From Inside Rugby, Australia 'A' v France 'A', Tuesday June 18 2002

The Black Falcons kick off their Bundaberg Rum Australian Rugby Shield campaign tonight and all the indications are there that they are ready to enjoy a fruitful season

Why the Falcons are ready to fly

IF the Black Falcons begin their 2002 Australian Rugby Shield tonight as well as their coach talks - they'll whip NSW Country by 50 points. Falcons coach Stephen Boyd, as the saying goes, talks a very good game.
Catch phrases like -positive results", "Rugby culture" and "build aspirations" roll off his tongue like honey down a spoon.

In his first year as Falcons coach Boyd is doing everything right off the field and he's hoping tonight his chargers will pay him back with a great performance on it.
"We've been working hard since February," explains the ex-Wellington and Otago scrurnhalf who's just enjoyed his 40th birthday.
"We assembled an extended squad and started to put a quite sophisticated game plan in place.
"We then trimmed the squad back, but now as the tournament progresses anybody who comes back into the squad will know what we're trying to achieve.
"We also put a bit of competitiveness into the Falcons set up and a bit of pride into wanting to wear the South Australian jersey."
"No player owns the jersey. You borrow it for 80 minutes and at the end you give it back. Then you've got to earn it for the next game."

Boyd sounds a lot like another young New Zealand coach, John Mitchell, coach of the All Blacks. Like Mitchell and former Springbok coach Nick Mallett, you get the sense that if he had the option he'd run out with his side and play the first 15 minutes, just to get them off on the right track.

Boyd's coaching credentials are impeccable, having won club titles in both Autstralia and New Zealand as well as having former All Blacks coaches Laurie Mains and the late great Gordon Hunter as his mentors. Now the big question is can his team in black live up their more famous namesakes from his homeland. The Falcons have their work cut out for them tonight against a NSW Country Cockatoos team that clinched last year's title with a comfortable 39-19 victory over Perth Gold in Armidale.

Recently they destroyed Canada 24-6 in Bathurst, not even letting the hapless Canucks in for a try. The team guided by wily Newcastle coach Alan Barker is a mix of hard headed experience and brilliant youngsters. Throw in former Melbourne rugby league star Craig Smith who won the NRL premiership by earning the Storm a penalty try in the last few minutes of the 1999 grand final and it spells trouble for the home side.

Last year the Falcons had the temerity to reach the ARS Semi-finals and challenge the Cockatoos superiority They were dispatched 80 -19 and sent back south to lick their wounds.

In boxing terms tonight's match is like Lennox Lewis up against Kostya Tzyu. You know Tzyu's going to come up with lots of tricks but un the end he's going to be fighting well out of his weight division. But in the Falcons favour is that NSW Country are on the second leg of a cross-country tour, which Barker described as the Doomsday tour in many other sports." The Cockatoos had a gruelling encounter against last year's grand finalists Perth at Subiaco oval on Saturday night and that only three days after coming off the even more grueling Country Week programme. But Boyd isn't taking anything for granted.
"We're under no illusions," he continues, the coach speak pushing into overdrive. "The result isn't the only issue of importance tonight. What's also important is we get some gauge of our progress and the direction we're taking. How well we maintain our composure."

Helping Boyd maintain that composure is a core of

experience from last year's Falcons line up. Returning for another year of ARS is 2001 vice captain, now captain, centre Shaun Gough, who'll be a steadying influence in the mid-field. Gough will be ably assisted by flanker Matt Connor of Woodville, both of whom Boyd describes as "fantastic role models for the Rugby community in general, up and coming professionals."

Local fans can also look out for open side flanker George Taka who's been "outstanding week after week at club level, even behind a losing pack."

Speaking to the intelligent Falcons mentor it's difficult not to buy the line that Rugby in South Australia, just like every other state in Australia, is on the way up.

Indeed the night that I spoke to Boyd he was preparing to head off to a gala three-course dinner at the the Glenelg Golf Club for over 150 local Rugby fans to launch the Black Falcons season, hosted by Chris Handy.
"We have more people per capita watching the Wallabies Tests on television than any other region in the country," reasons Boyd, "and with the ARS matches and two World Cup games here next year we've got a chance to really give Rugby a boost in this state."

If Boyd has anything to do with it, the boost will begin tonight.
"I always say to the players that they have to go out on a limb, because that's where the fruits are.
Athletes need to commit themselves completely to getting to the place where they can be."
For Boyd, the Falcons and Rugby in South Australia's sake, theyll be hoping that place is on the winning end of the scoreboard tonight.

ALEX BROUN is a former Springbok and British and Irish lions

 

Some of the club's state representatives:

Andrew Beare

 

Ben Suttell

 

James Bradley

 

Richard Czeglik

 

Jon Collins

 

Shaun Gough

 

Kini Tavui

 

Christian Tedge

 

Angus Groves' report on the tour, September 2002

State Under 14 Rugby 7's trip to Canberra

I was fortunate enough to be selected in the state squad of twelve to travel to Canberra for a rugby 7's carnival. I was very excited to be selected because I would get to travel to Canberra and play for my state but also I could see the sights of Canberra and make new friends from other clubs.

On Thursday 19th we boarded the bus for an 18 hour trip to Canberra. On the bus we watched movies and talked, but sleeping was difficult because it was uncomfortable and a few people liked to play pranks.

We arrived Friday and went straight to Mt Ainslie (Canberra's equivalent of Mt Lofty). After taking in the views we went to the war memorial, which was fun. After that we went to an ACT Brumbies coaching clinic, run by youth development officers. After that we went to our hotel and had a late night.

On Saturday we got up early to see the SA U12's play ACT. After that we had a light training then went to see a 1st grade club semi-final. That night we stayed up late and had pizza.

On Sunday we got up early to prepare for our tournament. It was a round robin tournament with the top two teams playing in a final. We played local ACT club teams and a country club from NSW. Unfortunately we were not switched on for our first game and went down 5-7 after a controversial disallowed try in the last play. To add to it, our best player went to hospital after tearing ligaments in his pelvis. We won our next 3 games but went down to current Waratah cup champion (and have won it for the last 12 years), St Edmond's College, by a few tries. We won our next game but did not make the final.

On our last day we went to the national zoo and aquarium and the AIS. Then we travelled home by bus for a long 18 hours.

The trip was very enjoyable and I highly recommend it for anyone who is lucky enough to be selected in the squad.

..... Angus Groves
Old Collegians