Hong Kong will field a new front row as well as
two debutant forwards as they face the daunting task of stopping
the Japan juggernaut in their second match in the Asia Rugby
Championship in Tokyo on Saturday.
A rotation policy has resulted in Hong
Kong head coach Andy Hall fielding a changed front row from that
which figured in the 33-26 defeat at the hands of South Korea in
the opening game last week.
Loosehead prop Leon Wei Hon-sum, hooker Alex
Harris and tighthead Jack Parfitt will start while the rest of the
tight five will comprise lock forwards Paul Dwyer and Adam
Butterfield, who wins his first cap.
It will be a tough debut for Hong Kong-born
Butterfield who has come through the age groups and has had a
trial with English Premiership team Saracens before returning
home.
“This will be a massive step up for Adam but I’m
confident that in the company of an experienced campaigner like
Paul Dwyer he’ll come through with flying colours,” said Hall.
The other debutant is back rower Damian Bailey,
who will start on the bench.
Bailey and Butterfield are among six
changes made to the squad that struggled in the first half against
Korea and although the challenge will be harder this time around,
Hall is hoping for an improved performance.
“We played poorly against Korea and I’m looking
for a much-improved performance this week. We are under no
illusions that Japan will be a steep obstacle but we are not going
there simply to give them a training run,” Hall said.
The re-jigged front row and the forward pack
will have to be at their best to prevent seven-time Asian Five
Nations champions Japan from continuing their unbeaten streak in
recent years.
Skipper Nick Hewson and flankers Matt Lamming
and Toby Fenn, who made his debut last week, will need to excel to
prevent the Japanese from getting into a smooth rhythm.
Hall has also made a crucial change at flyhalf
with Ben Rimene coming in for Chris McAdam. Rimene will partner
scrumhalf Cado Lee Ka-to who had an impressive game against Korea.
“Ben (Rimene) has come back from injury and this
will be a good opportunity for him,” said Hall.
The rest of the backline will see Charlie Higson-Smith,
another debutant last week, start for the first time after he
replaced winger Salom Yiu Kam-shing on the left flank while Jamie
Hood comes in at outside centre in place of the injured Tyler
Spitz.
Hood and fellow centre Max Woodward will have
their hands full trying to stop the rampaging Japanese backs but
along with the McQueen brothers, winger Tom and fullback Alex,
Hong Kong is expected to put up a brave front.
The bench will comprise of front-rowers –
Lachlan Chubb, John Aikman and Jack Nielsen, with Bailey and Alex
Baddeley providing cover for the back row. The backs cover will be
Adam Rolston, Jonny Rees and Niall Rowark.
Japan, who defeated South Korea 56-30, a
fortnight ago in Incheon, head the standings.
Hong Kong Squad v
Japan, 2 May 2015
1 WEI Hon Sum Leon (Valley); 2 Alex HARRIS
(Kowloon); 3 Jack PARFITT (HKS); 4 Adam BUTTERFIELD (HKFC); 5 Paul
DWYER (HKCC); 6 Matthew LAMMING (HKCC); 7 Toby FENN (Valley); 8
Nicholas HEWSON (Valley); 9 LEE Ka To Cado (Kowloon); 10 Ben
RIMENE (Valley); 11 Charlie HIGSON-SMITH (HKFC); 12 Max WOODWARD
(Valley); 13 Jamie HOOD (HKFC); 14 Tom MCQUEEN (HKCC); 15 Alex
MCQUEEN (HKCC); 16 John AIKMAN (HKS); 17 Lachlan CHUBB (HKS); 18
Jack NIELSEN (HKCC); 19 Alex BADDELEY (Valley); 20 Damian BAILEY
(HKCC); 21 Adam ROLSTON (Valley); 22 Jonny REES (HKFC); 23 Niall
ROWARK (HKFC); 24 Jack DELAFORCE (HKCC).
HKRFU,
Hong Kong,
Rugby
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