Asia Rugby Championship: Hong Kong name largely unchanged side for title decider against South Korea
- Head coach Lewis Evans makes just 2 changes to starting 15 that battered Malaysia in previous game
- Ben Higgins comes into the front row in place of Ashton Hyde, while Paul Aliter’s ban sees Harry Sayers start in centres
Defending champions Hong Kong have named a largely unchanged side for their Asia Rugby Championship title decider against South Korea this weekend.
With both sides easing past Malaysia in their opening games, Saturday’s clash at Hong Kong Football Club is a repeat of last year’s final in Incheon, which Hong Kong won with the last kick of the game.
Head coach Lewis Evans has been forced to make two changes to the starting 15, with prop Ashton Hyde dropping out through illness and full-back Paul Altier banned after being sent off in the 88-9 hammering of Malaysia six days ago.
In their place, Ben Higgins comes into the front row, while Nathan De Thierry will switch to full-back and Harry Sayers start in the centres.
“Consistency is key,” Evans said. “Last week, players from 1 to 15 all performed, and there were some real selection headaches this week as we expected. Certain guys really stood up against Malaysia but there are also other guys we wanted to see more of as well.”
That desire for consistency means the change in the front row is the only one in the pack, despite Josh Hrstich’s return to full fitness. The man who led the side in their World Cup qualifying campaign last year starts on the bench, with Tom Hill again leading the side from the centres.
Alex Post and Faizal Solomona Penesa join Higgins in the front row, while vice-captain Patrick Jenkinson and Callum McCullough continue their partnership just behind. The back row remains unchanged, with Luke van der Smit at No 8, and Sam Tsoi Kin-san and James Sawyer on the flanks.
“Josh is back in form and having him back in training has had a huge impact on the squad,” Evans said. “He has completed his fitness tests and is confident and capable to play international rugby this week.
“Our back row combination played really well and made this a difficult selection, but with strong players like Josh and Pierce [MacKinlay-West] coming off the bench we can maintain that intensity and physicality we are after in the second half against Korea.”
Hrstich is one of five forwards among the replacements, with Evans expecting a tough battle upfront against a South Korean team that will pose a far greater physical challenge than the Malaysians did.
That has opened the door to Matt Keay and Zac Cinnamond coming into the 23-man squad, with David Tang Man-chung dropping out of the side. Keay is likely to make his debut, as is Dylan White, who comes in as cover for fly-half or full-back.
After scoring one of Hong Kong’s 13 tries last weekend, forward Pierce MacKinlay-West keeps his place on the bench, as do backs Bryn Phillips and Will Panday.
Jamie Lauder and Gregor McNeish resume their half-back pairing with Seb Brien and Charles Higson-Smith retaining their spots on the wings after combining for six tries against Malaysia.
Introducing the likes of Keay and White to the squad is part of Evans’ plan to have a larger group of players available with international experience.
“Come November, players like that will need bigger opportunities and we want to start getting them involved now in the international environment, so that when they get the call up to start which probably comes in the next 12 or 18 months, they will be ready,” Evans said.
Hong Kong squad: 15-Nathan De Thierry, 14-Charles Higson-Smith, 13-Harry Sayers, 12-Tom Hill (capt), 11-Seb Brien, 10-Gregor McNeish, 9-Jamie Lauder. 1-Ben Higgins, 2-Alex Post, 3-Faizel Solomona Penesa, 4-Callum McCullough, 5-Patrick Jenkinson, 6-Sam Tsoi Kin-san, 7-James Sawyer, 8-Luke van der Smit. Replacements: 16-Matt Keay, 17-Zac Cinnamond, 18-Keelan Chapman, 19-Josh Hrstich, 20-Pierce MacKinlay-West, 21-Bryn Phillips, 22-Dylan White, 23-Will Panday.
