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Trust Sportal will be doing similar pieces on all the teams...
Fleet look strong
July 31, 2007 - 1:31pm
Story by: Sportal
The stars of Sydney's top club rugby sides are set to align when the inaugural Australian Rugby Championships start on August 10.
The Sydney Fleet's 28-man squad is dominated by players from Shute Shield premiers, Sydney University, (12 players), grand finalists Eastern Suburbs (5) and semi-finalists Randwick (9).
The Col Jeffs-coached side will also boast a number of Super 14 players including, Morgan Tirinui, Dean Mumm and Josh Valentine and will carry the weight of high expectations into the national competition.
"We've got some talented players there if you look at what's come out of the Waratahs and we've identified a few of the younger kids coming through that have got potential as well," Jeffs said.
"The big thing is going to be with the new rule changes, how quickly the guys can adjust to the pace of the game."
"The first couple of weeks will be a bit of a sorting out period because (we'll be) coming up against sides where (while) we know the talent of the players it's (about) seeing how they play as a unit and how they're going to play the game."
The veteran coach admitted his side would be considered amongst the favourites but said the ability to adapt to the new Stellenbosch Laws will be a significant factor throughout the competition.
"We've been ranked as being one of the top sides which is an honour in some respects but if you have a look at the Force and the ACT sides … I think they would have to sit very heavily as the top two sides but in saying that we hope to be competitive out there," Jeffs said.
"All sides have recruited pretty well, I don't think you'll see too many weaknesses, the thing is who gets together and starts playing the best football will probably get the best results."
"That first game on the Friday night will be a bit of 'Rafferty's rules' for every one but we'll have a bit of a game plan and hopefully that will work into place for us," he said.
The Fleet will assemble in Wollongong on Friday for a pre-season camp in a last-minute bid to build combinations ahead of their season opener against the Central Coast Rays at North Sydney Oval on August 10.
Steve Orme
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