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It will be a spectacular clash. The well drilled and relentless discipline of Sydney Uni against the dare-to-win all running and support play of Randwick in this Sunday’s Premier Rugby Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Both sides applied their ruthless styles to win their way in to the grand-final, with Uni shutting out Eastwood 37-13 and Randwick racing away from Gordon in the latter stages of the second half 53-32.
Like outstanding thoroughbreds, both sides turned on the power of their games the further each match went, in the end simply overpowering the opposition late in the games.
So which style can prevail on Sunday: the remorseless hard men of Sydney Uni, where they leave little or no room for error with their clinical work at the breakdown, in the line-out, and precision backline play?
Or the sometimes unpredictable, chance-your-arm Randwick, with a combination of very quick backs and some heavy-weight artillery up front?
If both sides are at full strength, and at this stage it looks as though they will be, the odds have to favour University after their 55-22 slaughter of Randwick in round 18, back at the start of August.
If for no other reason, Randwick must have been left shaken psychologically by the routing they got on that day as the Students pulled further and further away from them.
Randwick made a number of errors trying to play their counter-attacking game and were punished.
On Grand Final day don’t expect them to make the same errors.
Coach Gary Ella said late last week going in to the semi-final, if it was required they were prepared to “grind it out”.
The return of Mark Chisholm from this week’s Bledisloe Cup debacle will also give them much needed strength in the line-outs and taking on the Uni pack led by Tim Davidson.
On the ground, however, it might be a different matter with Mr. Perpetual Motion, Phil Waugh, scavenging low over every tackle against the much taller Randwick trio of Steve Hoiles, Seilala Lam and Henry Venderglas.
Both sides are very well served at half and flyhalf, with the Randwick duo of Patrick Phibbs and Tim Walsh constantly troubling Gordon on Sunday and Scott Stumbles and Dan Halangahu controlling proceedings for most of their clash against Eastwood.
The centres may well be where Randwick might get some ascendancy if they can use their pace and support play and get the ball to their outside backs with some room.
Shaun Foley and Bernie Orbell kept Randwick motoring throughout their game and with the pace of Francis Fainifo and full back Marshall Milroy plus the size of Ratu Nasiganiyavi may have an advantage.
Uni’s Waratah centre Tom Carter doesn’t quite have the pace of the Randwick backs and Mitchell Inman needs some space to be effective.
In the end, whoever can dominate at the breakdown, retain their attacking and defensive shape in the backs, and keep mistakes to a minimum, should win what will be a highly entertaining and very fast grand final.
For mine, I think Sydney Uni can do it because of their greater discipline against Randwick’s often rush-of-blood approach in their effort to turn a chance into points.
Uni by 9 points.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.