Originally Posted by
mdrew
Lachlan Day. (Revised) The outstanding young Randwick Colts fullback even in a side full of junior stars is a standout at the back with his exciting ball running skills and has started off the 2018 season Sydney Colt’s season with a bang scoring 27 points through the opening two rounds.
In Round One in a 31 – 29 Randwick victory over Gordon, James Ramm starting at fullback scored a try and kicked three conversions. In Round two in a big 87 – 10 Randwick victory over Warringah James Ramm kicked nine conversions.
From Round Eight onwards of the 2017 Sydney Premier Colts rugby competition Lachlan Day went on a bit of a points scoring spree, which included scoring five tries and kicking twelve conversions or penalties. In Round Eight against Northern Suburbs, Lachlan Day scored after an excellent backline movement by Randwick, in Round Nine in a big win against Gordon, he scored two tries and six goals and in the most recent round being Round Eleven, Lachlan Day scored two tries and kicked three goals against Warringah all from the fullback position.
2017 is the first season that Lachlan Day played Sydney grade rugby after graduating from St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill where he played three years in their First XV side predominantly at fullback but in earlier seasons he played a handful of matches on the wing.
In 2016 Lachlan Day’s play for St Joseph’s College Hunter Hill resulted in him being selected on the wing for the Combined States side for the Australian Schools Championships and in those Championships, one game in particular stood out from an individual stand point, when Lachlan Day tore apart the Queensland 1 side in a big win for Combined States. For Combined States, Lachlan Day was selected and spent the majority of the matches on the right wing including the match against Queensland I.
Lachlan Days’ main attribute when you see him play is his foot work, it is absolutely outstanding from the fullback position. He can step off both feet effortlessly and put multiple combinations of steps together in a short space of time and a small radius to get out of difficult situations and still make ground.
Lachlan Day does not just beat larger forwards with his footwork, he will make the fastest of outside backs and fullbacks look slow by comparison as he leaves them grasping behind him. Lachlan Day’s speed off the mark would have to be considered plus and whilst his top end speed may not necessarily be at the elite level compared to some he can sustain it over an extended distance.
Regardless of where he receives the ball Lachlan Day is an exceptional attacking player. If he gets an off load from a forward through the middle he is through the gap before the defence can react, if he gets the ball in space out wide he is make it very difficult for the opposing defender to get a clean shot at him and if he gets the ball from a kick, if the defensive line is not straight in the chase he can make significant ground.
Seemingly like all modern day fullbacks and outside backs Lachlan Day has exceptional balance and body control enabling him to score some incredible tries over the course of his junior career where it appears that he would be stopped well short of the try line or be pushed into touch.
Defensively Lachlan Day uses his size to good effect at the fullback position, by driving with his shoulder into his opponent and he also has very good timing in terms of when to come out of the line and certainly has the speed to react and readjust and chase if his timing is slightly off and the attacking player initially beats him with a move.
Lachlan Day at the individual level has the body control to redirect quickly and mirror the movement of the opposing attackers and anticipate what vector the attack comes from and innately understands when to allow the attacking play to develop in from of him and comes forward to mitigate the attacking play soon after a break has been made.
Depending on injury James Ramm should continue to be in and around the Randwick Premier Colts side for the remainder of the season.
Even though he has spent some time on the wing Lachlan Day’s play at fullback continues to develop which is evidenced by him consolidating his spot at fullback for Randwick. With his timing and anticipation in returning kicks and his fearless defence, Lachlan Day presents as an outstanding candidate to play fullback in rugby league at a high level.
With the disappointing showing of the Wallabies, all of the Australian Super Rugby sides and the Australian U20 side who finished sixth in their World Championships, talented young rugby players like Lachlan Day should certainly be approached to see if a change in code is a consideration. Lachlan Day is also an outstanding goal kicker who has the potential to be his team’s primary goal kicking option moving forward.
For me when I have seen Lachlan Day, and granted it has only been a handful of times live but multiple live streams and replays from Australian Schools and Sydney Premier Colts but I can see aspects of the way that Cronulla and Queensland emerging star Valentine Holmes plays, he is an explosive athlete with the confidence in his own abilities and that of his team mates.