GPS First XV rugby: Five things we learnt as BBC usher in a new era
GPS First XV rugby Rd 2 teams: BBC usher in 10 debut boys - one of which is the son of Toutai Kefu who will be coaching against his own son. Also see five things learnt from Rd 1.
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Brisbane Boys’ College have named 10 debut boys while an Ipswich Grammar School flanker will make his first run on appearance against Toowoomba Grammar School in round 2 action on Saturday.
CLUB RUGBY RD 14 TEAM OF THE WEEK
With new assistant coach Brad Thorn helping out head coach Dan Leo, BBC has ushered in the new faces for the big clash against Brisbane State High School.
The 10 boys making their debuts were front rowers of Oscar Donovan, Lucas Bakker and Conrad Scott, the outside back division of outside centre Adres Ayache, wingers Ryder Koia and Tai Taka and fullback Nate Barnett, halfback Isaac Kefu and backrowers Austen Neame and Cartaar Westerberg.
Isaac Kefu is the son of the BSHS coach, Toutai, while his uncle Steve is Toutai’s assistant at BSHS.
BSHS coach Kefu said it would be a “strange feeling”coaching against this son.
“I am really proud of him achieving his first run on and really hoping he plays well - but not too well,’’ Kefu laughed.
The Brisbane Boys College players had to cool their jets after a round 1 bye. See their full team later in our story.
Round 2 will also be a big moment for Ipswich Grammar School flanker Jack Calleja who will make his starting debut.
Calleja was an impressive performer at the 2023 Emerging Reds Cup at Ballymore and has been given the green light to confront TGS’s pack in Toowoomba on Saturday.
Nudgee have brought in Max Rohan to play at outside centre. He is a natural No.13 who came off the bench last week and helped in Nudgee’s second half hero effort.
He has been an A side through the grades and it is a feather in his cap to make the First XV.
BSHS have installed Jesse Maugatai at lock for its clash against BBC, while Terrace have named Nate Wines at flanker in his return from injury.
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT
TSS MAKE A STATEMENT
The Southport School made a statement in round one and what was apparent is they have a great balance.
Their forwards are big, midfielders powerful and outside backs like Jake Lane, Kingston Seve and Dylan Terblanche light on their feet with speed.
Lane was busy on The Village Green, mopping up tackles in defence where he made a one-on-one try saving tackle on dangerous Terrace winger Saia Poese.
With Terblanche his partner in crime, Lane made plenty of half breaks and was a big reason why a spirited Terrace outfit could only snare one five-pointer.
Their front row of Kingsley Uys, Blaze Moana and Jonah Rangiwai was also at the centre of their defensive effort, not just on the tackling front but in the scrum where their dominance bailed them out when Terrace were closing in.
TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR IS STILL A MASSIVE THREAT
Toowoomba Grammar School were ambushed by BSHS, fair and square, but rallied to narrow the first half to a 13-7 deficit, and then finished with three of the last four tries in the match.
Indeed TGS won the pick and drive battle and also delivered a weighty rolling maul which was a huge positive given the ready made potency of the TGS back three.
This is a beautifully balanced side which will live to fight another day.
THE HYPE WAS WORTH IT
Across the off-season there had been whispers Brisbane State High School, under new head coach Toutai Kefu and assisted by his brother Steve, had assembled a side which could give the competition a shake.
And at first glance, the hype was on the money following a spectacular round 1 win over TGS.
The forwards had a nice mixture of work ethic and brawn, the outside backs raw speed and in between No.8 Roman Siulepa roamed freely.
However, BSHS must reduce the number of penalties which were conceded.
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL WILL BE NO PUSHOVERS
We learned IGS were an exciting squad this season. We suspected this anyway, but the manner in which they challenged Nudgee last Saturday highlighted this.
Ipswich Grammar scored first, led 12-10 at the break and were in the game until Charlie O’Connell and Oli Patterson intervened.
Any opposition player who wanders onto the field with their heads in the clouds before confronting IGS will be in for a nasty shock.
Last weekend the 31-12 scoreline did not reflect how close the game was.
NUDGEE WERE FRONT RUNNERS - AGAIN
The form guide was correct - Nudgee deserve to be front runners again.
It was no picnic, driving up the Ipswich Motorway and facing an amped up IGS outfit urged on by local supporters.
With inspiring captain John Grenfell in the thick of the action, Nudgee’s hit and run mission was a success.
Again Nudgee had the set piece down pat and had an array of talented new faces in the backs like electric wingers Ethan Gimshaw and Oli Patterson as well as inside centre Carter Welfare and quality reserve centre Max Rohan.
Having Jacob Johnson, Sam Watson and Nick Conway, returning players from last year, make them even more dangerous.
What a spectacle Saturday’s match against The Southport School, on the Village Green, shapes up to be.
THE TEAMS
TSS v NUDGEE:
TSS: 1. Kingsley Uys, 2. Blaze Moana (C), 3. Jonah Rangiwai, 4. Hayden Keldie-Genner, 5. Daniel Wells, 6. Viliami Fifita, 7. Clint Hoare, 8. Agapetos Lote-Felo, 9. Tom Goldie (VC), 10. Dallas Ingram, 11. Jake Lane, 12. Eli Vea, 13. Kilarney Lavender, 14. TBC (Kingston Seve or Callum Dalton), 15. Dylan Terblanche.
NUDGEE: 1Isaac Rauluni, 2 John Grenfell (c), 3 Levi Slater, 4 Bennett Armistead, 5 Ed Kasprowicz, 6 Adam Latham, 7 Hugo Hart, 8 Teina Graham, 9 Sam Watson, 10 Charlie O’Connell, 11 Oli Paterson, 12 Carter Welfare, 13 Max Rohan, 14 Nicholas Conway,
15 Jacob Johnson.
BBC v BSHS
BBC: 1 Oscar Donovan, 2 Lucas Bakker, 3 Conrad Scott, 4 Jack Randall, 5 Gray O’Neill, 6 Cartaar Westerberg, 7 Tyler Maybery, 8 Austen Neame, 9 Isaac Kefu, 10 Charlie Bird, 11 Tai Taka, 12 Frank Howarth, 13 Adres Ayache, 14 Ryder Koia, 15 Nate Barnett.
BSHS: 1. Tyrece Herniman, 2. Cyrus Suniula, 3. Elijah Sau, 4. Jesse Maugatai, 5. Luke Thornton, 6. Eli Langi, 7. Trent Picot,8. Roman Siulepa, 9. Marley Ngatai, 10. Seamus Boakes, 11. Jackson Hill, 12. Junior Latu, 13. Laquan Afamiliona, 14. PaddyMcInally, 15. Angus Tagicakibau.
TGS v IGS
TGS: 1. Archie Campbell, 2. Ruben Kruger, 3. Harrison Humphreys, 4. Jonah Allen 5. Rupeni Baravilala, 6. Sebastian Hepner, 7.Joe Gray (Capt), 8. Thomas Bailey, 9. Jack Brown, 10. Illy Baravilala, 11. Adam Davis, 12. Azariah Toki-Mautairi, 13. Rhymen Tusi, 14. Myles Rosemond, 15. Trace Beattie
IGS: 1. H Hattingh, 2: Jean-Paul Sia, 3: William Pamenter (C), 4: Mostyn Bowen, 5: Harry Scheibel, 6: Jack Calleja, 7: Tannar Baker, 8: Ezalle Matautia, 9: Joseph Post (vice-captain), 10: Tyson Walker, 11: Brock Coombes, 12: Finn Kendall, 13: James Grey, 14: Marlon Frost, 15: Hemi Rakuita
TERRACE v CHURCHIE
TERRACE: 1. Alec Weir, 2. Cody Harkins, 3. Charlie Hollyman, 4. Charlie Cross, 5. Jack Hogan, 6. Nates Wines, 7. Archer Ilott, 8. Oliver Nasser, 9. George Hales, 10. Sam McGahan, 11. Sam Russell, 12. Connor Clifford, 13. Saia Poese, 14. George Joseph,15. Joe McGahan
CHURCIE: TBC 1. Kasper Tammela, 2. Harry Solofa, 3. Sio Kite, 4. Caleb Godfrey, 5. Sam Williams, 6. Tom Wood, 7. George Ward, 8. Jye Crothers,9. Hugh Rylance, 10. Thomas Hatzifotis, 11. Oliver Chancellor, 12. Max Blanch, 13. Liam Gordon, 14. Will Bloxham, 15. Treyvon Pritchard.
Round 2
BBC v BSHS
TERRACE v CHURCHIE
TGS v IGS
NUDGEE v TSS
Bye: BGS
Round 3
BGS v Terrace
IGS v BBC
Churchie v Nudgee
TSS v TGS
Bye: BSHS
Originally published as GPS First XV rugby: Five things we learnt as BBC usher in a new era
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