By Nick Kelland If you were a bona-fide follower of the Shute Shield, you’d have been a brave punter to have put Sydney University too far up North in your pre-season predictions. In 2017, they didn’t reach the Shute Shield finals for the first time since 1998. This, coupled with the loss of veterans Tom Carter and Tom Kingston, and the appointment of new head coach Rob Taylor meant that a young new backline was going to be tested from week one of season 2018. Fast-forward six rounds, and they sit second, only two points behind a red-hot Northern Suburbs outfit, who, funnily enough, are the only side who have been able to topple them this season; courtesy of a 26-32 thriller in Bowral. One of those members of the young backline that has impressed many through the first six rounds is outside centre Guy Porter. Chatting to Rugby News during the week, he was understandably excited about the form of the new-look side. “It’s been a good test for us so far considering