GPS and CAS finalise teams before representative round

CAS will be out to continue their recent domination over state rival GPS as both competitions finalise their teams ahead of the traditional representative round.

• Round one: GPS, CAS rugby wrap-up

• Pathways tweak leading rugby out of darkness

Players have an extra incentive in this week’s round of the GPS and CAS competitions as it will be their final chance to impress before the selections of the first representative teams of the season.

After the games the teams will announced for the annual GPS v CAS rugby fixtures to be played at Knox Grammar on Tuesday.

Then on Friday GPS play the Combined High Schools while CAS will take on the independent Schools (ISA) with all the games at David Phillips Field.

Following those fixtures the NSW Schools squads will be selected.

The CAS will be chasing their third win in a row, having defeated GPS 24-19 last year and 26-0 in 2017.

And they expect another strong showing this year following some impressive performances against schools from other associations during the trials.

CAS have the wood over their GPS rivals in recent years.

While teams are heading into the second round of the GPS and CAS competitions, selectors have been closely observing form in the lead-up games.

The round of schoolboy matches kicks off on Friday evening in the CAS game between Cranbrook and Knox under lights at Woollahra Oval with a 7pm kick off.

On Saturday Barker play Trinity while Waverley will be looking to make amends for their first round loss to Knox when they play St Aloysius.

“We were pretty disappointed with the outcome last weekend,” said Waverley coach Scott Coleman.

“The boys trained pretty hard for it but Knox came out and played very well and all congratulations it to them.

“Hopefully our boys really use that as ammunition to take on ‘Allos’ this week and put our best foot forward.”

He said St Aloysius will be up for having a crack at Waverley on their home ground and his team has to be ready for that.

Kurtley Beale had a mortgage on his GPS jersey.

In the GPS competition the big game sees impressive first round winners Scots and Riverview squaring off at Bellevue Hill.

Riverview were impressive in defeating Kings last Saturday while Scots beat Shore.

It will be important for Scots to improve on the slow starts they have had in their two previous games against Knox and Shore.

Riverview will be again to control possession and forcing Scots out of their comfort zone as they did in their well-executed game plan against Kings.

Defence will also be a key for Riverview and limiting the options of Scots strike weapons in their three-quarter line.

NSW Rugby Head of Talent Management Andrew Cleverley saw Riverview’s win last week and said their strength was the ability to attack with the width from their inside backs and putting some big ball carriers into the midfield.

“That is sure to be a challenge for the Scots defence,” he said.

“And the attacking flair of Scots outside backs will pose a real threat.”

“I’m looking forward to the set piece battle with both schools showing real strength in that area in the pre-season and in round one.”

In the other games St Josephs play Shore and Kings takes on Newington.