Shortened build-up to Belgium tests will have players ‘fizzing’

As we approach the midway point of the domestic season I can only be impressed by the year-on-year development of club rugby in Hong Kong and by the level of competition in both the men’s and women’s game.

Of course, my capacity as coach for the Hong Kong men’s 15 focuses my attention towards the performance end of the competition and during this, my fourth season in town, I continue to witness a positive and somewhat remarkable transition in the approach and attitude of players, administrators and coaches in keeping abreast of the professional game beyond our borders.

On reflection, my time in Hong Kong has proved something of a déjà vu experience in invoking similar memories of my time in Wales, particularly the transitional phase of the game from “shamateurism” to open professionalism in 1995.

Games to date have produced good levels of intensity with no shortage of skill, but what has impressed me more than anything this season is the individual “footprint” each coach and team are attempting to make on the game. By this I mean the adopted tactics and style the teams are attempting to master so as to bring their own level of individuality to the game, while maximising the playing resources they have at their disposal.

For some players, and indeed clubs as a whole, this means quite a radical shift in mindset and approach towards embracing modern professional concepts and strategies. Also a “changing of habits” for the players themselves in further embracing the professional concepts of conditioning, nutrition and other modes of good practice to ensure they keep on the pace of the game.

For those teams and clubs who are caught up in the transitional phase of this process and who are perhaps having doubts about the practicality of such concepts, my advice and experience would suggest they should stick with it – it will all be worth it in the end. Honest!

And, if not as fruitful as you would have wished, it will no doubt have made you a more knowledgeable and rounded coach/player/administrator. After all, a very wise man once told me that if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got! So it’s important that we all embrace change to continue our personal quest for knowledge and self-improvement.

Moving on and looking forward to the tests against Belgium next month, I believe what I’m seeing at club level bodes well for our international game. Not only in the “end product” of the Saturday performances I have witnessed recently, but also when attending club sessions in my other capacity as coach development manager.

I have observed a level of organisation, intensity and technical content at training sessions that has not been evident in previous seasons. Indeed, this has impressed me so much that we’ve taken an educated risk in the lead-up to the Belgium tests by reducing the length of our preparation programme.

The logic in the decision lies in my belief that international rugby preparation (and games) should remain “special” where possible, while also trying to work with the clubs to ensure the players are not over-trained or over-pressurised in their commitments with family and work.

The world trend towards commercial control over the international game has meant most top international rugby playing nations now train as often as their club teams. A trend I fully understand and endorse from a financial and sponsorship prospective, but one that I believe detracts from the “specialness” of the international environment.

Fortunately, in Hong Kong we work to a different set of parameters which means I can uphold my belief in keeping our international preparation window quite short, therefore trusting the club coaches to maintain and sustain the levels of expertise and intensity, so the players are better prepared for the international window.

Experience has taught me that what you may lose in technical application is more than made up for by enthusiasm and raw energy. And, after all, with the best will in the world we will never be as organised as we would like to be, so its about attaining the right balance with the players to ensure they are “fizzing” come December 17 and 21 and later in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations.

In terms of the Belgium tests, our preparation has begun by selecting a squad that is currently training once a week at King’s Park so as not to cut across the domestic league programme too much. Once that finishes, we will up the ante with an important weekend trip scheduled at Harrow school (December 14 and 15), where our final squad and starting team for the first game will be decided.

As always during the sessions, the players have responded magnificently to the demands and stresses placed on them.