Dubai: No mountain is too high to climb for the UAE's rugby coach as his side prepares to go up against Japan in their third match of the HSBC Asian Five Nations at The Sevens tomorrow.
"Japan is a big mountain to climb, but we have enough reason to feel confident based on our form in the past couple of weeks," UAE coach Bruce Birtwistle told Gulf News ahead of a training session yesterday.
The UAE secured a stunning 24-10 upset win against Kazakhstan to register their first-ever international rugby success last week in their first Five Nations since the Arabian Gulf RFU was disbanded.
The result was crucial for the UAE as moved them one step closer towards their goal of retaining their place in the Top 5.
Positives
Playing to the strengths of their forward pack and relying on the boot of fly-half Jonathan Grady, Asia's newest rugby union took the lead in the 16th minute and never relinquished it.
"We have a number of positives to take forward from the Kazakhstan game. For one, we had not beaten them for a few years now, so evidently we are going in with a lot of self-belief and confidence," Birtwistle said.
"Definitely Japan is a huge ask, but we have played well for the last few times. So the aim will be to just go out and prove something to ourselves.
"The mood is upbeat and we are looking forward to the challenge."
Dave Vittes will gain his first start in the UAE line-up for face the world number 13 team, while Jamie Clarke and Michael Hartley will make their debuts. Von Rosenveldt will move to number eight and make way for Clarke, forcing Scott Kerr to the bench and try-scorer Millar out of the 22.
"We need to test ourselves against the best in the world," Birtwistle said. "In the Asian Five Nations, everyone expects to beat the best. And considering that we are the second best in Asia, we ought to go and prove a point.
"We are upbeat about what we ought to do. The expectation of course will be to execute our game well.
"We are there to win the game. For us Japan is like any other team. We will put our bodies on the line and see how we can match up against the best."
UAE squad
Chris Jones Griffiths (Abu Dhabi Harlequins); David Vittes (Dubai Exiles); Mike Riley (Munid Haddad/Dubai Exiles); Simon Osbourne (Dubai Hurricanes); Mike Cox-Hill (Dubai Exiles/Captain); Renier Els (Abu Dhabi Harlequins); Jamie Clarke (Abu Dhabi Harlequins); Carl Von Rosenveldt (Dubai Exiles); David Clouston (Dubai Hurricanes); Jonathan Grady (Dubai Dragons); Michael Hartley (Abu Dhabi Harlequins); Duncan Murray (Dubai Hurricanes); John Beeton (Dubai Exiles); Sean Hurley (Dubai Dragons); Tim Fletcher (Dubai Dragons); Dan Heal (Dubai Dragons); Dan Boatwright (Dubai Hurricanes); Lloyd Budd (Dubai Exiles); Scott Kerr (Dubai Dragons); Stuart Quinn (Dubai Exiles); Cyrus Homayoun (Dubai Dragons); Ali Mohammad (Dubai Wasps).
