14 panellist) subsequently sin binned the Aussie prop on 25 mins the contest was effectively over. Showing no remorse (even if frustrated at going to passive scrummage) the army scored again through wing Ben Seru that pleased the on looking all conquering Sappers touring Corps team. We at least had some noisy fans in the crowd. The ever-steady 10 Sweeney converted. With half an hour gone, the hosts down to 14 men and the score reading 0 - 26 the competition was as good as over as the ref blew up on the 35-minute mark to end the half. | |||||
The second half was less of a spectacle. The odd skirmish flared up which saw the sin binning of Budgen and the Aussie scrum half and skipper (yet another miss match!!!) We Added 2 more tries, Andy Evans after 7 minutes and predictably Apolosi Satala scored his hatrick on the stroke of full time. The second period was a stop start affair with substitutions, heat and injuries all having an effect on performance. The team had set a goal (with defence coach Sean Fanning) of stopping the Australian's from scoring a try. Keeping them to nil surpassed this target. In all a great test match performance, which left the ex-pat community and some serving brits in Australia with some bragging rights. To quote a Randwick playing legend who spoke to me after the game: "You pommes played well. The Australian's were lucky to get to nil!!!" Final score: 36-0 Man of the Match: Andy Evans
Now onward to New Zealand, where we know a sterner test awaits us. Posted: 21 May 07 | ||||||
Centenary Tour - OverviewArmy Rugby Union will tour Australia and New Zealand during the period 12 - 27 May 2007 to commemorate their Centenary. During the tour they will play matches against the Australian Army and the New Zealand Army. |
The Squad
Sgt Steve Trethewey The ManagementMaj JJ Jeffrey |
ItinerarySat 12 May 07 - Fly to Sydney, Australia Sun 13 May 07 - Arrive Sydney, Australia Mon 14- Fri 18 May 07 - Training at Manly Rugby Club Sat 19 May 07 - British Army v Australian Army at the Coogee Oval. Sun 20 May 07 - Fly to Wellington, New Zealand Mon 21 May 07 - Training day Tue 22 May 07 - British Army v NZ Defence Corps Academy, followed by a reception at the British High Commission. Wed 23 May 07 - Rest day Thr 24 May 07 - Training Fri 25 May 07 - British Army v New Zealand Army at Manawatu Stadium, Palmerston North Sat 26 May 07 - Return to UK via Hong Kong Sun 27 May 07 - Arrive in UK |
Posted: 12 May 07