A brave first step on a long tough journey

Serendib Cup Tri Nation Rugby Tournament

A brave first step on a long tough journey

Chris Dhambarage

Sri Lanka will be hoping to draw inspiration from their recent success in the sevens arena when they begin their campaign for the Serendib Cup first ever IRB sanctioned 15-a-side Tri Nation rugby tournament which will be worked off from October 26 to November 1 at the newly constructed Race Course ground in Reid Avenue.

Sri Lanka who is ranked 39th in the IRB Rankings will confront Madagascar who are ranked 44th in the opening match of this Tri Nation tournament on October 26 commencing at 5.30 p.m.

The second match of the tournament will be on October 29 with Poland who is ranked 28th in the IRB Rankings taking on Madagascar at the same venue commencing at 5.30 p. m.

The tournament will culminate with the third and final match between the hosts Sri Lanka and Poland with the kick off at 7.30 p. m. after the exhibition match between the Colombo Schools team and the Kandy Schools team which begins at 5.30 p.m.

The African island Madagascar is known to attract massive capacity crowds to their rugby Test matches and is now the national sport while Poland is one of the emerging Unions in the highly-competitive FIRA-AER competition structures and currently lies third in the European Nations Cup 2014 Division 1B.

However Sri Lankan coach Ronnie Ibrahim was quite optimistic that his team will be able to come out victorious in this Tri Nation tournament after their excellent performances in the HSBC Asian Sevens Circuit.

“Our three quarters will be in tremendous form because of their superb display in the sevens series and I hope that they will keep that same form going into the established game” said a confident Ronnie Ibrahim who is in charge of the 15-a-side team for the first time.          

The Sri Lankan coach noted that they have already identified the forwards who will make it to the final squad but it will be a tough decision in selecting the backs who have been performing exceptionally well during the sevens series in Malaysia, Thailand and India respectively.  

“The sevens players have not yet attended practices and they will be joining the squad on Monday. At the moment we train with the forwards and they are quite disciplined and I have few of them in mind who are certain to compete along with the sevens players.”

Ronnie Ibrahim of course believed that it will be a tough challenge for the sevens players to come back and play two back-to-back 15-a-side games after a break of just one week.      

“I know when you come in suddenly into a 15-a-side game after playing a lot of sevens rugby it is difficult for the players but in Sri Lanka you have to do that because there is no other option as all sevens players are three quarters here.”

The Sri Lankan coach stated that they have studied the strengths and weaknesses of the two oppositions well and are currently working on two different strategies to counter attack the two teams.     

“I think Madagascar is very fast and they do not have a pattern as they come straight into the player. So we are focusing only about the opening match of the tournament at the moment but we need to change our game plan for the match against Poland.”

Ronnie Ibrahim also stressed the importance of organising international tournaments of this nature quite regularly as it will help Sri Lanka to improve on their structure and become a major force in the coming years.  

“I think it is good for Sri Lanka to play in similar IRB sanctioned tournaments quite regularly because it will not only develop the game here but this will also provide them the opportunity to climb up in the IRB Rankings further,” added Ibrahim.       

  

       

The squads:

Sri Lanka (from): Namal Rajapaksa (captain), Sathya Ranathunga, Henry Terrance, Kishore Jehan, Junior Swarnathilake, Heshan Kalhara, Dushmantha Priyadashana, Achala Perera, Bilal Hassan, Anuranga Walpola, Hasitha Perera, Kalana Amarasinghe, Sairu Anthony, Shehan Pathirana, Rohitha Rajapaksa, Ashan Karthelis, Sharo Fernando, Danushka Perera, Sajith Saranga, Shenal Dias, Jason Dasanayake, Roshan Weerarathna, Rehan Weerakoon, Mithun Hapugogda, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Fazil Marija, Niroshan Fernando, Devinda Jayasinghe, Nigel Ratwatta, Dinusha Chathuranga, Pradeep Liyanege, Gayan Weerarathna, Danushka Ranjan, Sandun Herath, Chamara Dabere, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Mohamed Sheriff, Riza Mubarak, Thilina Wijesinghe, Thusitha Samarathileke, Sashan Mohamed, Shudarshana Muthuthanthri.

Poland (from): Craig Bucharzewski, Adrian Chróściel, Bartosz, Paweł Dąbrowski, Karol Perzak, Piotr Zeszutek, Marek Płonka jr, Mateusz Bartoszek, Cyprian Majcher, Stanisław Niedźwiedzki, Rafał Janeczko, Dawid Banaszek, Dawid Lorentowicz, Marek Przychodzki, Rafał Szrejber, Robert Pawelec, Tomasz Rokicki, Szymon Sirocki, Tomasz Gasik, Sebastian Łuczak and Robert Kwiatkowski.

Madagascar (from): Hasina Rakotoarivelo, Jean Andrianjaka, Vonjiniaina Andriamananjara, Willy Rabemananjara, Rodolphe Randriamanantena, Hajanirina Randrianambinina, Ratsimba Ramaromiantso, Tahina Randrianarisoa, Maminandrasana Solomampionona, Tolotra Ravelonomenjanahary, Guy Randriamiarana, Jacky Bayard, Romuald Rafaralahy, José Harison, Juliot Mahavy, Deraniaina Rakotozafy, Alain Rakotonirina, Serge Rajoelina, Benjaniaina Rakotoarivelo, Herizo Rasoanaivo, Bernard Razafindranaivo, Tiana Ravelomanantsoa, Tolotra Mampionontsoa, Michael Raharijaona, Joseph Rafalimanana, Laurent Ranaivoarivelo, Canitrot Philippe, Victor-lie Andriavelomanana and Marcel Rakotomalala