Hall's boys fully focused on game despite criticism

Dubai: UAE national rugby coach Duncan Hall insists he's got his charges fully focused on today's must-win Asian Five Nations clash with Kazakhstan at The Sevens (4pm), despite reported player unrest.

According to local reports, ten players made themselves unavailable for selection recently in protest at the UAE rugby management's handling of team affairs. As a result, a weakened UAE national team were thrashed recently by both Hong Kong (85-10) and Japan (106-3).

But Hall claims talk of discontent in the camp isn't something that's keeping his players up at night, and insisted they will aim to prove their doubters wrong in their penultimate Top Five clash today.

With South Korea, their final opponents in the four-match group, having beaten Hong Kong 21-19 last week, the UAE will have to see off Kazakhstan to avoid the drop. And, having conceded 573 points in the eight games since their last win — ironically against Kazakhstan last season — the pressure is well and truly on Hall's boys.

Fully focused

But the UAE rugby supremo says his team are ready to rise to the challenge and ignore any negative publicity. He said: "The boys had a meeting after the Japan game and we've decided to ignore what's being said in the press and on social media sites about the team.

"The game is hard enough as it is without all this. We've all given up too much not to give our best now. It's other people's prerogative if they choose to be unhappy about something."

Hall added that his players were fully focused on the task ahead.

"From the players' perspectives, they want to play," he insisted. "These are qualified, eligible, club rugby guys who have turned up to training since February. They are doing their best and, even if the scoreboard hasn't shown it, they have improved. They just want to play footy and represent the UAE.

"The players we have want to play for us. Those not in the mix at the moment haven't come to practice and that's down to personal choice. They feel they can no longer make a sacrifice to play, but we've always appreciated those who have given their time in the past."