By Emmerson Campbell
Larry Mendez, Coach of Trinidad and Tobago’s 15’s rugby team, the Calypso Warriors, is upbeat about his team’s chances when they tackle the local ruggers today at the Providence National Stadium in the Southern Zone of the NACRA Regional Qualifiers for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
During an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport at the Princess Hotel where the team is staying, Mendez stated that the Calypso Warriors are a different team to the team that went down to the local ruggers last year.
“The team that played Guyana last year has a lot of changes, we are a vastly different team, I know Guyana coming out of a draw against Barbados will bring all they have, it’s a must-win situation for them and for us too. It’s going to be a pretty tough game but I am confident in my side for the victory,” said Mendez.
The Calypso Warriors head coach noted that his charges have no clear cut plan but will play to their strengths and adapt to situations as the game progresses.
“We haven’t seen any tapes or gotten any information about their play, we will have to adapt in the game but we will stick to what we have been doing and that is an open and dominating style of play.”
Mendez also commented on his team’s spirit and the importance of today’s match.
Said Mendez: “The team spirit is good – we have been training together for a while, everybody is locked in, we are fully prepared and the team has been prepped to the job that is ahead, right now it’s just up to them to make it happen.”
The Trinidad and Tobago side is rated 52nd, while Guyana is rated 61st in the world 15s rugby rankings.
The Trinidad side whipped Barbados (30-3) last month 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.
Meanwhile Guyana’s national coach Theodore Henry said his availability, along with other experienced players, Claudius Butts and the Trinidad and Tobago-based duo of Richard Staglon and Ronald Mayers will enable the local side to be locked in defensively as well and to score more tries, something the team failed to do two weeks ago in their 10-10 draw against Barbados.
“We have more experienced players in the three-quarter line out so I think finishing tries would not be a problem against Trinidad. It’s just about us sticking to the game plan and executing in terms of defence. We are notable for making good tackles and playing a good defence so that should not be a problem,” Henry said.
He continued, “Against Barbados we had tons of energy, we were very aggressive. But I thought the inexperience really hurt us in Barbados. But we are at full strength now so it’s going to be an exciting game against Trinidad.”
“The team is very optimistic, against Trinidad everybody wants the win. We were there last year and we were runners-up two years in a row, this year we definitely want to go the whole nine yards,” he added.
Patrons are asked to wear green to show their support for the local team.
Action kicks off at 16:00hrs and admission is free.
The Trinidad and Tobago squad reads: Captain Jonathon O’Connor, vice captain Adam Frederick, Jay Hill, AC Wright, Jason Joseph, Miguel Lara, Carlton St. Clair, Jamal Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jesse Richards, Wayne Kelly, Keishon Walker, Kurt Quashie, Joseph Quashie, Rodwell Gordon, Tariq Cheeks, Don Rojas, Kelson Figaro, Agboola Silverton, James Phillip, Daryl Scott and Justin McLean.
The Guyana squad reads: Captain Ryan Gonsalves, Jason Tyrell and Rondell McArthur, Alan Crawford, Claude Prowell, Vallon Adams, Staglon, Dwayne Schroeder, Delon Downer, Peabo Hamilton, Rodwell Hutson, Henry, Butts and Claude Alexander, Mayers, Cyon Kitt, Troy Arjune, Walter George, Avery Corbin, Rickford Cummings, Elwin Chase and Ryan Hinckson.
The Match Commissioner for today’s game is Barbadian Jason Brewer, while compatriot George Nicholson is the Referee. The Head Official is Guyana’s Terrence Grant, while Clint Jones of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Alwin Etwah of Guyana are the Assistant Referee One and Two respectively.
