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Just back from leading Australia to it's silver medal performance at the Commonwealth games, and picking up the player of the tournament award on the way, James "Chucka" Stannard was straight into it, conducting an intense coaching session with the Palmyra squad in preparation for the Singapore Sevens commencing next Friday week.
Stannard concentrated on speed drills, defence, and set moves, and his skills and presence, as a former Palmyra player who had made it to the top, inspired the Pally boys in what was a very impressive training session.
Stannard indicated he was pleasantly surprised at the fitness level of the squad and was pleased at the skill levels on display, although he believed the lads were down a level or two in the physicality of their defence compared to that required at the international level. He stressed to the players the necessity of tackling aggressively when defending their line as in sevens there were no second chances and nowhere to hide.
The Palmyra boys have been engaged in two hour training sessions since the end of the regular season on a twice weekly basis, and for the last two weekends have been involved in practice games against tough opponents from within and outside the Paly club.
Whilst even the Western Force would be hard pressed to match some of the better teams competing in Singapore, Palmyra hopes to give a good account of itself and build on its reputation there as tough adversaries and gallant competitors.
The club is holding a quiz night this Friday at Tompkins Park commencing 7 PM to help raise the funds needed to send the team over.
Last edited by fulvio sammut; 19-03-11 at 23:19.
Who is on the squad Fulv, some young guns I suspect didn't you have a couple of Academy lads last year
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Teams paticipating include:
AustraliaBrunei
- Casuarina Cougars
- Cottesloe
- East Arnhem Rugby
- NT Mosquitoes
- Palmyra
- Southern Lions
- Sunnybank
Fiji
- The Flying Kukris
Hong Kong
- Davetalevu
Japan
- Hong Kong Dragons
Kenya
- Japan Samurais
- Tamariva RFC
Malaysia
- Impala
Namibia
- Borneo Eagles
- Cobra
- NS Wanderers
New Zealand
- Namibia Welwitschias
Singapore
- Horowhenua-Kapiti
- Ponsonby
South Africa
- Singapore Barbarians
- Singapore Cricket Club
Sri Lanka
- SA Vipers
United Kingdom
- Colombo Cavaliers
- Penguins
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Not laying it on thick at all, Burgs.The Samurais, Vipers, Impala and Develatevu are essentially the National sevens teams of Japan, South Africa, Kenya and Fiji.
Ponsonby, the strongest rugby club in the world, is an invitational team made up of provincial and NZ international players.
At least one of the Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysian teams is the National side of the country, Penguins is the UK Army squad. Australia is one of the very few countries represented by purely grass roots club sides.
In thirty odd years of going to the Singapore sevens I have seen far better outfits beaten than anything the Force could put together.
---------- Post added at 07:57 ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 ----------
TQI, last year Palmyra had Academy player Flip Manu who played for the club all season, no one else in that squad had any connection with the Force and were all club players.
Paly's squad this year is again just regular club players, but we have included three of our up and coming colts for the experience as well as hardened seniors.
Last edited by fulvio sammut; 28-10-10 at 08:03.
remember Flip from last year and hoped the outing would out another dimension to his game, good to hear he was with you for the entire season - unusual to hear that now a days
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Fulv - are you heading to Singapore after the Bledisloe in H.K.? Sensational to see Chucky giving back to Pallies - he one of the few class pros around.
No, Hansie, the budget doesn't extend to HK as well!
We don't muck around with boat races BDGF, we just drink to the death.