FIVE NEW CAPS IN LINE AS HONG KONG OPEN ASIA RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST JAPAN

05th May 2017

The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) announced its 23-man squad for its opening match of the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) against Japan on Saturday in Tokyo (14.00).

In a nod to the continuously increasing standard of the domestic game, Head Coach Leigh Jones has included all five new players in the wider Asia Rugby Championship squad for the test against Japan.

Barring any injuries pre-match, prop Dylan Rogers and flanker Phil Whitfield will receive caps after being included in the starting fifteen, while prop Angus Dixon, lock Kyle Sullivan and outside half Robbie Keith have all been named on the reserves bench.

After the opening two rounds, Japan are again comfortably atop the table after beating South Korea in successive matches (47-29 in Korea and 80-10 in Tokyo). Japan looked more dangerous in the second encounter against Korea as new coach Jamie Joseph continues to experiment with his line-up.

“There were a signifant number of changes in their selection for game two. Fortunately for Jamie with Japan’s depth he can experiment without too much concern against Korea. It will be interesting to see their selection against us, but I expect we’ll face a side similar to the second game against Korea,” Jones added.

Irregardless of the opposition, Jones knows that it will be on Hong Kong to change things on the pitch with good possession a priority.

“Our set piece needs to function well. We need to produce quick, quality ball for our backs who can be dangerous. In recent years that’s been an issue for us, but I think we showed against the Chiefs that through the Elite Rugby Programe this is becoming one of our strengths.

“Our forwards are bigger, fitter and faster entering this year’s championship than ever before, but they will have a big task ahead of them this weekend,” said Jones.

“In the opening rounds, both teams showed their ability to recycle and produce ball within three seconds. We need to be able to combat that on defence, while replicating it in attack. If we can produce the right type of possession and quality ball we can ask questions of anyone,” said Jones.

Considering the importance of winning the possession stakes, Jones has opted for a heavy forward pack on the weekend. With long-time captain Nick Hewson injured in training, front row forwards Ben Roberts and Jamie Tsang will be co-captains for the first time on Saturday.

“I feel for Nick, but the good news is that his injury seems less serious than we initially expected and he could be in the frame as early as next week against Japan. Fortunately we’re able to turn to Ben and Jamie to help carry the load.

“They’re both fundamentally strong, and are good scrummagers and proven leaders. With Ben starting, he will wear the captains armband early on and when and if we make a change then Jamie will take over. They both are clear on our objectives and what we need in terms of our performance at the set piece,” said Jones.

Roberts will start alongside his HKCC teammate Dylan Rogers - earning his first cap, at tight-head prop while Valley loose-head Ben Higgins will complete the front row.

“Dylan is a renowned scrummager in the club game and will help us set that solid set piece we are after on Saturday,” said Jones.

HKCC’s Adrian Griffiths will form a locking partnership with Kowloon’s James Cunningham while HKFC back rower Dan Falvey will pair with debutant Phil Whitfield from Kowloon at wing-forward with Valley’s Toby Fenn at No.8.

“Phil is another good scrummager with a high work rate and some attitude. We’ve got to slow Japan down a bit while also winning our own ball at the breakdown. Phil and Toby are very similar players, they are mobile, scrappy and both have a clear mandate to get into things a bit,” Jones added.

In a nod to the importance of the battle up front, Jones has gone for a five-three forwards to backs split on the bench with Tsang joined by Kowloon teammate Angus Dixon, Valley hooker Alex Ng Wai-shing, back rower Thomas Lamboley and Hong Kong Scottish lock Kyle Sullivan.

With more than a few sevens squad members recovering from injury after coming off of the World Series swing in Hong Kong and Singapore, Rowan Varty and Yiu Kam-shing join Jamie Hood as the sevens squad members fit for Saturday.All three are named in the starting backline with Varty at fullback and Yiu rounding out the back three while winger Sebastien Alfonsi returns to the Hong Kong set-up on the left wing in the absence of sevens back-three stars like Tom and Alex McQueen and Ryan Meacheam who are recovering from injury.Fly-half Ben Rimene is also in the recovery protocol at the moment.

Hood will form a halfback partnership with Valley’s Matt Rosslee at fly-half with the hard-tackling centre duo of Hong Kong Scottish’s Lex Kaleca and USRC Tigers’ Tyler Spitz starting in the centres.

Cado Lee Ka-to will backstop Hood at scrumhalf while Ally Maclay provides wing and centre cover on the bench.Robbie Keith, the fifth of the five new faces named in the wider squad is included on the bench as cover for Rosslee.

Hong Kong will face Japan on Saturday, before hosting them (13 May) at Hong Kong Football Club, followed by a bye week and a home and away series with Korea on 27 May away and 3 June.

HKRU Squad for Japan Test (Match 1, 2017 Asia Rugby Championship):

1. Ben HIGGINS (Valley), 2. Ben ROBERTS (HKCC, captain), 3 Dylan ROGERS (HKCC)*, 4. James CUNNINGHAM (Kowloon), 5. Adrian GRIFFITHS (HKCC), 6. Phil WHITFIELD* (Kowloon), 7. Toby FENN (Valley), 8. Dan FALVEY (HKFC), 9. Jamie HOOD (HKFC), 10. Matt ROSSLEE (Valley), 11. Sebastien ALFONSI (HKFC), 12. Lex KALECA (HK Scottish), 13. Tyler SPITZ (USRC Tigers), 14. YIU Kam-shing (USRC Tigers), 15. Rowan VARTY (HKCC), 16. Jamie TSANG (Kowloon), 17. Alex NG Wai-shing (Valley), 18. Angus DIXON* (Kowloon) 19. Kyle SULLIVAN* (HKS), 20. Thomas LAMBOLEY (Valley), 21. Ally MACLAY, 22. Cado LEE Ka-to (USRC Tigers), 23. Robbie KEITH* (USRC Tigers).

* Potential new caps.

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