IT COMES DOWN TO THE LAST WEEK
As the John I Dent comes down to the final week before finals, a number of permutations are at play. To cut it down - it comes down to this – Whites have to win and Unis have to beat Wests for the Whites to contest the 1st grade finals. The bonus point win over Wests last weekend sees the Whites just 1 point out of the Top 4. Buoyed by the scintillating last minute try by Brenden Jimenez, the Whites have everything to play for. Probably the biggest task Coach Sam French will have will be to take the emotion out of the game noting it will be Wayne Southwell’s final game in charge at Royals. Royals – unbelievably a winless this year but would go down as the best side never to win a match in a season that has been littered with last minute fades and unlucky bounces. It is without a doubt that Royals will be up for the clash so an epic encounter at Phillip District will be assured.
The Whites will be hoping that the physical clash with Wests have all players available for selection as the Whites eye an unlikely finals berth after losing the first 5 games of the season. Brumbies recruit Fred Kaihea got more minutes again on Saturday and is not far off an 80-minute effort. His play around the ground was the Fred of old and his set piece combination with Zane Hogan, Ben Gordon and Oliver Efkarpidis is getting stronger each outing. It was fantastic to see the wile veteran Soakai Tai make a return to 1st grade last weekend and the old master was up to his old tricks in and around the ball. The back row of Sikimeti, Tuinona and skipper Matt Taylor are working effectively as a unit and hunting as a pack. The backline was humming last week with the only injury concern being Western Force bound Reece Tapine who limped off early in the 2nd stanza, but the backline picked up the slack and finished over the top of Wests highly credentialled back division.
It is hoped that the massive success of the ‘Win The Day’ Charity Day last Saturday, which saw in excess of $50,000 raised, will be a further boost to the Whites who have gone on an unbelievable run across all grades in recent weeks to have 2s, 3s, 4s and Colts all confirmed as finals starters.
The action takes place at Phillip District Oval and all Whites supporters are encouraged to get out and get the boys home and at the same time acknowledge the wonderful legacy that Wayne Southwell leaves Royals, the Whites and Brumbies Rugby.
