Dubai: Looks like the UAE rugby team has just managed to jump from the frying pan into the fire. After their rude awakening to top-flight rugby at the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens, the battered and bruised squad just can't seem to get out of the line of fire. The 66-3 hammering to Brazil in the Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations on Tuesday night has left coach Wayne Marsters eagerly waiting for 2011 to end. And that's not just because of the series of demoralising results since that first match on UAE National Day when Emad Reyal's twin tries promised so much.
January joy
Speaking to XPRESS following the match, Marsters said he was eagerly looking forward to January 2012. "To be honest, the results haven't been anywhere close to what I had expected. Owing to injuries, I am having to virtually field a B team. Guys like Murray Strang and Tim Fletcher are being sorely missed," he said.
Marsters, however, added that things would be looking up from January. "A number of good players will become eligible from January, because for most, that is when their three-year residency starts. So, we will have guys like Andy Russell, Dave Clark will have relocated from Bahrain and even former Arabian Gulf skipper Taif Al Delamie would also probably get his clearance," he said.
The UAE coach agreed that the side is desperately in need of younger, fitter players. "We need to inject young blood, no question. I really feel sorry for some of the guys who have had to be thrust into action. I can see they are not ready for this level. It will need one or two more seasons," he said, adding: "Also, given the limited number of senior Emirati players at our disposal, we will be looking to get the U-16 and U-19 squads up and running in the new year."
With the focus on the Asian Five Nations in May, Marsters still believes that the UAE can overtake Hong Kong as the second best Asian team despite being thrashed 72-14. "I have no illusions as to how good Hong Kong are, but I stand by my statement. We have five months to prepare, several experienced players will be joining the side, so hopefully things will be quite different then," he said.
