Dubai: UAE rugby national team coach Bruce Birtwhistle is in resurgent mood ahead of the last Asian Five Nations duel of the season in Hong Kong on Saturday.
His newly-formed side — the first to have emerged from the Arabian Gulf Rugby Union (AGRFU) break-up — may have been thumped at home 111-0 against Japan last Friday, but they still have hopes of finishing second.
With the initial target simply consolidating their position in the tournament, to finish second would be remarkable. They drew 13-13 in Sri Lanka and beat Kazakhstan at home 24-10 before the Japan drubbing. They are third on eight points, three behind Hong Kong.
Just five players remain from the AGRFU squad of last season following its split into national member states in order to compete at Olympic level in rugby sevens, which starts in 2016.
The rest of the squad are newcomers, both Emirati and those eligible under IRB three-year residency rules.
Soul-searching
Birtwhistle said: "We did a bit of soul-searching after Japan to put things back into perspective. They were a good side playing at their best in a World Cup year having had a few iffy performances in the lead up.
"Looking forward the guys believe they can beat Hong Kong and take second spot. It will take a big effort. Hong Kong are on a bit of run of results beating Kazakhstan (23-10), Sri Lanka (48-3) and only narrowly losing to Japan (42-22). It's a big occasion to take on Hong Kong in their own back yard and we're sure they will be looking for revenge following our win over them in Bahrain last year 16-9."
The squad: 1. Chris Jones Griffiths - Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 2. David Vittes - Dubai Exiles ; 3. Mike Riley (Munib Haddad) - Dubai Exiles; 3. Simon Osbourne - Dubai Hurricanes; 5. Mike Cox-Hill - Dubai Exiles (C); 6. Renier Els - Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 7. Jamie Clarke - Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 8. Carl Von Rosenveldt - Dubai Exiles; 9. Stuart Quinn - Dubai Exiles; 10. Jonathan Grady - Dubai Dragons; 11. Steve Smith - Dubai Hurricanes; 12. Duncan Murray - Dubai Hurricanes; 13. John Beeton - Dubai Exiles; 14. Sean Hurley - Dubai Dragons; 15. Tim Fletcher - Dubai Dragons; 16. Dan Heal - Dubai Dragons; 17. Mohanned Shaker - Dubai Wasps; 18. Phillip Stevens - Dubai Exiles; 19. Lloyd Budd - Dubai Exiles; 20. David Clouston - Dubai Hurricanes; 21. Michael Hartley - Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 22. Ali Mohammad - Dubai Wasps; 23. Scott Kerr - Dubai Dragons; 24. Cyrus Homayoun - Dubai Dragons; 25. Chris Deacon - Dubai Exiles.
