Courage and continuity key to Hong Kong’s Asian championship aspirations
Our kicking game sucks. But let’s forget about that, for now, and focus on what matters if we are to remain the next-best team in Asia behind Japan. I’m talking about continuity and playing with ball in hand.
Our kicking game sucks. But let’s forget about that, for now, and focus on what matters if we are to remain the next-best team in Asia behind Japan. I’m talking about continuity and playing with ball in hand.
The 38-37 victory over South Korea in Incheon means our slender hopes of retaining the region’s number two spot are alive until this Saturday when we host Japan at Aberdeen Stadium in the final match of the 2015 Asia Rugby Championship.
The task facing Nick Hewson’s team is to at least hold Japan to a winning margin of less than 29 points – the points differential between Hong Kong and South Korea who both have eight points from one win and three bonus points secured in the home-and-away matches between the two.
If Japan win by more than 29 points, South Korea take second place. Japan defeated Hong Kong 41-0 in the first meeting in Tokyo and I haven’t mentioned any chance of Hong Kong winning because, truthfully, one has to be pragmatic.
Hong Kong were celebrating as a result of remaining confident and having the courage to keep the ball alive. This courage must be shown against the Brave Blossoms, too.
The last time Hong Kong beat Japan was in 1998 when we fielded a number of players from the southern hemisphere. Those days are gone.