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Not too many saw an Eastwood versus Southern Districts grand final coming in this year’s Shute Shield.
Not too many Greater Sydney Rams coaches saw it coming, either, but John Manenti, Eastwood coach and Rams assistant coach, says the two teams facing off will justify the Rams squad selections.
“It will make it harder to pick the final side, though,” Manenti told Rams Rugby this week.
“In some circles and on social media, there had been some suggestion that the team didn’t have a balance of players, and obviously that was before either team went through the Finals as successfully as they have.
“I think it’s fair to say we won’t always get it right – no group of selectors is always right – but we’re reasonably close, and that’s a good thing.”
Two teams in the club rugby grand final – particularly too clubs providing the bulk of the Rams squad, as Eastwood and Souths have done – does present some challenges for Greater Sydney’s new rugby side, however.
“From a preparation point, it’s obviously not ideal,” Manenti said. “NSW Country are having camps this week, and we play them next Saturday in the first game, and none of their teams are alive, but that’s part of the territory and we’ll get on with the job as required.”
Manenti admits that after Souths pipped Eastwood by two points in the qualifying final, he thought the chances of meeting them again were slim.
“Until last weekend, I didn’t think it was on the cards. The plan was obviously to beat them a few weeks ago, and that would’ve been the end of them. But they won that day (38-36, at TG Milner), and then had an improved performance again against Uni (in the Semi-Final, last Sunday, winning 27-25 at Sydney Uni No.1), and to go through that way, beating Eastwood at Eastwood and Uni at Uni is a credit to them.”
Rams Chairman Greg Dyer wished both teams the best of luck for the grand final at the Rams’ NRC launch on Wednesday night in Parramatta, but added that he hoped they also don’t go too hard on each other, knowing they’ll come together as Rams from Monday.
Manenti admits it’s a strange scenario.
“I suppose I liken it to the Waratahs playing against the other Australian sides in the lead-up to the June Tests, and then the Brumbies straight after it, but in the middle of it they played together for Australia. Obviously these guys (in the Rams squad) aren’t at that professional level yet – some are, of course – and they’re used to playing against guys regularly, but now they come together in that next level team.
“So it’s like what the Super Rugby boys go through, just not quite in the same grandiose fashion.”
Souths’ skipper and No.8, and potential Rams Captain, Jed Holloway, shapes as the main danger for Eastwood, according to Manenti.
“His game against us two weeks ago was probably the best game he’s had this year. He will again be the thrust of their forward pack, and the guys play around him really well. And they’ll do the same thing when they’ve got a Rams jersey on.”
First published on www.ramsrugby.com.au
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