(L-R) Matthew Bowman, Bobby Muth, Phil Giordano, Grant Houldsworth (Trish Tillard photo)
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Both acquitted themselves well at the next level and have reached new heights in their rugby careers.
Unfortunately, the UNSW team went down to Old Ignatians 26-10.
When asked about the experience Giordano said, "The game moved a lot faster, there was more counter-rucking and no time to have a break. I found it easier to do your job out there because your role was more defined but there was certainly more pressure to do your job right."
Muth agreed there was an increase in speed adding, "It took one or two hits to adjust to the new game speed. Another thing I felt was that there were a lot less errors out there and a much better consistency in catching and passing. I was excited to be playing out there."
UNSW head coach Henry Zinzley and the DUR coaches were very happy with the way the boys performed.
"Phil worked tirelessly around the field. He disrupted their lineout as well as the breakdown and Bobby had a near perfect debut at fullback," said Zinzley. "I was surprised at the way they performed under pressure and then not surprised, as I knew they were up to it."
"Bobby threw a quarterback style pass from a counter attacking position to hit his openside winger on the chest and send him downfield toward green pasture,” raved DUR general manager Grant Houldsworth.
“I thought it was awesome and the highlight for me. The damn ref called it a forward pass and pulled the play up but there was no way it was forward. There is no doubt the unfamiliar quarterback action caught the ref off guard and he made a culturally incorrect decision.
“The pass reached its target much faster than a conventional rugby pass, it was brilliant. Bobby was jeered by opponents with comments like 'this is not the NFL' but this great play made me think more about what technique and strategy American Football could bring to rugby. For instance, could a longsnapper set up at the breakdown to fire a pass behind to the flyhalf to hit a winning field goal? No-one would be expecting a long pass between the legs from a stationary breakdown.
“The soccer culture in England has certainly influenced the way England play the game with their great kicking, wouldn't it be great if the US rugby style displayed technical elements or learnings from American Football. It is long talked about how the global competition would benefit from a strong US side but I think there is merit in the actual game benefiting from advanced American Football infusions."
The 2008 Down Under Rugby program finishes August 30. DUR are currently accepting applications for the 2009 program, which is again anticipated to take place July/August (8 weeks).
