Coach’s Corner | Russia took home the silverware, but left us with many positives
The Russians have been and gone and while they leave with the Ustinov Cup bragging rites when we reflect on our brief two-test campaign there were a number of positives to be taken by the home side.
The Russians have been and gone and while they leave with the Ustinov Cup bragging rites when we reflect on our brief two-test campaign there were a number of positives to be taken by the home side.
That said, we were well beaten and often beaten up. The physicality of the Russian pack in particular caused us problems with the majority of collisions happening all too often on their terms.
Our previous international opponents outside of Asia, the Belgians and the Uruguayans were big as well, but the Russians were big, powerful and could play a bit of rugby too!
The new guys [in the squad] quickly – and painfully – appreciated the tighter margins at test-match level with time on the ball significantly reduced
We will face similar challenges from the Koreans and Japanese in the revamped Asian Championship so the Russian experience is a timely reminder for all players to keep pushing themselves in the gym and continually look for improvements in their game.
The intensity of the two test matches also came as a shock to a handful players – not least the nine new caps.
Unlike in the HKRFU Premiership, the new guys quickly – and painfully – appreciated the far tighter margins at test-match level with time on the ball significantly reduced and the pressure to make the right decision infinitely higher.
The debutants will be far stronger for this experience though and exposing nearly 10 players to the international scene was a massive boost for us.
