Shute Shield finals 2022: Randwick v Sydney Uni tactics, schedule, ladder

This Sydney coach has vowed his team will spice things up in one of four matches behind played in the Shute Shield qualifying finals this weekend.

Randwick has had a huge turnover of players this season. Pic: Karen Watson

Randwick coach Ben McCormack has done the maths and discovered he has churned through close to 50 players in Shute Shield first grade this season.

Now he’s hoping for a much more settled line-up as the Galloping Greens brace for what is excepted to be an intense tussle with Sydney Uni on Saturday in the first weekend of Shute Shield finals.

“They will try and bore us to death and we will try and spice them up,” McCormack said of the encounter between the second and third placed teams at the end of the regular season.

“It will it be close, particular if it rains. We would prefer dry weather, Sydney Uni’s style suits the rain.

“But we won't die wondering.’’

Randwick playing Manly in round three of the Charter Hall Shute Shield Premiership. Pic: Karen Watson.

McCormack said 2022 is the closest season he has seen in recent times and is down to a better spread of top players across the clubs.

“A couple of the top teams in the past couple of years have quite clearly had better rosters. This year the comp has been quite even,’’ he said.

“On paper even the top 10 teams have some really good players.’’

McCormack said Covid, overseas playing commitments and injury were some of the factors behind Randwick’s massive player turnover this season

“No new additions this week. We’ve had 46 different players due to Covid, overseas rep duties, sevens duties, all sorts of things,’’ he said.

“They are high numbers more than 30-35 in a year.’’

Boosting Randwick in recent times is the return of fly half Ben Donaldson, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Matt Faessler from the Queensland Reds and Tom Nowlan from the Melbourne Rebels.

Sydney University playing Eastwood in the 100th Anniversary Memorial Match in round 10. Pic: Karen Watson.

“We have only played them once and they beat us reasonably convincingly - the only game we felt we were convincing beaten.

“We had an off day. You have to be up for Sydney Uni. If you don’t get up for them they punish you.’’

SHUTE SHIELD QUALIFYING FINALS SCHEDULE

SATURDAY

Norths v Manly, North Sydney Oval. 3:10pm

Sydney Uni v Randwick, Sydney University Football Ground, 3:30pm

Eastwood v Eastern Suburbs, Eric Tweedale Stadium, 3:30pm

SUNDAY

Warringah v Gordon, Pittwater Rugby Park, 3:05pm

STANDING AFTER SHUTE SHIELD REGULAR SEASON

Norths: 12 wins, one draw, 5 losses, For: 416. Against: 169, Pts: 69

Sydney Uni: 13 wins, 0 draws, 5 losses, For: 509. Against: 318. Pts: 67

Randwick: 10 wins, 1 draw, 7 losses, For: 485, Against: 473. Pts: 54

Manly: 10: wins, 0 draws, 8 losses, For: 450, Against: 389. Pts: 54

Eastwood: 10 wins, 0 draws, 8 losses, For: 489, Against: 399. Pts: 52

Warringah: 10 wins, 0 draws, 8 losses, For: 437, Against: 476. Pts: 50

Gordon 9: wins, 0 draws, 9 losses, For: 491. Against: 477. Pts: 49

Eastern Suburbs: 8 wins, 0 draws, 10 losses, For: 473, Against: 442. Pts: 49

FOLLOW AMANDA LULHAM HERE

New rugby squad of rising stars tipped to create a stir

Sons, nephews of NRL great, Wallabies our rising stars

Wallaby legends daughter making mark