Forsyth believes HK have talent to upset Japan
Hong Kong will go in search of their holy grail again - defeating Japan for the first time at the Asian Championship. It is a feat that has eluded the home team at the previous 18 tournaments spanning the past 35 years. But skipper Brett Forsyth believes this crusade can end successfully tonight in the Pool A encounter on the artificial pitch at the Hong Kong Football Club.
'Of course, the best result for Hong Kong will be a victory and I believe we have the players to achieve that. This is one of the strongest sides Hong Kong have fielded in recent years. We will be going out seeking a win and not to just limit points scored against us,'' said Forsyth.
Brave words considering Japan have not lost to Hong Kong at this tournament since it was first played in 1969. Hong Kong have beaten Japan in internationals, the most recent victories coming during the heady days of the Pac-Rim Series in the 1990s. But they have never won at this event played under IRB residency requirements or even when special dispensation was given to field 'expatriate' players.
'I know we have never beaten Japan at this tournament, but a record is there to be broken,' said Hong Kong coach Ivan Torpey. 'The guys are all motivated and looking forward to playing against the top nation in Asia. If we perform to our optimum, the result will take care of itself.''
Looking to the past will not serve Hong Kong's interest. The last occasion the two sides met, Japan emerged 90-5 winners. It was a crushing defeat considering Japan were fielding a second-string side as their top players were playing at the World Cup in Australia last year.
Only nine players remain from that loss in the current set-up - five of whom will be starting, front-rowers Pete Spizzirri and Tom Cameron, lock Lachlin Miller, scrumhalf Rob Naylor and winger Chan Fuk-ping. The other four are on the bench tonight - forward James Wood and backs Lee Cheuk-yin, Ben Harris and Andrew Chambers.
While Japan will once again field a second-string side - their main squad are preparing to tour Wales and Scotland next month - Torpey believes the twin lure of trying to regain the Asian title (now held by South Korea) and the chance to impress selectors will make them a dangerous outfit.
Hong Kong will miss the presence of centre Jason Going, who has failed a fitness test. The two others to be dropped from the 25-strong preliminary squad are City 7 prop Chung Chun-sang and Valley flanker Andy Yuen Kin-ho. 'They are out of the reckoning for this match only,'' insisted Torpey.
Going's place will be filled by Nigel D'Acre and he will partner Forsyth in midfield. Naylor and David Wigley will form the halves combination while Lusiano Afeaki and Chan will be on the wings. Alex Gibbs has been preferred to Andrew Chambers at fullback.
The front row has a settled look in Spizzirri, Cameron and Mick Russell, while Danny O'Connor will partner Miller in the second row. The back row will comprise No8 Paul Dingley and flankers Bryan O'Hara and Tim O'Connor.
If the home team need to draw upon inspiration, they should look back to the last Asian Championship, two years ago in Bangkok, when they lost 29-15 to Japan. On that occasion, discipline let Hong Kong down with two sin-bins resulting in the SAR down to 14 men for half the second period.
'The good thing about this team is that we don't have any preconceived idea about Japan. We will not let reputations play a part, it will just be about how we play on the day,' said Forsyth.
'I believe we can win and this is the result we want,'' added the skipper, who will be playing against Japan for the first time.
Hong Kong will pray the holy grail is found and that Forsyth won't be left disillusioned tonight.
Hong Kong: 15-Alex Gibbs, 14-Lusiano Afeaki, 13-Nigel D'Acre, 12-Brett Forsyth (capt), 11-Chan Fuk-ping, 10-David Wigley, 9-Rob Naylor, 8-Paul Dingley, 7-Tim O'Connor, 6-Bryan O'Hara, 5-Lachlin Miller, 4-Dan O'Connor, 3-Mick Russell, 2-Tom Cameron, 1-Pete Spizzirri. Subs: 16-James Wood, 17-Leung Ming-hong, 18-Justin Gregory, 19-Lee Cheuk-yin, 20-Ben Harris, 21-Warren Warner, 22-Andrew Chambers.
