The AIC Rugby season is more of a sprint than a marathon and already we’ve reached the halfway point mark of the 2021 campaign.

With teams set to play two back to back matches in the coming days, we caught up with the coaches to get their views on the season so far.

Padua with Shane Buckley

Padua have had a tough start to the season, playing the only two remaining undefeated teams in the opening three rounds. 

We caught up with coach Shane Buckley to get his views at the midway point of the season. 

2021: 6th; 1 win, 2 losses

Remaining matches: Marist (H), Eddies (H), Iona (A), Villanova (A)

How would you describe your side’s start to the season?

“I think that the coaching staff and the players would agree that our start has been below our expectations,” Padua coach Shane Buckley told Rugby News. 

“We were hoping to be 3 from 3 and with a 1 from 3 start, we are realistically playing for pride. 

“We began well enough against St. Peters and had been building with each game. We had a close loss to SLC but despite trying hard, we were off the pace against a very committed St Pat’s side.”

What are you doing well?

“Our energy levels have been good and our lineouts with Max Johnson leading the way have been an area where we have performed better.”

What do you need to improve? 

“Our communication needs to be stronger both in attack and defence. Our error rate has, at times, made it hard to win games.”

Who is the team to beat this season? 

“Both St Pat’s and St Laurences are undefeated but I feel St Laurence’s defensive energy probably gives them the edge as the team to beat.”

Who have been your standout players? 

“Dan Healy, our captain is a tireless performer. Max Johnson has been strong, particularly in the line-out. 

“Leighton Whippy is in the unique position of being a prop and our leading try scorer with 3 tries from 3 games and Alex Smith looks dangerous every time he touches the ball.”

What is the goal between now and the end of the 2021 season?

“With 4 games left, our goal will be to continue to play with energy, execute our structures well and finish with four wins with a possible 2nd or 3rd place finish.”

St Peter’s with Russell Todd

A young St Peter’s outfit has played above their weight in the opening month of the 2021 season and appear to be approving each week.

With 14 players returning for next season, coach Russell Todd thinks there is plenty to be positive about.

2021: 7th; 3 losses

Remaining matches: Lauries (A), St Pat’s (H), Marist (H), Iona (A)

How would you describe your side’s start to the season?

“It’s been a tough start to the season for our boys. Their work rate, effort and attitude has been exceptional but we have let ourselves down with some lessons learned the hard way,” Todd told Rugby News.

“The feeling from within the playing group is that they’ve lost a couple of those games themselves, as opposed to being beaten or outplayed by our opposition.

“This only spurs the boys on to keep driving forward, learning and gives them an opportunity to show that those hard lessons learnt have made them stronger.”

What are you doing well?

“For a young group their work rate, attitude, character has been exceptional this season, and drives the boys to keep improving week to week.

“Our scrum has been phenomenal having had the upper hand in all of our fixtures so far, which is a fantastic accolade for possibly the smallest pack in the competition.”

What do you need to improve? 

“Our decision making is probably the biggest area of improvement so far for us, but again is relative to the age of the squad. With 14 of the boys who have taken to field so far being able to play again next season, any lesson learned (no matter how hard) is only going to set the squad up better for 2022.”

Who is the team to beat this season? 

“On results so far you’d not be far off the mark if you tipped St Laurence’s to go the distance this season, they look a very polished rugby outfit.

“That said, there have been surprises in the “expected” results each week, so anything could happen heading into the pointy end.”

Standout players? 

“A couple of standout players for us so far have been back rowers James Roberts and Lachie Reid. Both boys give away a lot of size to their opposite numbers but are both intelligent, hard-working, effective players on both sides of the ball.

“They really set the standard and the tone for our team each week.”

What is the goal between now and the end of the 2021 season?​

“We went into the season without too much expectation on ourselves, but I’ve seen how much a couple of close losses has meant to the boys as a group.

“Our aim now will be to pick up our first win and add a second across our final round of games. At the moment the results haven’t been reflective of their effort, but the hard lessons they’ve learnt so far can’t be for nothing and they need to put their learning into practice to achieve our goals.”

Iona with Keith Harron

After scoring a late try to beat rivals Villanova in the opening match of the season, Iona has the tables turned on them a week later and conceded a late five pointer to hand victory to an undefeated St Pat’s team.

2021: 5th; 1 win, 2 losses

Remaining matches: Eddies (A), Marist (A), Padua (H), St Peter’s (A)

“One win from three games is a poor start from our perspective,” Harron told Rugby News.

“The try on the bell to St Patricks in round two was a turning point for the season.

“Our strength so far this year has been our forwards and their set piece but our decision making under pressure needs attention.

“Either St Pat’s or St Laurence’s are the teams to beat and both remain undefeated. I was really impressed by the St Pat’s No.9 and centres and the Lauries No.9 and No.6.”