Rugby World Cup: Hong Kong ‘under no illusions’ of task facing them in qualifier against Tonga
- Two sides will play each other on Australia’s Sunshine Coast on July 23, with winners going to Paris next year
- For some Hong Kong players this will be just their second competitive game in more than six months
A Gregor McNeish penalty with the last kick gave Hong Kong a narrow 23-21 win in the Asia Rugby Championship final, earning them the right to face the Pacific Islanders on July 23.
Despite leading 15-0 at half-time, Hong Kong were pegged back after the break and there was plenty of evidence to suggest the lack of game time since last December contributed to the errors that crept in as the game progressed.
While Evans said he had not wanted to focus on negatives or make excuses in the build-up, he revealed that at one stage only four backs eligible to play for the team were fit.
As a result, training games were out of the question, meaning those players not based overseas had not played a match for more than six months before taking on Korea.
“We were very conscious of overplaying it, but being honest, so many of these guys haven’t played since December and every rugby player on the planet knows, you can have the biggest, hardest preseason of your life, you’re feeling really fit, and as soon as play you’re first preseason game it just wipes you out,” Evans said.
“For us to go into that [against Korea], it almost felt like a first preseason game. There were lots of cobwebs to be blown out, but we’ve got an opportunity now to kick on.
