Kiwi winger Philippe McConnell is tipped to provide the wow factor at the GFI HKFC Tens, starting at Hong Kong Football Club today. The youngster will appear for crack New Zealand team Aliens in the two-day festival.
'He's something special,' said Aliens coach Willie Los'e. 'He's faster and fitter than any player we've brought to this tournament in the past 17 years, and that includes various All Blacks we've had playing for us.
'I just hope we can create some space for him because he's unbelievable. If we can give him enough ball, he'll finish for us - not too many guys are going to catch him.'
Los'e also has high hopes for scrumhalf Phillip Tuigamala - nephew of former All Blacks winger Va'aiga Tuigamala. 'He's got thighs like his uncle, but he's also got great intelligence for the game and the ability to beat people, so we're very excited to have him in our team as well.'
Aliens, the second seeds, are renowned for unearthing future stars - past players include recent All Black tourists Hosea Gear and Scott Waldrom, several members of the New Zealand sevens squad and numerous Super 14 players. Their 2009 squad also includes plenty of experience to complement the youngsters with New Zealand sevens regular Solomon King expected to play a key role.
Top seeds for the Tens are elite touring team the Penguins, who have been runners-up in the past two years.
