By Emmerson Campbell
After mauling Trinidad and Tobago 20-nil two weeks ago, the Guyana Jaguars are ready to roar to victory and avenge last year’s Caribbean Championship loss when they tackle Bermuda in the final NACRA 2015 RWC 15s regional qualifier match on Saturday in Bermuda.
During a media briefing which was held at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) building yesterday, player/coach Theodore Henry and Captain Ryan Gonsalves reiterated that the Jaguars are ready to pounce on the Bermudans.
Henry stated: “We faced Bermuda last year in the finals of the Caribbean Championship and we lost but this year it’s going to be a different result all together because we are definitely going to Bermuda for the victory.”
He continued: “The tournament this year has a bit more importance compared to last year’s because we were just vying for the Caribbean championship. This year it’s actually a World Cup qualifier so the team that wins on Saturday progresses to the second leg where we will take on team from CONSUR B.”
According to irb.com, teams in CONSUR B will include Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Costa Rica.
Gonsalves assured that his charges are confident ahead of the game on Saturday and stated that the national 15s rugby team will be looking to exact revenge on the Bermudans who defeated Guyana last year at the Providence National Stadium in the finals of the NACRA 15s championships.
“The confidence in the camp is very high, everyone is motivated, we are really looking forward to playing Bermuda this weekend and we are happy to be facing them again, to be honest we are looking to avenge our defeat from last year, we are very confident going into this match,” said Gonsalves.
Henry who echoed Gonsalves sentiments and said most of the players who are currently on the team experienced last year’s defeat and are eager to wipe the bitter taste from their mouths.
“The guys are looking forward to the game on the weekend, a lot of guys on this current team were part of the team last year and had a taste of defeat at the hands of Bermuda and the mood in the camp is to go out there and exact revenge on them.”
The national rugby captain also disclosed the keys to victory on Saturday.
“The Bermudans are a very technical team at 15s (rugby), we beat them in 2008 by playing a loose game we don’t want to play a tight game because that’s their strength – we will be looking to utilize our speed on the outside and penetrate whenever the gap opens, we will play to our best and hopefully come out with the victory,” Gonsalves said.
Also present at the briefing was Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, PRO of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and manager of the team which will wing out on Thursday, Robbie Roberts.
Bermuda booked their place in the final by defeating Bahamas 16-8 last week in Bahamas.
Kick off time is 14:00hrs and the game will be streamed live on.www.ustream.tv/channel/Bermuda-sports-network.
Captain Gonsalves will lead the team with the following ruggers:
Props: Jason Tyrell, Rondell Mc Arthur, Troy Arjune, Hookers : Allain Crawford, Delroy Gordon Second Row: Cloyd Prowell, Vallon Adams, Walter George, Avery Corbin, Back-Row :Dwayne Schroeder, Dillon Downer, Richard Staglon, Half-Backs: Christopher Singh, Rickford Cummings, Three-Quarters: Henry, Peabo Hamilton, Elwin Chase, Claudius Butts Claude Alexander, Full-Backs Ronald Mayers, Ryan Hinckson.
The reserves will be Cyon Kitt and O’Neill Charles Daniels. Shane Grant-Stuart will take up the coach’s duties while Ariane Mangar will be the team’s physiotherapist.
