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Hong Kong fall just short against Russia

By Online Editors

Hong Kong came agonisingly close to taking down Russia in their opening match of the Regal Hotels Cup of Nations at King’s Park on Friday night, ultimately falling 16-13 to a last-minute penalty.

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After fighting their way back from 10 points down at half-time to level the scores, Hong Kong were left shattered as Russia fly half RamilGaysin slotted the winning penalty.

“On the whole, reasonably happy we are making progress, utterly disappointed with the result,” Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones said.

“We are becoming more physical, we stood up to the physical onslaught of Russia and bounced back and came at them in the second half. So that shows the benefit of our professional programme, being able to do that.”

Hong Kong got off to a shaky start, with debutant Conor Hartley dropping the opening kick-off and Gaysin opening the scoring with a penalty.

But the hosts settled quickly and fly half Matt Rosslee squared things away with a penalty of his own on 10 minutes.

What followed was an intense period in which both sides defended and attacked with vigour, with Hong Kong moving the ball well but also snuffing out any of Russia’s attacking moves when needed.

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The next score came in the 30th minute, with Gaysin converting a straightforward penalty that led to Hong Kong hooker DayneJans receiving a yellow card.

The score remained 6-3 until the dying stages of the first half, with Russia again on the board through a lineout drive.

It was hooker StanislavSelskii who dotted down, with Gaysinadding the extras to make it 13-3 at the break.

Hong Kong drew first blood in the second half, with Rossleeknocking over a 52nd-minute penalty.

Russia began to build momentum as the second half wore on, however a number of misplaced kicks halted their progress and ensured some respite for the hosts.

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Hong Kong refused to lie down and a number of handling errors indicated Russia were beginning to tire.

Hong Kong capitalised on 67 minutes, with Cado Lee Ka-to dishing off to winger SalomYiuKam-shing for a try, with Rosslee’s extras levelling proceedings at 13-13.

But try as they might, Hong Kong couldn’t quite keep the Russians out despite defending grimly in the dying minutes.

Gaysin first missed a drop goal while the referee was playing advantage, before returning to split the middle from the earlier penalty.

“Our scrum against Russia I thought was outstanding, our line-out needs to continue to improve,” Jones said.

“I think if I had to point to an area where we couldn’t secure enough ball, it would have been our line-out.

“Then we can’t secure enough territory and then we are getting into this downward spiral.

“If our line-out functions, we can get a foothold in their territory and we can build our game, so our line-out needs to improve.”

Jones was pleased with the overall effort of his team and was loathe to single out players, however he admitted hooker DayneJans and captain Nick Hewson, in his 50th test, both showed plenty.

LexKaleca was also at his imposing best, while Toby Fenn, James Cunningham and Jamie Hood all made an impact.

Jones also praised the work of his replacements, with the likes of second rower Kyle Sullivan and Lee coming on and making their presence felt.

“The bench actually made a difference, they added some zip which is what you want to see as a coach,” Jones said. “I’m quite pleased with what the subs added to the game, all credit to them.”

The earlier match between tournament debutants Chile and Kenya saw Chile lead 6-3 after a tight first half before pulling away to win 23-3.

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Jon 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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