By Emmerson Campbell
The national 15s rugby team has returned to the drawing board in order to be victorious in their all-important game against Trinidad and Tobago in the Southern Zone of the NACRA Regional Qualifiers for the 2015 Rugby World Cup after playing to a 10-10 stalemate against Barbados last weekend in that country.
The six-time NACRA 7s champions and number two rated 15s side in the Caribbean is in a must-win situation in its June 2 match which will kick off at the Providence National Stadium against the ruggers from the Twin Island Republic.
The Trinidad side whipped Barbados 30 to three (30-3), three weeks ago and the winner of the Guyana versus Trinidad & Tobago game will play the winner of the Northern Zone for the NACRA Caribbean Rugby World Cup Regional Qualifier Finals.
National rugby captain Ryan Gonsalves yesterday in an interview with Stabroek Sport at the National Park Rugby field after his charges completed a training session, pointed out the positives his team took from the Barbados game as well as the areas to be worked on in order to secure a victory from the visitors.
Gonsalves said the team’s defence was impeccable versus Barbados but the side needs to work on minor glitches.
Said Gonsalves: “Looking back at the Barbados game over the weekend we had a very sturdy defensive structure in terms of our entire team defence. We had a few lapses which allowed them to score the two tries but I can say we recovered well which was major for us to escape with a draw, but we had good line speed, we kept possession for long periods and we kept retaining the ball but unfortunately we didn’t penetrate the try-line…”
Gonsalves further mentioned that several factors caused the 10–all stalemate, factors his team will be working to iron out.
“The thing that caused us not to secure that victory in Barbados is that we didn’t finish off our tries or I should say the multiple scoring opportunities that we had. It’s shameful that we couldn’t finish those, I would say that came from the inexperienced squad that we had, I thought we played with a lot of (intensity) but heading into this Trinidad game we know what we have to work on.”
The national captain stated that once his side plays with the same defensive intensity as they did against the ruggers from Barbados and convert their tries, a victory over Trinidad is assured.
“Heading into the (Trinidad and Tobago) game, once we play to our strengths and our structure we should come out victorious at the end so it is in our hands, so we just need to execute our plans like maintaining possession, keeping the ball for long periods like we did against the Bajans, try to get them tired and then play to our strength which is our back line, once we do that and the guys play to their best abilities we will win the game,” Gonsalves assured.
The national rugby captain also stated that the team’s experience will be boosted with the availability of Trinidad and Tobago-based players Richard Staglon and Ronald Mayers as well as Claudius Butts and national coach/player Theodore Henry.
