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2014 Asian Five Nations (RWCQ)

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yt1993

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the fixtures for the aisan five nations has been announced which starts on the 26th of April to the 25th of may

Round 1:
Hong Kong vs Philippines
South Korea vs Sri Lanka

Round 2:
Philippines vs Japan
Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong

Round 3:
Japan vs Sri Lanka
Hong Kong vs South Korea

Round 4:
South Korea vs Japan
Sri Lanka vs Philippines

Round 5:
Philippines vs South Korea
Japan vs Hong Kong

looks like an easy wins for japan
 
S**T this was suppose to be in the international matches section :|
 
Don't worry I can move it easily, thanks for firing this one up I was going to do it in a week or so but good to see the membership being very proactive these days.

Even though Japan should coast to the ***le, there is still a very exciting battle for 2nd between Hong Kong and South Korea that will see whoever finishes ahead get a match with likely Uruguay in the repechage. I'm also intrigued about the relegation battle Phillipines are improving very quickly and I think they might be able to knock off Sri Lanka and stay in the top division.
 
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thanks :) japan has 12 players in the squad who are all un-capped
 
Philippines squad released last week:

Weeks 1 & 2
Anderson, Chris
Aronson, Alexander Noroña
Bellenie, Matthew Orag
Bennetts, Sam
Bweheni, Tim
Chatting, Mark Nelmida
Coveney, Justin Villazor
Dacanay, Austin Garnica
Feeney, David
Fong, Ronald
Gardner, John
Gomez, Cleo Ferrer
Hamilton, John
Holgate, Gareth Dela Rosa
Howorth, Steve Pagtalunan
Letts, Jake Robrigado
Melrose, Daniel
Mitra, Fergus
Moschitz, Fritz
Robinson-Polkey, David Paz
Saunders, Benjamin Abalos
Saunders, Matthew Abalos
Saunders, Oliver Abalos
Seeto, Darran Centillas
Sinclair, Phil
Stern, Kenneth Capinpin
Welch, Nathan
Zappia, Rafael Dian
Zappia, Rupert Dian

Weeks 3 & 4
Abraham, Phil Benares
Anderson, Chris
Aronson, Alexander Noroña
Bellenie, Matthew Orag
Bweheni, Tim
Coveney, Justin Villazor
Dacanay, Austin Garnica
Duhig, Michael Estrada
Feeney, David
Fong, Ronald
Gardner, John
Gomez, Cleo Ferrer
Hamilton, John
Hitch, Chris Baltazar
Holgate, Gareth Dela Rosa
Howorth, Steve Pagtalunan
Letts, Jake Robrigado
Letts, Michael Robrigado
Melrose, Daniel
Olivier, Patrice Ortiz
Robinson-Polkey, David Paz
Saunders, Benjamin Abalos
Saunders, Matthew Abalos
Saunders, Oliver Abalos
Seeto, Darren Centillas
Sinclair, Phil
Stern, Kenneth Capinpin
Welch, Nathan
Zappia, Rafael Dian
Zappia, Rupert Dian

The national squad is made up of Filipino heritage players (who were either born in the Philippines, or have at least one parent or grand parent that was born in the Philippines) and a few foreign-blooded players who have been based in the Philippines for at least three consecutive years, as allowed by International Rugby Board (IRB ) regulations.
Click to expand...

Certainly looks like there will be some new caps again in forward packs, there are names I am not familiar with. Guys like Ron Fong and Kenny Stern (among others I'm sure, just had a quick glance) are making appearances again, those two in particular have had good runs in NYC in the past and are quality players. Fong's a back rower, Stern a back three guy who's got many Volcanoes 7's caps. Good to see Oli Saunders back in squad after injury last season, Alex Aronson did a nice job in fill-in duty but I think is still at best the #2 choice. Front row again will be a huge worry. The biggest names not on the list for Weeks 1&2 is captain Mike Letts, I'll need to look into that (perhaps team won't release him or personal reasons?). They should have enough to cover it skill wise, but the experience of being one of the top 3-4 capped players in Volcanoes history can't be replaced...and Patrice Olivier, big winger/center.

Basically though, they'll have their strongest team for the last two games. I expect the game at Sri Lanka to be a war, right now I say 50/50 based off on-field abilities, but as others have shed light on, there are off field worries for SLRFU. Traveling to SL will be a factor but they'll have two weeks to prepare for that game since they'll be coming off the bye week. All in all, expect many similar faces to shine. The first week will show whether the Volcanoes can create an upset to compete for repechage spot or not. Japan back to back can/will probably knock them out quick. SL definately beatable, Hong Kong and Korea I think they have a small chance against. They showed last year in stretches they could challenge and be better than both squads, but there are 5-10 min spells where they get let down and those guys put up huge point tallys.
 
Should Japan still have to qualify in this comp? Last season they scored over 300 points and conceded 8, and they've won every game every year with a bonus point. Seems a bit unnecessary.
 
Starting next year the A5N format is changing. I'll post what I pasted in the FIRA forums detailing the future:

submitted proposal to HSBC USD 8-900K including TV, in hope would be acceptable, but HSBC have reverted too much. TG suggests we need budget allowing for minimum USD 100K from HSBC and TG will get more and thinks USD500K is possible. HSBC will not want ***le sponsor rights in A5N 2014, so host unions can attract their own finance sector sponsors.
TG in discussions with other potential sponsors. But they will likely come on board in 2015 under revised competitions format.
Click to expand...

Claude Atcher has told TG of potential TV coverage from Malaysia. TG: unless TV is sponsored, there will be no TV coverage.
Hence cost of Top 5 + Divs 1-3 = USD 467K TV was USD 400K in past years; Sean Moore trying to bring that down to USD 200K.
TG: ARFU can perhaps use some (200K?) of its reserves for this, or to upload whatever footage is available to You Tube etc. But should be last resort.
AS: Setanta would take any footage.
MO: IRB will be keen that last match in Tokyo (perhaps with the RWC trophy on show) be televised.
Click to expand...

2014 will be last year in this format for Divs 3-5 with no automatic promotion or relegation from Div 3, 4 5 upwards and potential demotion from Div 2 for non-IRB full member unions, unless sponsorship can be found to support the ARC
Click to expand...

Potential 2015 Men"s 15s Format for "Asian Rugby Championship" (USD 350K budget)
Top 3: Japan, Korea, HK (Home & Away = 6 matches) = USD 45K
Promotion/Relegation match = 7.5K
HP: Above unions additional cross-regional tests (June and Nov player release windows). Sri Lanka hosts Serendib Cup.
Under current A5N rankings, Divisions below would be:
Div 1: Philippines, Sri Lanka, UAE, Kazakhstan (one location = 6 matches) = USD 75 + 7.5x3 = 97.5K
Followed 2 weeks later - after last (coinciding) day of Top 3 and Div 1 – by a repechage promotion/relegation match hosted by the highest IRB ranked union (to play in Top 3 the following year).
Div 2: Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia (one location = 1v4; 2v3 + LvL ; WvW) = 50 + 22.5 = 72.5
=USD222, 500 leaving USD 126.5
Regional Groups, examples:
Div 3A: Iran, Qatar, Guam, Indonesia,
Div 3B: India, Lebanon, Laos, Pakistan
Div 3C1/2: 2 Regional permutations of: China, Uzbekistan. . .Cambodia, Brunei, Mongolia, Afghanistan
Other competitions in 2014
3. AR7S (men"s 7s)
IRB grant is USD 91K
TG will commit USD 100K from HSBC
Total 191K (minus 36 for referees at 3x12) = 155
For cost reasons back to 3 ranking rounds in 2014 with 11 core teams + 1 wild card (host)
Then, for instance, Thailand 7s becomes development level 7s tournament alongside UAERF"s West Asia 7s allowing for most competitive team to become 11th core team in following year"s series
USD 25 hosting fee x 3 = 75K
2K per 11 teams travelling = 22K x 3 = 66K
=141K total
Click to expand...
*TG is Trevor Gregory, president of ARFU Executive Committee.
*AS is Asanga Senaviratne, Honorary (Honorable?) Secretary General.
*MO ???

These were from the ARFU Executive Meeting document annexes, that of course now require a login to access, but I think I still have it saved on my downloads if someone is interested in reading the notes, interesting stuff on many topics.
 
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usausa said:
Starting next year the A5N format is changing. I'll post what I pasted in the FIRA forums detailing the future:
Click to expand...

May I have a link to the FIRA forum site? May be interesting.
 


Live stream for Hong Kong vs Philippines
 
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Matchday lineups for Philippines at Hong Kong!

Philippines
1. David Robinson-Polkey, 2. Austin Dacanay, 3. Philip Sinclair, 4. Stephen Howorth, 5. Ashley Heward, 6. Christopher Anderson, 7. Darran Seeto, 8. Samuel Bennetts, 9. Jake Letts, 10. Oliver Saunders (captain), 11. Kenneth Stern, 12. Justin Coveney, 13. Matthew Saunders, 14. Gareth Holgate, 15. Alexander Aronson
16. Glenn Power, 17. Daniel Melrose, 18. Fergus Mitra, 19. Nathan Welch, 20. Timothy Kong, 21. Cleo Gomez, 22. Fritz Moschitz, 26. Rupert Zappia
Click to expand...

Hong Kong
1. Leon WEI, Hon Sum 2. Alex HARRIS, 3. Stephen NOLAN, 4. Bill BRANT, 5. Paul DWYER 6. Alex BADDELEY 7. Matt LAMMING 8. Pale TAUTI © 9. Kenneth HSIEH, Chun Hang 10. Chris MCADAM 11. YIU Kam Shing, Salom 12. Jake PHELPS, 13. Lloyd JONES, 14. Rowan VARTY 15. Alex MCQUEEN, 16. Thomas BOLLAND, 17. James COOPER 18. Alex NG, Wai Shing, 19. Terence MONTGOMERY, 20. Nick HEWSON, 21. Pete MCKEE, 22. Nick WHEATLEY, 23. Tom MCCOLL
Click to expand...

For Philippines, 4 new caps in starting XV, all in forward pack (Sinclair, Heward, C. Anderson, Bennetts) plus 6 on bench (Power, Melrose, Mitra, Welch, Kong, Moschitz). Kenny Stern makes his 7th cap but first since 2011 against Hong Kong. Rupert Zappia if he comes on will make his first test appearance since 2011 against Korea. All 6 of Zappia's previous caps have come off the bench. Oli Saunders becomes third captain in Volcanoes history, taking over for Mike Letts in this match. Jake Letts will extend his caps record, making his 20th appearance (consecutive! He's only missed 1 match! Volcanoes have played 21 tests!).

?? 5-0 HKG try to Leon Wei
8' 12-0 HKG try to Yiu Kam Shing, 9' converted by Chris McAdam
10' 15-0 HKG McAdam penalty
12' McAdam missed penalty
14' 20-0 HKG try to Bill Brant, conversion missed
18' PHI sub 20 Timothy Kong in for 6 Christopher Anderson (blood bin)
26' HKG 23-0 Chris McAdam penalty
31' HKG 30-0 Matt Lamming try, 32' McAdam converts
35' PHI sub Chris Anderson back on wearing #30
35' HKG 37-0 try to Jake Phelps, 36' McAdam converts
38' HKG 44-0 try to Kenneth Hsieh, 39' McAdam converts
40'+ HKG 51-0 try to Lloyd Jones, 40'+ McAdam converts

HALFTIME HONG KONG 51-0 PHILIPPINES

Halftime Stats
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7nIWZILOJZuRDJCS2pDcndraGs/edit?usp=sharing

Tons of subs for HKG

42' HKG 58-0 try to 23 Tom McColl, 43' McAdam converts
49' HKG 65-0, second try to Lamming, 50' McAdam converts, Hong Kong subs out #1 and #3
55' HKG 72-0, try to Rowan Varty, McAdam converts- Tauti off Hewson on, #9 sub off
59' HKG 77-0, try to Alex McQueen, McAdam misses
64' HKG 82-0, try to Peter McKee, McAdam misses on touchline
68' HKG 89-0, third try to Matt Lamming, 69' McAdam converts
72', HKG 96-0, try to Nick Wheatley, 73' McAdam converts
80' HKG 101-0, try to Alex Baddeley, 80' McAdam misses conversion
80'+ HKG 108-0, second try to Tom McColl, 80'+ McAdam converts

FINAL SCORE HONG KONG 108-0 PHILIPPINES

Full time stats: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7nIWZILOJZuV0liMnE3U2ZHRVk/edit?usp=sharing

Match video:

 
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So two very big wins to open things up, not completely unexpected though margins were a little wider than I'd anticipated. How are you guys thinking the relegation battle will set up? It looks clear that it will be Sri Lanka and Phillpines battling to stay up is there one of the sides that looked a lot weaker after round 1?
 
LG, two sides are being relegated this year for next year's new format. The "top division" in 2015 will only be 3 sides, and the bottom tiers will have 4. In saying that, you picked out the 2 sides almost destined to go down. The fight this year for Sri Lanka and Philippines is the wooden spoon. Sri Lanka have one of their strongest sides, but the Philippines will be reinforced with more of their stronger players for that match. Philippines will be coming off a bye too so despite traveling they'll have plenty of time to prepare and more time to gel together (last year they improved tons as the weeks went on). The Philippines have been together for less of a week, Hong Kong have a performance and training center now for national players. Also, they play test matches outside of the A5N (Christmas series vs. Belgium), making them a more professional outfit from past years.

I find it hard to gauge either of these sides right now. There is no film on Korea-Sri Lanka. Hong Kong came with their strongest side and were completely motivated after they got pushed around for 50 minutes in the Philippines last year and were down. Philippines play Japan next week at home so expect another large margin. Sri Lanka will be looking at HK and must be worried. I wouldn't be surprised though if that margin is smaller than HK-Philippines because 1) Sri Lanka is home and 2) Hong Kong have said they are looking to rotate and rest players and get new players time so that they can be as rested and ready for their match against South Korea.
 
usausa said:
LG, two sides are being relegated this year for next year's new format. The "top division" in 2015 will only be 3 sides, and the bottom tiers will have 4. In saying that, you picked out the 2 sides almost destined to go down. The fight this year for Sri Lanka and Philippines is the wooden spoon. Sri Lanka have one of their strongest sides, but the Philippines will be reinforced with more of their stronger players for that match. Philippines will be coming off a bye too so despite traveling they'll have plenty of time to prepare and more time to gel together (last year they improved tons as the weeks went on). The Philippines have been together for less of a week, Hong Kong have a performance and training center now for national players. Also, they play test matches outside of the A5N (Christmas series vs. Belgium), making them a more professional outfit from past years.

I find it hard to gauge either of these sides right now. There is no film on Korea-Sri Lanka. Hong Kong came with their strongest side and were completely motivated after they got pushed around for 50 minutes in the Philippines last year and were down. Philippines play Japan next week at home so expect another large margin. Sri Lanka will be looking at HK and must be worried. I wouldn't be surprised though if that margin is smaller than HK-Philippines because 1) Sri Lanka is home and 2) Hong Kong have said they are looking to rotate and rest players and get new players time so that they can be as rested and ready for their match against South Korea.
Click to expand...

I'd heard rumours of a format change but hadn't been aware of it changing officially and completely overlooked your prior post a few higher on those changes, a bit of a letdown in some ways as it takes a lot of the excitement away from watching the bottom two teams who are really here now to make up the numbers.

Is the travel costs the main factor for these budgetary problems?
 
I think it's more competitive factors but sponsorship issues have definitely complicated matters. HSBC pulled their sponsorship (hence the rename ARFU Asian 5 Nations). The top 3 of Japan, Korea, Hong Kong are the 3 most professional unions and sides in Asia, clearly a step up from the rest. The other unions need to find a way to develop themselves locally. I'm sure HSBC was/is disappointed that the tournament hasn't developed really, they and the IRB are footing a big bill to run the tournament and a lot of nations I'm sure are reliant on that funding.

The bottom side of the "Top 3" will have to go to a relegation playoff with the top team from D-1, so it's not an automatic promotion/relegation system at that level.
 
Full match of Sri Lanka - South Korea uploaded!

 
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