Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/1648582/russia-took-home-silverware-left-us-many-positives Fifteens
Russia took home the silverware, but left us with many positives
Hong Kong’s Max Woodward gets to grips with Russia’s German Davydov during the second Ustinov Cup test on November 15. Photo: Edward Wong/SCMP
The Russians have been and gone and while they leave with the Ustinov Cup bragging rites when we reflect on our brief two-test campaign there were a number of positives to be taken by the home side.
That said, we were well beaten and often beaten up. The physicality of the Russian pack in particular caused us problems with the majority of collisions happening all too often on their terms.
Our previous international opponents outside of Asia, the Belgians and the Uruguayans were big as well, but the Russians were big, powerful and could play a bit of rugby too!
We will face similar challenges from the Koreans and Japanese in the revamped Asian Championship so the Russian experience is a timely reminder for all players to keep pushing themselves in the gym and continually look for improvements in their game.
The intensity of the two test matches also came as a shock to a handful players – not least the nine new caps.
Unlike in the HKRFU Premiership, the new guys quickly – and painfully – appreciated the far tighter margins at test-match level with time on the ball significantly reduced and the pressure to make the right decision infinitely higher.
The debutants will be far stronger for this experience though and exposing nearly 10 players to the international scene was a massive boost for us.
That player base is likely to grow in the new year too, with the likes of Adrian Griffiths and pocket rocket Toby Fenn becoming available.
Zero wins from two matches is arguably a fair reflection of where we currently are as a group, close to the likes of Russia but still with some distance to travel. It does not tell the whole story though.
The squad are in good shape. Much was made of the recent retirements but we have shown the potential for those gaps to be filled.
We will continue to reap the benefits of having a number of full-time players within the team and when you also consider we will have warhorse front-rowers Alex Baddeley and James Cooper back on deck for the Asian campaign, I would hope to have one or two “good” selection headaches for our first match next year against South Korea.
It was a good tour played in good spirit and we hope to welcome the Russians again in the seasons to follow, with every intention of bringing the Ustinov Cup back to warmer climes.