Madagascar clinch Dialog Serendib Cup:

Lankans dazzle against Poland

By Ranjan Anandappa

Familiar conditions, proper game planning and a slice of luck was the key for Madagascar’s success in winning the inaugural Dialog Serendib Cup Rugby Tournament which was concluded on Friday. A week later, last Friday Sri Lanka confronting for the second place with Poland achieved it with a dazzling display at the Race Course grounds under lights.

Those who witnessed the Sri Lanka- Madagascar match should admit that it was sheer bad luck for the Sri Lankans to lose after being in a winning position leading 12-10 till the last minute. However, the host came back strongly to display their rugby prowess in no uncertain terms by defeating Poland in a thrilling 26-25 contest to record their first ever win against a European team in an IRB sanctioned 15 a side rugby tournament.

The Sri Lankan team did not have sufficient time to practice together as some players were members of the Seven A Side Tournament held in Mumbai. The Sri Lankans proved that rankings have not much to do with their performance by beating Poland, the 28 ranked team in world rugby by Sri Lanka ranked 39th. The championship proved that more foreign exposure could give the Sri Lankan ruggerites more opportunities to do well at international level.

The win against Poland no doubt augurs well for the future of the country’s rugger. The team was admirably led by hooker Namal Rajapaksa a former Thomian captain who had the fullest support from the rest of the players. Bilal Hassan, Danushka Perera and Reza Mubarak were the pick of the players. Mubarak went on to get the highest number of points in the tournament accumulating 28 points.His unerring kicking gave his side 16 points (2 conversions,one drop goal and 3 penalties) against Poland while fly half Niroshan Fernando who came in for injured Fazil Marija scored two tries in the Poland match. Number 8 Bilal Hassan, flankers Danushka Perera and Sharo Fernando along with Sandun Herath played a terrific game in attack and defence.

According to the IRB rankings Madagascar was placed 44 with Sri Lanka 39 and Poland 28. Madagascar beat both, Sri Lanka and Poland in back to back matches and carried away the trophy proving that rankings were not that important when it comes to playing the game.

The French Madagascar coach Philippe Canitrot sounded jubilant after defeating the two top teams and said that the conditions which prevails in Sri Lanka is very much like Madagascar and with their proper game planning and with a bit of fortune smiling on them they were able to win both matches.

In the first match of the tournament against Sri Lanka the home team was leading 12-10 till the last moment but a last minute try helped Madagascar to beat Sri Lanka. The match against Poland also was a hard fought one for Madacascar.

When asked what was the secret behind the team’s success coach Philippe Canitrot said that it was a combine team effort that brought them the result. “ Our forwards and the backs combined well with a tight defence and our game plan worked well. Sri Lanka is a good team with strong players,but they lacked the game plan and showed the qualities of a better 7’s team rather than a 15 a side team. Playing well in the Sevens format will help to do well at the 15 a side level. He sincerely hoped that both Sri Lanka and Madagascar could qualify for the Rugby World Cup in the near future.” he said.

Philippe Canitrot the coach said that Madagascar was a French colony prior to gaining independence and the French are the people who introduced the game. Unlike in Sri Lanka they never played rugby in schools although it is the number one sport in the country. Potential players are picked from the village and with their natural ability to run fast ,start playing rugger for clubs. Once they represent their respective club ,the players one and only ambition to to play for the country and to wear the Maki Lumurian jersey which is worn by the national players.

He further said that Sri Lanka lost due to not finding a solution in defending the strong set of runners in the Madagascar team which took them by surprise. Madagascar is a team that could adopt themselves quickly to any situation during the match which the Sri Lankans were unable to do so , this took the Lankans by surprise. Madagascar will be meeting Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia in July 2014 in the World Cup qualifying round match.

Madagascar is a country which has a population of about 17 million people and very much similar to Sri Lanka. There are 400 rugby playing clubs with 14 clubs playing in the top division. As they landed on Sri Lankan soil they were happy to experience similar conditions like in Madagascar . The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo and are well known for their sapphire,ruby and other precious stones.