But before we get into it, a couple of notes to pass along. The team will gathering on August 7th at the Citadel. It will be a squad of 30 players. Some of the internationals will arrive on August 11th, when the international window opens.
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This Is American Rugby: Now that you've had a chance to go back and look at the film from earlier in the summer, what has stood out to you?
Mike Tolkin: “While our defense was pretty strong our attack was lacking. We could have been a little more patient in attack. We faded a bit in the last two games, especially in the last half of our last game. It was really simple mistakes but it came down to guys being fatigued in that last game. If we can put two and two together and play complete games we should be in good shape.”
TIAR: How much of that fatigue comes down to the lack of high-level matches here at home or was it circumstantial to each player?
MT: “It varied. There is definitely a lack of consistent competition at times domestically that contributed to some of those errors. But at the same time some of those errors were made by guys who play overseas. It was a factor but not an overwhelming factor.”
TIAR: What's the current morale of the team?
MT: “The morale of the players on the squad is good. No one is happy about the losses, obviously. Their frustrated at that. But through that last game they remained determined to get it right and do their homework. They work hard at training. It's certainly not for a lack of doing their homework and effort. It's comes down to being consistent. It's our first year in the Pacific Nations Cup and we had a pretty rough travel schedule so learned something and will do things a little different next year. It was tough at the end of the PNC. We were out of steam by the end of that last game.
TIAR: Are you going to be using the same roster you used throughout much of the summer?
MT: "It will be more or less the same guys. It will be pretty similar to the Ireland roster."
(NOTE: Tolkin did say that there will be some new names in camp. They may not be ready to compete the qualifiers but it's an opportunity to take a look at them for possible section to the Americas Rugby Championship. You guys are going to like some of the names called in.)
TIAR: Blaine Scully has a trial with Leicester and John Quill has joined the London Irish Senior Academy. Are there any other players headed overseas?
MT: "We have a couple of young guys that if the situation is right may head overseas to play at a place like the University of Queensland. We're looking into every possibility."
MT: “The morale of the players on the squad is good. No one is happy about the losses, obviously. Their frustrated at that. But through that last game they remained determined to get it right and do their homework. They work hard at training. It's certainly not for a lack of doing their homework and effort. It's comes down to being consistent. It's our first year in the Pacific Nations Cup and we had a pretty rough travel schedule so learned something and will do things a little different next year. It was tough at the end of the PNC. We were out of steam by the end of that last game.
TIAR: Are you going to be using the same roster you used throughout much of the summer?
MT: "It will be more or less the same guys. It will be pretty similar to the Ireland roster."
(NOTE: Tolkin did say that there will be some new names in camp. They may not be ready to compete the qualifiers but it's an opportunity to take a look at them for possible section to the Americas Rugby Championship. You guys are going to like some of the names called in.)
TIAR: Blaine Scully has a trial with Leicester and John Quill has joined the London Irish Senior Academy. Are there any other players headed overseas?
MT: "We have a couple of young guys that if the situation is right may head overseas to play at a place like the University of Queensland. We're looking into every possibility."
With images like this making the rounds not sure how morale is in the camp.
ReplyDeletehttp://postimg.org/image/mgijkzrr7/