‘Wounded’ Belgium looking for payback in second test, says Jones

Nick Hewson and his Hong Kong boys will need to be wary of a “wounded” Belgium squad looking for payback when they meet for the second test, head coach Leigh Jones has warned.

Hong Kong will be on the hunt for a ground-breaking series win against the higher-ranked European team at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday.

The hosts stunned Belgium 28-17 in the first test on Tuesday night at King’s Park and will be going all out to wrap up the series against a team ranked 25th in the world, four places above Hong Kong.

But Jones expects the visitors to come back strongly and has cautioned his side that they will be under the cosh.

“They are a wounded side and the first half hour is going to be critical,” Jones said on Friday. “They will be extremely physical and we will need to be able to match that physicality and intensity.

“We are also acutely aware that they will be hurting from Tuesday’s loss and it is going to be a tough one.”

Hong Kong overturned a 17-12 deficit at halftime and held Belgium scoreless in the second half to win a tight contest, only pulling away in the final minutes of the game when their opponents were down to 14 men due to a sin-bin.