THREE MORE NEW CAPS IN LINE FOR CUP OF NATIONS TEST VERSUS ZIMBABWE

14th Nov 2016

Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones continues to pursue his dual objectives for the 2016 Regal Hotels Cup of Nations: to win and blood new players at international level.

Ahead of the competition, Jones spoke about using his squad tactically with significant rotation to match the various questions posed by each team. True to his word, the Hong Kong squad selected for Zimbabwe features 12 new players from Friday’s victory over Papua New Guinea, with three new caps set to feature.

Zimbabwe have kept faith in the squad that pushed Russia to the limits in a 19-15 loss in round one, with 18 of the match-day 23 from Friday retained for the Hong Kong test.

Jones blooded five players in Hong Kong’s 51-5 win over Papua New Guinea and has given the nod to a further three new caps against Zimbabwe, two in the forwards and one in the backs.

A belated first cap is on the cards for Cricket Club captain Ben Roberts

Hooker Ben Roberts will receive a belated first cap after the gritty Welsh forward missed out on his debut due to injury during the Tour of Kenya earlier this summer. Roberts will join Adam Fullgrabe and Alex Ng Wai-shing who were both on the bench for Papua New Guinea in the front row, while starting prop Rohan Cook will move to the bench against Zimbabwe where he will be joined by Jack Parfitt. Prop Ben Higgins and hooker Jamie Tsang will be rested as Jones looks ahead to another physical match against Russia on Saturday (19 Nov).

“We are happy for Ben that he will get a chance for his first cap after being injured in Kenya. Ben has been a significant part of the leadership team with his club HKCC and is one of the senior players in our ERP group. He is a real leader and will bring that leadership onto the park against Zimbabwe,” said Dai Rees, HKRU General Manager of Rugby Performance.

The second row for Zimbabwe will feature Adrian Griffiths, who came off the bench on Friday night, and Finlay Field who earned his first cap this spring against South Korea in the Asia Rugby Championship.

The back row is anchored by squad captain Nick Hewson and workhorse Toby Fenn, with Thomas Lamboley set to make his Hong Kong debut at No.8. The Frenchman has become eligible for Hong Kong this year after impressing for Valley over the last three seasons, and will get his chance to press his claim on Tuesday, while adding depth to the No.8 spot alongside vice captain Dan Falvey, who started the Papua New Guinea match and earns a well deserved rest.

“Thomas has a very good pedigree from his playing days in France and has been an important part of Valley’s success in the last few seasons. He is a real rangy back rower and we are excited to see him pull on the Hong Kong jersey. He also offers a lot of leadership and will be an important factor in the lineout,” added Rees.

Veteran campaigner Jamie Hood has been released from his Japanese club Ricoh Black Rams in compliance with the international test window rulings and will start at scrumhalf tomorrow night, when he will partner fellow sevens squad member Ben Rimene who starts at fly-half.

Lee Jones and Ally Maclay will form a strong centres pairing with sevens players Ryan Meacheam and Alex McQueen starting at right wing and fullback respectively.

HK born Marcus Ramage set to make his national debut v Zimbabwe

Marcus Ramage, the third new cap in the side, will mark his Hong Kong debut on the left wing, rounding out a dangerous back three. The 18-year old sensation was born in Hong Kong before moving back to Scotland with his parents. He and his twin brother Gregor returned ahead of the Premiership season to play for HK Scottish and quickly impressed the selectors.

“Marcus is a good find for us,” said Rees. “He was on the fringes of the Scotland U20s squad and it’s not often that you find young players with his qualities. Since coming back to play for Scottish, his stats have spoken for themselves and he has been lighting up the league. We wanted to give him the opportunity to play for Hong Kong and he has grasped it with both hands. We are excited to see how he will acquit himself at international level,” Rees noted.

Two emerging players, Will Eversfield and JW Markley, who received their first caps against Papua New Guinea, earn their second selections as both are named to the reserves bench. Flanker James Cunningham is also in the reserves for a second straight match, forming a five-three forwards to back split on the bench.

Cado Lee Ka-to, who earned the start at scrumhalf and scored a try against Papua New Guinea, will join winger Rowan Varty and fullback and match captain on Friday Ed Rolston as the backline support on the bench.

The five-to-three forwards-to-backs split in the reserves indicates that Hong kong is expecting a physical confrontation from the Zimbabweans, who impressed in their performance against Russia, pushing the defending champions to the last minute in a 19-15 loss. Hampered by an inconsistent build-up in 2015, Zimbabwe failed to win a match in last year’s competition but look a much improved side this year. Hong Kong beat Zimbabwe 30-11 in last year’s test.

“Zimbabwe had an excellent performance against Russia,” observed Rees. “They were far better prepared and more organized than last year, although Russia did look a bit rusty.

“They [Zimbabwe] are bigger and more powerful than last year, so we are expecting a very tough encounter. It hasn’t really impacted our selection as we expected this type of game and have picked a squad that we believe can match what they offer,” Rees added.

Hong Kong currently leads the Regal Hotels Cup of Nations with five points, four for the opening win and one for the try bonus. Russia is in second on four points, followed by Zimbabwe with one bonus point for a loss within seven. Debutants Papua New Guinea are still chasing their first points. Hong Kong will square off with Zimbabwe at 19.00 on Tuesday, while Russia play Papua New Guinea at 17.00. All matches are at Kings Park and admission is free.

Hong Kong v Zimbabwe:

1. Adam FULLGRABE, 2. Ben ROBERTS*, 3. Alex NG Wai-shing, 4. Finlay FIELD, 5. Adrian GRIFFITHS, 6. Nick HEWSON (Captain), 7. Toby FENN, 8. Thomas LAMBOLEY*, 9. Jamie HOOD (vice captain), 10. Ben RIMENE, 11. Marcus RAMAGE*, 12. Lee JONES, 13. Ally MACLAY, 14. Ryan MEACHEAM, 15. Alex McQUEEN, 16. JW MARKLEY, 17. Jack PARFITT, 18. Rohan COOK, 19. Will EVERSFIELD, 20. James CUNNINGHAM, 21. Cado LEE Ka-to, 22. Rowan VARTY, 23. Edmund ROLSTON.

*Debut Hong Kong appearance

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