Grand Championship placings on the line in last weekend of Hong Kong Men's Premiership
Catch
the Game of the Week live from 4:30pm HKT this Saturday.Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers and Natixis HKFC will be looking to build momentum when they clash in the final round Game of the Week in the RugbyPass.com Men’s Premiership this weekend.
In what is sure to be an action-packed Saturday, Tigers host HKFC at King’s Park at 4.30pm, Societe Generale Valley take on Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC at Happy Valley at 3.00pm and Bloomberg HK Scottish and Kowloon clash at Shek Kip Mei, also at 4.30pm.
Tigers displayed some solid form in a draw with Valley before the Chinese New Year break and a narrow loss to HKCC last week and will be looking to turn the tables on an HKFC side that has had the wood on them this season.
“We’ve a good chance, but Football Club will be hurting a bit from their performance against Kowloon [a 37-20 loss],” Tigers coach Craig Stewart said.
“We need to control our possession when we attack, have a bit of variation about what we do and make sure we keep them moving as much as possible. I expect them to prepare pretty well as they have given us a couple of hidings this year.”
Last week’s return of flanker Alex Woodburn from injury gave Tigers a lift, but Stewart is still faced with the prospect of numerous changes each week.
“We are pretty disrupted again, just no consistency, we get guys back and then we lose different guys,” he said. “But we will have a reasonably strong team. It’s good to have Alex back. He’s very competitive, puts a lot of pressure on and he stays in the game. He’s important to us.”
With Valley effectively assured of top spot and the league championship, it is the Scottish and Kowloon clash that will have the most bearing on final ladder positions.
While mathematically Scottish can still pinch top spot from Valley, the reigning league and grand champions’ five-point lead on the table, with an 84-point differential, makes it highly unlikely.
A loss to an in-form Kowloon would see Scottish slip into third place and miss out on the play-off bye week and home semi-final they have worked so hard for.
After a heavy 29-3 loss to Valley last weekend, Scottish coach Craig Hammond is hoping to see his charges bounce back.
“We’ve got our backs against the wall and I’m looking forward to seeing how the boys respond to last week,” he said.
“We’ve just got to execute, we got in to some good situations last week and played in the right parts of the field and five or six times we were in Valley’s 22 but we came away with absolutely nothing. We are up there for most tries scored in the league so we have got to carry on with that attacking mindset and make sure we come away with some points.”
Hammond is hoping to field a side largely unchanged from last week, despite some sore bodies after the intense clash with Valley.
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After going down to Kowloon by a point in their last meeting, Hammond is expecting a fierce encounter, highlighting dangerous fly half Jack Neville and dynamic back-row forward Turoa Stephens as players his side must be wary of.
“They are the form team if you go back over the last few weeks and even the last couple of months,” he said. “Their coach [James Scaysbrook] has got them playing for each other and they work really hard defensively.”
Scaysbrook is in a similar boat to Hammond in that he is nursing a “banged up” squad, but is hopeful everyone will come right for Saturday.
While the carrot of a home semi-final is on his mind, it won’t change how Scaysbrook’s side approaches the weekend’s game.
“We’re not about to start changing the way we are playing, we’ve got the same focus as last week and the weeks before that in that we’re trying to maintain all the things that are positive in our game,” Scaysbrook said.
“That has been our sole focus the last few weeks and will continue to be this week.”
Scottish centre Conor Hartley will have a big impact on the game if allowed space, while flanker Josh Dowsing continues to impress with his carrying ability.
Valley will be looking to put paid to fierce rivals HKCC to be absolutely sure the league championship stays put and that they head into the finals with a full head of steam.
“We want to build on our performances going into the semi-final,” coach Andrew Kelly said.
“It’s in our control [winning the league championship] so we want to control the situation and get a win. We don’t want to take the trophy on a loss. Everyone seems to be fit and available, except Ed Rolston who is working his way back to full health [from a broken jaw]. We are looking as good as we can be.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
10 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
1 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
10 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
10 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
10 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
10 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
10 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
10 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
10 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
10 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to comments