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.

Philippe Canitrot - coach
|

Josc Rakoto Harison - captain |
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. |