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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Youth Performances Indicate a Bright U.S. Future



There have been plenty of things for U.S. fans to get excited about this summer, but at the top of that list has to be the performance of the Junior All-Americans. Their victory in the Junior World Rugby Trophy was a pivotal moment for rugby in this country that could signal bigger things are still to come. The successful tour of the High School All-Americans to South America is also a step in the right direction. In my latest RugbyRugby column I take a look at what made the All-Americans tour of South American successful and what it means for rugby in this country.
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11 comments:

  1. Really? Are you serious? This team barely beat 3 substandard teams from Chile, then lose to a mediocre team from Uruguay, and then get the bash by a quality Argentina team that could've beaten EVERYBODY in the JWRT and you say that's successful? They were beaten in EVERY facet of that game as if they learned nothing in the previous four during the tour. And you give them accolades? Who hired you? Any other great rugby nation would have you and Salty Thompson seeking employment elsewhere for this kind of carry on. Get real. The only way we will improve is if we stop blowing smoke up our butts about how good we are. Call it like it is. Say we suck... but we're making some positive improvements.

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    1. You clearly have no clue what success at this level is. Neither did you read the article intelligently enough to comment with accuracy. Please go troll somewhere else where you can continue to hide behind anonymity and display your bitterness with less clarity.

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  2. If you're going to bash at least get your facts right.

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  3. Anonymous, I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree with your last statement that "we're making some positive improvements." In fact, that was the gist of my article. I clearly say that the team was not expected to beat Argentina but that fact that we are playing them is a positive. This tour has to be considered a success. They beat Chile despite a long flight an no time together, then after some time adjusting to the conditions they stomped them. Same thing in Uruguay. Plus, Thompson consistently rotated players in order to gain experience. That is exactly what you want on a tour like this. Maybe "they were beaten in EVERY facet of the game" against Argentina but you can hardly say that about other opponents.

    The simple fact is that with little time together this team performed well and showed improvement over previous tours. That is why the future is bright for rugby in this country. Same thing with the Junior All-Americans.

    I didn't say that we are the best, I said that we are getting better and experience is helping us do that. I suggest you re-read my article and see if you come up with the same conclusion.

    As for "any other great rugby nation" having myself and Salty Thompson "seeking employment elsewhere for this kind of carry on," I don't believe I am getting paid for what I do (this isn't even my full-time job). You can't really be fired from something you don't earn money for. Would you rather have no coverage at all?

    I actually think we agree on quite a lot. We both want the U.S. to be the best that they can. I hope you see that is what I was trying to convey in my article.

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    1. I agree in that I could’ve conveyed my points across in a more polite way. I apologize. I just get so frustrated with reasoning that come across as nothing but excuses. I did reread your article and ensuing comment. I still disagree. C’mon, rotating players for experience during the hardest game of the tour? Do that in the first 4 games and then give the time to those that had their hands up against Argentina.

      It’s hard to argue with 50 plus points. The boys did get beaten in every facet of the game, skill wise, mentally, and statistically. They either said lets chalk this one up for experience, play till the whistle blows so we can get on the plane. Or, they were ill prepared by the coaching staff from the start.

      You instead let them off the hook by appeasing their performance with some sort of moral victory, hence my frustration. You’re a good writer but in this case you’ve also got to go after them bro. Every player and coach at the national level should be held responsible for their actions on/off the field as representatives for our country. There are times they need to be praised, and times they need a conk on the head. Based on their poor showing… these fellas needed a conk on the head. Reread your own article, only this time through my eyes, and see if you’ll agree.

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    2. I see your point. 50 points is a big spread. It would be nice to know what the plan was heading into the match. Hopefully they didn't just pack it in.

      My overall point, however, was that the tournament was a success because of everything involved, not just the match against Argentina. Again, you're right, if that's the measuring-stick game than they should have done better, but going off the overall tour, it has to be a success.

      I appreciate your kind words. I hope that everyone on here can share opinions and discuss viewpoints in a civil way. It wasn't just you. I don't want this site to become another message board where people berate and demean one another.

      Thanks for taking the time to post, I appreciate it.

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  4. I don't think it's trolling. He's just expressing opinion. If he had done it in a more polite way it would have been better though...

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  5. Salty Thompson is a rubbish coach. When I was coaching Katy back in 2004 through 2006, Salty was coach of national U19 side. Several of my players made the grade. When those players came back to me they were playing NH style rugby. Get ball, tuck under arm and run into opponent, whereas I am coaching SH style. His style was bad then as it is today. Back in those days he couldn't even beat a team of phys ed students which was called the Taipei national side.

    Why are we playing such rubbish teams? You only get better by playing the best. I think the stats for Chile is that they only have a total of 18000 players in the whole country, men, women, boys etc. Heck we have that many at U19 level alone. Why do we keep regurgitating bad coaches.

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    1. Pete, you and I coached against each other (Sam v A&M) in the 90s. The problem today is the same as it was then, not enough quality coaches with time available to coach at the high performance level. That is changing now. I don't know Salty's style well enough to criticize. But, I do know that he's one of the few willing and able to give of his time year-after-year. I respect and envy him for that.

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  6. The H.S. All-American should have a 1st XV squad instead of the team deciding who should start and who should sit on the bench. Also, does the H.S. All-American have a tour captain, who captain the team in every game or do they change captains during the tour?

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