THOU MUST adhere to the basics.
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That may well be the Red Devils’ most observed rugby commandment when they clash with Moree in the Central North rugby union major semi-final at Weebollabolla Oval tomorrow.
Moree is a side renowned for taking scoring opportunities.
The Bulls punish errors on the scoreboard.
The Red Devils showed in the first-round clash against Moree (won 43-12 by the Bulls) at Gunnedah Rugby Park that they can move the ball around nicely once they recycle possession for a number of phases.
In the second-round clash (Moree won 22-3), Gunnedah made a few mistakes and Moree scored two tries.
Gunnedah coach Tim Gavin indicated yesterday his prescription for success revolved around ball retention and mistake-free rugby.
The Tamworth Magpies played that style of rugby in the first 25 minutes of their clash with Narrabri last Saturday where they set up their 18-17 win.
“A little bit of flair is good but if people can do the basics well and retain the ball then that goes a long way towards winning these bigger games,” Gavin said yesterday.
“It’s definitely a step up. The intensity is a lot greater in semi-final football.”
Gunnedah has trained three times this week, where the skills required to perform under pressure was honed
“As far as training is concerned, it’s just doing all the basic work and doing it correctly,” Gavin said.
“It’s pretty well all the bits of play that you’ve put together over the season.
“It’s not a lot of mind-blowing stuff.”
Meanwhile, Gunnedah’s two locks – Lindsay Mainey and Shane Schutz – have been consistent performers for the Red Devils throughout the year.
Gavin said they both had plenty to offer on the rugby paddock.
“Lindsay has developed as a player,” Gavin said.
“He came across from rugby league four or five years ago and he’s really come on in the lineout play and he gives a lot of sting in defence as far as our tight five is concerned.
“He’s a very fit guy and plays the full 80 minutes.”
Schutz, who attends Gunnedah’s St Mary’s College, played for the NSW Country Schools team against English Schools this week and is one of country rugby’s most promising talents.
“Shane is a young bloke who gives us that youthful enthusiasm,” Gavin said. “He’s a big man for a young guy and he’s good on his bread and butter as far as scrums and lineouts are concerned.”
Gunnedah’s scrums held up well against Moree in the Bulls’ 22-3 win at Weebollabolla Oval recently.
Moree hooker Charles Franklin was impressed with the opposition front-row.
Gavin expects the scrums to be keenly contested again.
“Moree have a very solid scrum.
“They stuck it to us in the mid 40 (minutes) of that last game but we came back at the end.
“It’s going to be a real contest.”
Peter Jones will replace injured Gunnedah centre James Thibault for tomorrow’s clash.
Gavin has every confidence in Jones’s ability to handle the assignment.
“James Thibault is the form outside centre and he will be a big loss but Peter Jones has played a few games there while David Rose was out injured,” Gavin said.
“He’s an experienced player there and he knows all our plays, so we’ve got no concerns in that respect.”
GUNNEDAH 1 Anthony Williams, 2 Justin Law, 3 Nick Hannaford, 4 Lindsay Mainey, 5 Shane Schutz, 6 Pat Hennessy, 7 Tim Walsh, 8 James MacPherson (c), 9 David Heyman, 10 Michael Crawford, 11 Matt Thomas, 12 David Rose, 13 Peter Jones, 14 Jeff Wilson, 15 Chris Goscomb.
