MATCH PREVIEW – HONG KONG CHINA VS NETHERLANDS
- Hong Kong China take on the Netherlands on Saturday 12 October, 18:00 local (22:00 HKT)
- The girls still have the opportunity to finish in the top 2 in the WXV3 table and a secure a spot at next summer's Rugby World Cup
- The matchday squad has now been confirmed (shown below)
PUBLISHED ON 08 OCT 2024
Hong Kong China Women's 15s kept their Rugby World Cup qualification dreams alive thanks to a commanding 38-7 victory over Madagascar in their WXV3 round 2 match in Dubai on Friday evening. The result means the girls head into Saturday's clash against the Netherlands with the opportunity to finish in the top 2 in the WXV3 table and a secure a spot at next summer's tournament in England (see table below). If Fiji, who have already qualified for next summer's tournament, finish in the top 2 places then the team in 3rd place will qualify.
WXV3 Results – Hong Kong China
- Saturday 28 September, Fiji 38-3 Hong Kong China
- Friday 4 October, Madagascar 7-38 Hong Kong China
WXV3 Remaining Fixtures – All Teams
- Friday 11 October, 19:00 local (23:00 HKT) – Samoa vs Madagascar (Watch live)
- Saturday 12 October, 18:00 local (22:00 HKT) – Netherlands vs Hong Kong China (Watch live)
- Saturday 12 October, 20:30 local (00:30 HKT) – Fiji vs Spain (Watch live)
WXV3 Standings
MATCH PREVIEW – HONG KONG CHINA WOMEN HAVE EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR AGAINST THE DUTCH IN FINAL WXV3 MATCH
There is a lot to play for on Saturday night as the Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 qualification still hangs in the balance, and the Hong Kong China side can also improve on their World Rugby ranking if they beat the Dutch at The Emirates Stadium.
Hong Kong China Women last faced the Netherlands in Amsterdam in May 2023, with the Dutch winning a closely fought match 19-17.
Coming into this key game, the Netherlands are one spot ahead in the World Rugby rankings in 18th, and if Hong Kong China win, they will overtake the opposition and even could potentially climb as high as 15th (which would be the team's highest-ever ranking) if results go to plan.
It's that kind of anxious weekend where so many permutations are in play for rankings, WXV standings and of course the dream of Rugby World Cup qualification.
HONG KONG CHINA SQUAD EXCITED TO SHOW WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF
The team selection this weekend has seen some enforced changes, with Micayla Baltazar and Tanya Dhar picking up knocks in the win over Madagascar. Into the squad come King To Au and Karen Hoi Ting So, while Morena Grierson has also been selected on the bench and could earn her debut cap for Hong Kong China.
In the pre-match press conference, Head Coach Andrew Douglas first addressed the injury concerns and added, "I think we've been really, really lucky injury-wise, and the girls have been really robust. I think all the work they did pre-tournament certainly helped. Morena comes in to cover the second row, and she's done well this campaign, and she's a strong, physical type of player, so we're really excited to see how she goes. She's probably the future of that forward pack going forward."
The Dutch will be a physical threat. Douglas said of the contest, “They're a very structured team, very organised in how they play and very deliberate in what they do. They like to be a set-piece-based team. It's a different type of challenge for us from Samoa or Fiji, but I think it hopefully suits us a bit better, that ability just to keep working hard and outwork them."
Women’s Captain Wai Yan Pun (PY), who has been instrumental as part of the battling pack and getting the hard work done across WXV, added, “We are getting better in how to deal with the different sized players, and this weekend again, the Dutch girls are really tall. I think our preparation has been crucial and very good for the game."
The set piece and the pack were very good last weekend and PY explained, “Our set piece is getting better and better, so I will be happy if we can bring that impact from last week, and make another big impact this weekend."
Natasha Olson-Thorne is an experienced XV and 7s campaigner for Hong Kong China and a lynchpin of the midfield defence and attack. Having played at RWC 2017, she said of the time spent together in Dubai, “This is the first time we've been together for this long, probably since the last World Cup. It's been a really good bonding experience for all of us, and we've got to know each other really well, which helps us in our games."
She said of the experience and potential, “We are getting to play against a lot more international sides, and that exposure is only going to make us better as a squad…..We definitely haven't hit our full potential yet. I think this next game we're going into it trying to win the small fights, win those small battles, and that's the focus. We want to give our wide players the ball the time and space so they can really exploit in attack."
Shanna Forrest has been a force playing at #8 with strong carries off the base of the scrum and around the field. “I'm always super proud to wear the jersey, and I'm so grateful to have my teammates back me up on the field. Playing WXV has given me a lot of exposure in how teams play outside of Asia; the different playing styles, and different levels of physicality. This means it's given me the opportunity to grow as a player."
The final words came from the Head Coach, as he commented about not focussing on the permutations of the weekend. "This is an intelligent group. They know the sums and the maths and what it takes. So we've tried to focus on what we need to do. I hope they make themselves proud and express themselves in the way they can, as they deserve to do well from all the work they've put in."
This article was posted in collaboration with our good friends at RugbyAsia247 – check them out for all the latest Asian Rugby news!
SQUAD – NETHERLANDS VS HONG KONG CHINA
PLAYERS (Club)
1 LAU Nga Wun (Gai Wu)
2 GOT Fion (HKFC)
3 HEREWINI Kea (Valley)
4 TURNER Roshini (HKFC)
5 BALTAZAR Micayla (USRC Tigers)
6 PUN Wai Yan © (Gai Wu)
7 CHAN Tsz Ching (HKFC)
8 FORREST Shanna (Kowloon)
9 HO Jessica Wai On (USRC Tigers)
10 RIVERS Georgia (Kowloon)
11 SMITH Zoe (Valley)
12 RIVERS Gabriella (HKFC)
13 OLSON-THORNE Natasha (USRC Tigers)
14 CHONG Ka Yan (USRC Tigers)
15 LYNAM Sabay (Kowloon)
16 SO Karen Hoi Ting (Valley)
17 CHAN Hiu Tung (Kowloon)
18 LEE Ka Shun (Gai Wu)
19 GRIERSON Morena* (Kowloon)
20 CHOW Mei Nam (Gai Wu)
21 AU King To (Gai Wu)
22 FUNG Hoi Ching (Gai Wu)
23 UEMATSU Haruka (Valley)
*potential debut
TEAM MANAGEMENT (Role)
Royce CHAN (Programme Lead)
Andrew DOUGLAS (Head Coach)
Samuel BEARD (Coach)
Lewis WILSON (Coach)
Ian BONNET (S&C Coach)
Peter NUGENT (S&C Coach)
Jake MARTIN (Analyst)
Sophie RAINE (Physiotherapist)
Jonathan MOSES (Physiotherapist)
Dora KWOK (Team Manager)