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Tier Two & Three Rugby
[RWCQ] Uruguay vs. Hong Kong 02/08/14
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<blockquote data-quote="usausa" data-source="post: 659344" data-attributes="member: 42578"><p>Adapted from: <a href="http://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1554912/hop-skip-and-numerous-jumps-ahead-biggest-game-hk-history" target="_blank">http://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1554912/hop-skip-and-numerous-jumps-ahead-biggest-game-hk-history</a></p><p></p><p>COACH’S CORNER</p><p>ANDY HALL</p><p>PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 15 July, 2014, 8:39pmUPDATED : Friday, 18 July, 2014, 10:17am</p><p>A hop, skip and numerous jumps ahead of biggest game in HK history</p><p></p><p>Five weeks of conditioning already in the bag, six more gruelling sessions to come, followed by a “short†hop across to the other side of the world, and we’ll be into the biggest game in Hong Kong 15s rugby history.</p><p></p><p>The August 2 Rugby World Cup repêchage game in Uruguay is, without question, a huge challenge. It is truly a “test†match, and as we look ahead to arguably our toughest international examination yet, we facing a number of challenges before we even get to Montevideo.</p><p></p><p>Let’s first take a look at the biggest hurdle … our opposition.</p><p></p><p>A team who have qualified for two previous Rugby World Cups, Los Teros have in recent months drawn against the United States and beaten Russia â€" two teams with significant RWC pedigrees.</p><p></p><p>Much like their Argentinian big brothers Uruguay’s massive pack and set piece threat would make any team take note, and in front of an 11,000-strong partisan crowd we can expect a warm, if not heated, reception.</p><p></p><p>But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Before our feet come close to touching South American soil we have a number of small but equally significant challenges to overcome.</p><p></p><p>Our short hop to Montevideo, for example, consists of a 40-hour journey on three separate flights across as many continents with a two-day turn around until game day. You don’t need to be a professor of sports science to appreciate this is not ideal preparation for the biggest game in our history.</p><p></p><p>Our time together has also been limited by player-commitments, such as pre-planned holidays, family time, work and the Hong Kong national sevens programme, preventing a full squad session until only eight days prior to departure.</p><p></p><p>Due to summer closures we have also been unable to train on a grass pitch (the surface we will be running out on in Uruguay) with our sessions taking place in four different venues across Hong Kong.</p><p></p><p>Now I can hear the sympathetic violins tuning up as I write this, but please lay down your bows for a moment. You will not find a single squad member worrying about these “uncontrollable†issues.</p><p></p><p>We cannot do anything about the journey time. We will of course look to minimise the adverse effects of the long-haul flight, but as always with this tremendous group of players, we will simply focus on the job at hand and get on with it.</p><p></p><p>We cannot help the fact that the sevens players have been away or that we only have six rugby sessions to prepare; we will ensure though that the time we do spend together is as detailed, accurate and precise as can be.</p><p></p><p>Uruguay have indeed shown their mettle recently in competing with some big rugby hitters, but will this overly concern our group? Not especially.</p><p></p><p>It won’t be the first time we have been underdogs, so as always there will be a massive focus on what we will bring to the table and the threats that we will pose rather than sleepless nights worrying about the opposition.</p><p></p><p>Yes, we will spend some time acknowledging the Uruguayan strengths but once again we have no way of controlling these.</p><p></p><p>What we most certainly can control is our personal, unit and team contribution, the efforts of which will provide us with opportunities to unquestionably worry our hosts.</p><p></p><p>It is the biggest game in our short history and one that the players, coaches and management are relishing.</p><p></p><p>And accuracy, precision and controlling the “controllables†will be the squad’s MO over the next few weeks with every hope that our RWC 2015 journey continues.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="usausa, post: 659344, member: 42578"] Adapted from: [url]http://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1554912/hop-skip-and-numerous-jumps-ahead-biggest-game-hk-history[/url] COACH’S CORNER ANDY HALL PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 15 July, 2014, 8:39pmUPDATED : Friday, 18 July, 2014, 10:17am A hop, skip and numerous jumps ahead of biggest game in HK history Five weeks of conditioning already in the bag, six more gruelling sessions to come, followed by a “short†hop across to the other side of the world, and we’ll be into the biggest game in Hong Kong 15s rugby history. The August 2 Rugby World Cup repêchage game in Uruguay is, without question, a huge challenge. It is truly a “test†match, and as we look ahead to arguably our toughest international examination yet, we facing a number of challenges before we even get to Montevideo. Let’s first take a look at the biggest hurdle … our opposition. A team who have qualified for two previous Rugby World Cups, Los Teros have in recent months drawn against the United States and beaten Russia – two teams with significant RWC pedigrees. Much like their Argentinian big brothers Uruguay’s massive pack and set piece threat would make any team take note, and in front of an 11,000-strong partisan crowd we can expect a warm, if not heated, reception. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Before our feet come close to touching South American soil we have a number of small but equally significant challenges to overcome. Our short hop to Montevideo, for example, consists of a 40-hour journey on three separate flights across as many continents with a two-day turn around until game day. You don’t need to be a professor of sports science to appreciate this is not ideal preparation for the biggest game in our history. Our time together has also been limited by player-commitments, such as pre-planned holidays, family time, work and the Hong Kong national sevens programme, preventing a full squad session until only eight days prior to departure. Due to summer closures we have also been unable to train on a grass pitch (the surface we will be running out on in Uruguay) with our sessions taking place in four different venues across Hong Kong. Now I can hear the sympathetic violins tuning up as I write this, but please lay down your bows for a moment. You will not find a single squad member worrying about these “uncontrollable†issues. We cannot do anything about the journey time. We will of course look to minimise the adverse effects of the long-haul flight, but as always with this tremendous group of players, we will simply focus on the job at hand and get on with it. We cannot help the fact that the sevens players have been away or that we only have six rugby sessions to prepare; we will ensure though that the time we do spend together is as detailed, accurate and precise as can be. Uruguay have indeed shown their mettle recently in competing with some big rugby hitters, but will this overly concern our group? Not especially. It won’t be the first time we have been underdogs, so as always there will be a massive focus on what we will bring to the table and the threats that we will pose rather than sleepless nights worrying about the opposition. Yes, we will spend some time acknowledging the Uruguayan strengths but once again we have no way of controlling these. What we most certainly can control is our personal, unit and team contribution, the efforts of which will provide us with opportunities to unquestionably worry our hosts. It is the biggest game in our short history and one that the players, coaches and management are relishing. And accuracy, precision and controlling the “controllables†will be the squad’s MO over the next few weeks with every hope that our RWC 2015 journey continues. [/QUOTE]
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[RWCQ] Uruguay vs. Hong Kong 02/08/14
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