Kandy S.C. players join others at practice ....

Massive challenge for Lanka at Five Nations tourney in Taiwan

by Jatila KARAWITA

RUGBY: Sri Lanka rugby coach Dawie Snyman expressed his satisfaction at the Sri Lanka President's XV who posted a comfortable 32-5 win over the Asian Dragons rugby team on October 18 (Saturday) at Longdan Place and noted that his charges were shaping up well for the upcoming crucial assignment in Chinese Taipei.

"I was quite pleased with the team's performance", he told Sunday Observer "I thought the boys did well in the contact situations. It was the sort of test we needed and looking at the way the boys came out of it I guess there is much optimism looking ahead to Chinese Taipei."

Snyman brushed aside suggestions from some quarters that the locals had won a game which hardly tested their talents and resolve in a high pressure match. He explained that the main aim of the Sri Lanka President's XV was to go into the game with the attitude of trying to do what they can do instead of putting more emphasis on whether the opposition was formidable or not.

Dawie Snyman who is from South Africa coaching in Sri Lanka for the past three months alongside his compatriot Norman Laker, singled out fly-half Ashan de Costa, his elder brother and inside centre Lasintha de Costa, flanker Dhanushka Perera and captain and number eight Dushanth Lewke as a few players who had stood out in the game against Asian Dragons.

Asked whether he was content with the resistance put out by the tourists who were made up of amateur players assembled from countries like Iran, India, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, Snyman was quick to point out though the Dragons had failed to stretch his team, they had done well to have assembled a team together and being prepared to tour Sri Lanka and the coach was grateful for the two games they played with their local counterparts. Those games in fact will be the only preparations for the national XV who are due to contest the inaugural HSBC Asian Five Nations - Division 1 tournament along with China, Singapore and host nation Chinese Taipei from November 12-15.

Unity high

Commenting on the on-going training sessions of the national pool, the South African was of the view that the presence of the 12 revolting Kandy SC players have made unity among all very high and that everyone was showing much enthusiasm.

"At the moment, the practice sessions are going smoothly" he said. "The Kandy SC boys have reported for training sessions and all I could say is that they have joined with the rest of the players and both Norman (Laker) and I have no problem in handling any of them".

Pressed for his views on the on-going captaincy furore of the national team to Chinese Taipei involving CR & FC No. 8 Dushanth Lewke, coach Dawie Snyman stressed that with the selectors already having chosen a skipper it would be unwise to change horses midstream. "I actually would not like to be drawn into this debate, as I am the coach". But, since you have asked what my personal take on it would be, all I can say is if the selectors have made a choice then it would be upto the players to play under him for the sake of the country.

"I also feel that Lewke is the best player in his position at the moment and considering the leadership qualities he displayed even against the Asian Dragons, he should be allowed to lead the boys in what I think will be a massive challenge for Sri Lanka up in Taiwan".

Snyman also urged followers here to keep their fingers crossed as he believes his 'charges' are more than capable of upsetting the form book and winning the Asian Five Nations Division - 1 tournament if they could swiftly adjust to the conditions and field their first-choice team in all three games.

The Sri Lanka national team is due to leave for Chinese Taipei by mid November.