By Brian Thomas Reporting exclusively for SriLanka sports. Com.
Edited by Christopher Jordashe.
The headline is a teaser package, and the answer is why not ?
Thomian outfits this season are a fairly experienced bunch, but critics will want their players conditioned better since the heavy forwards seem a bit too slow to breakdowns and in loose play.
Thomians seem disciplined in contesting the line outs , in rucks/drive. However, their forwards need to feed their three quarters with a clean good ball.
They are a team with excellent skill levels, and their pick and go strength looks very effective as their forwards are not only a pounding bunch but compliment each other in attack.
The Blue Black and Blue Jersey is definitely a threat like their brother school Trinity in the park this season.
Thomian line kicking,place kicking and conversation efforts look good with the experience of Bulathsinghala making his presence on the field. They have to strengthen their defence strategy and must readjust when the phases play out.
Extremely vulnerable in protecting their 5 meter white wash,and on hindsight tend to lose territory due spontaneous unplanned moves by the three quarters whilst in attack. Possession and ball retention is key.
They too dont run the lines, but more often than not, they have been found guilty of running across and not gaining territory when given the opportunity.
I am sure the coaches can put these shortcomings right before the season starts next month.
Unless otherwise, they improve in defence their big opponents Isipathana and Kingswood might make them pay with show and go tactics. The intensity and agression throughout a game is a key factor that can tilt advantage to this team.
Talking to a few old boys , they envisage a turnaround in Thomian Rugby beginning this season compared to the last few years,where we could not win some major trophies.
We hope the anticipation will not take its toll on the boys ,they will come out blazing when they play their natural game because media hype on school boys can be futile. Basically, it gives birth to too many experiments with basics being ignored.
STC are sloted in group 2 A . To get to the business end, they have to cope with Isipathana, dark horses Kingswood, and unpredictable Zahira,who have been improving under shamly coaching, hard working Dharmaraja kandy, and guess the potential whipping boys Mahanama.
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