We'll work hard for a win: UAE coach
Rugby team travel to South Korea for final match in their Asian 5 Nations campaign
Dubai: The UAE remain on course to meet their original target of two wins from their four matches in this year's Asian 5 Nations thanks to their win over Kazakhstan two weeks ago.
The UAE travel to South Korea for their final match on Saturday, following their emphatic 46-31 home victory over the Kazakhs, which effectively secured their place in the Top Five for next season.
Having lost their opening two games 85-10 to Hong Kong and 106-3 to Japan, the UAE have six points compared to winless Kazakhstan's one. To relegate the UAE, the Kazakhs would need to beat Hong Kong away on Saturday while scoring four or more tries — a mission more than likely beyond them.
But UAE coach Duncan Hall still isn't sitting too comfortably.
"We're still playing towards the goal of winning two out of four and we're only half-way towards that target. If we do that, relegation won't become an issue," he said.
"The Kazakhstan match proved we have an attacking capacity, now we've just got to defend. We don't have pace and Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea all do, so we need to improve on our pace on the outside."
Hall added: "We'll be working very hard for the win and will have to defend well against a Korean team still focused on finishing second.
"They beat Hong Kong 21-19 in week two, so for us to beat Korea we would need to play far better than we've ever played — that's the challenge."
UAE squad
1. Graham Murphy (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), 2. Charles Lilley (ADH), 3. Dan Boatwright (Dubai Hurricanes), 4. Greg Thompson (DH), 5. Simon Osborne (DH), 6. Brett Williams (Dubai Exiles), 7. Sam Cook (ADH), 8. Alistair Thompson (C) (ADH), 9. Antoine Bertheuil (Dubai Frogs), 10. Murray Strang (ADH), 11. Joel Pikari (ADH), 12. Jonathon O'Connor (ADH), 13. Tim Fletcher (Jebel Ali Dragons), 14. Sean Hurley (JAD), 15. Imad Reyal (DE), 16. Jonathan Greenwood (Sharjah Wanderers), 17. Christopher Jones-Griffiths (ADH), 18. Tristan Barnett (DH), 19. John Fawls (DE), 20. Patrick Hegarty (ADH), 21. Steve Smith (DH), 22. Mohammad Al Sulaiman (Dubai Wasps)
