Jed Holloway: the Head RAM Talks about the NRC

3rd September, 2014

The PCS Greater RAMS’ start to the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship season hasn't quite gone to plan, but the guys are digging in and getting on with the job of notching up their first win.

As the team gets ready to head to Adelaide to take on Perth Spirit in Round 3, www.ramsrugby.com.au spoke to the skipper, Jed Holloway to get his take on the NRC competition so far.

So Jed, tell us how you’ve found the NRC so far?

“It’s really good. It’s fun rugby to play, because it’s expansive and it’s attacking. The conditions haven’t really helped us out too much in the first two weeks, but I’m sure teams will adjust.

It’s just different, and a bit of a freshen-up on the rugby I’m used to and the rugby I’ve been playing all year round, so it’s quite good.”

And what about the increased pace of the game? There were reports out over the weekend that the GPS data was indicating that players were running further and faster than in .

“Yeah, our coach ‘Billy’ Melrose touched on that this week, actually. I haven’t personally noticed too much of a difference, but I’m sure a few of the bigger boys might have!

I think it’s more that you play a lot more sideline to sideline, and that you play to the space, and so I guess you would cover a fair bit more ground. There are certainly a lot more line breaks and the like, so I guess that would explain it.”

How have the players adjusted to the Law Variations in use for the NRC? Does the game feel faster, or is just because of the increased value of converted tries?

“It’s a bit hard to say. I think it’s faster because there’s less stoppages, and there’s more running because you’re not taking the shots at goal [with penalties now only worth two points] and the time limits around kicking and scrum setup has sped it all up as well.

Other than that, it’s all kind of the same. I think every team will get a bit of a feel for it and make their adjustments to the variations, but I think the reason the games are faster is mainly because it’s taking the goal-kicking out of it. In a normal game there’d probably be five or eight, or ten shots at goal, whereas there have only been five or six shots at [penalty] goal for the competition so far.

That takes out 10 to 15 minutes of waiting around while they take those kicks at goal, and I guess that’s the main reason why the game is so much quicker.”

How are the guys finding having to pack a scrum within 30 seconds?

“I think for me [playing at number 8] it’s not so much an issue, it’s more the front row guys. And I think our front row is fairly used to it, it’s just speeds everything up; the ball’s in and out, and they’ve been a bit more lenient with the [angle of the] feed, or if the scrum collapses but the ball’s at the back, they just want to get the ball out and play.

So it’s good in that sense, but I don’t think it changes anything. It just changes... I don’t know anything about front row stuff, but I’m sure they want to get to the mark early and get their position right before the other team, so I guess it’s just a race to get set up.”

What about the captaincy - have you enjoyed the experience captaining the RAMS, and how would you describe yourself as a captain?

“I try to lead by example, and I feel if I don’t do that I’ve let my team down quite a bit. I don’t talk too much.

Around the captaincy, it’s easy in the RAMS because there are so many experienced guys there. Hugh Perrett has captained Eastwood for the last ten years, and I’m sucking the knowledge out of him and also Benn Robinson, who’s captained the Waratahs.

It’s been an easy transition for me, but it’s been such an honour to do it, because it is the inaugural NRC. The RAMS have been around before, but it’s exciting and I like a challenge and I’m learning a lot as well, so I’m really enjoying it.”

How do you explain the RAMS’ opening to the NRC?

“I think we haven’t quite had the preparation we’d like to have had. Other teams have had time together, and a lot of them are [Super Rugby} franchise-based, and with us having the two Grand Final teams, that really cut our preparation a lot.

That was a bit of a spanner in the works and we could’ve used it as an excuse against the Eagles, but you could see our structures coming out against the Vikings last week. We need to stop throwing away the ball in our attacking zones and ball retention in those general areas, but we’ll get the hang of it the more we play together and I think we’re just lacking a bit of combination at the moment.

But I’ve got complete faith in the coaching staff and the players, and I’ve no doubt we’ll come home strong.”

And what’s been going well for the team?

“It’s a bit hard to say, we’ve had such a tough time with the weather. And then just this week, our first dry training session and lights went out on us just as we were about to start at Moore Park!

But guys have been really stepping up. A couple of new guys, like Vasa is from Newcastle and came down and really stood up on the weekend. Henry Taefu at inside centre was another one [from Brisbane club Sunnybank], and it just gives those guys the exposure they probably don’t get in their competitions, and they’re really taking their opportunities which is a good thing.

You must be happy with your own form though - you’ve earned a few mentions in the press this week?

“Yeah, but I’m probably my toughest critic. I’m happy, but I’m not stoked with how I’ve been playing. I know I’ve still got a lot more to give and it’s nice to get the mentions, but I’m very much a team man and I want to see my team winning. If the mentions come after that, then that’s great.”

Jed Holloway is available for interview this Thursday 10am for any press re RAMS.

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