HSBC ASIAN 5 NATION (A5N) RUGBY TOURNAMENT

HOME

ABOUT HSBC

ABOUT ARFU

ARFU NATIONS

SCHEDULE

NEWS/REPORTS

GALLERY

VIDEO

RESULTS / STATS

click on the flag link to the union

HSBC Asian Five Nations 2009 Division II Kicks off in Malaysia

In the wake of the elite Top 5 competition, the festival of regional rugby that is the HSBC Asian Five Nations winged its way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Division II competition. After the first of two match days today, the hosts Malaysia advanced to the final against China, while India and Pakistan will battle for 3rd/4th place. Malaysia outlasted a vastly improved India team today 43-29 to put themselves in the final with a chance for promotion to the Division I tournament in 2010. In the opening match, China gutted out a 25-19 victory over a brave Pakistan XV in a dour encounter played in 32° heat of the Malaysian summer. China did well to overcome the extreme conditions and a late night arrival on the eve of the match but will need to improve further against the Malaysians who hit their stride in front of a strong mid-week attendance of 2,120 today.

At stake in the unique promotion and relegation format of the HSBC Asian Five Nations is promotion to Division I in 2010 for the winner of Malaysia v China, who will join the recently relegated Singapore team from the Top 5, Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei. Thailand, the relegated side from this year's Division I tournament played in April in Dubai will replace the promoted side as the top seed in next year's second division competition.

India and Pakistan will fight for 3rd/4th place and to stave off relegation in a mouthwatering regional rugby rivalry between two of the most improved teams in the Asian Five Nations 2009. The sub-continent sides entered today's matches blooding five new caps each in the match day 22, with India running out five new caps in the starting XV alongside a few enforced positional changes such as moving versatile captain Nasser Hussain from the back row to inside centre.

This is the first year that there will be relegation from the Division II, with the last-placed finishers to be replaced by the winners of the Division III tournament to be contested by Philippines, Guam, Iran and Indonesia in early July in Manila.

Today's match results saw Malaysia, ranked 78 in the world, hold off India who are currently ranked no. 81 in the IRB global rankings. China are the top ranked team at no. 44 in the world but was not overly convincing against the Pakistan national team, one of the IRB's newest full members (March 2009), which is as yet unranked in world rugby.

Pakistan put up a brave fight in the first half to enter the sheds down just 15-12 at the interval. But a yellow card for winger Umar Islam in the 41st minute saw them fall behind 18-12 after the initial penalty and 25-12 after conceding a try to the Chinese full back Zhun Chen. From there it was clear sailing for the Chinese who held Pakistan to a single converted try for the remainder of the match.

Scoring:
China: 25
Tries: Yi Li (1), Guoliong Yu (1), Zhun Chen (1)
Conversions: Bo Zhou (2)
Penalties: Bo Zhou (2)

Pakistan: 19
Tries: Arslan Zahid (1), Sair Riaz (1), Kashif Khawaha (1)
Conversions: Kashif Khawaja (2)

H/T Score: China 15-12 Pakistan

Today's second match was an entertaining affair between Malaysia and India. Malaysia jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after a successful penalty from the fullback Mohd Fairuz Abd. Rahman who had a fine day with the boot scoring 15 points. With three tries and crucial crash ball yardage from Malaysia's trio of locally qualified Fijian players at 12, 13 and 14, the home side consistently made ground in the backs despite some strong defence from India's centre pairing of captain Nasser Hussain and Bikash Jena (who paired well in their own right each scoring tries today).

At halftime the score was 23-14 Malaysia with everything to play for. After halftime India came out strong and earned an early penalty to bring the score to 23-17 to Malaysia. Again the Fijians stepped into the breech with Malaysia winger Semi Sovunidakua collecting a nicely weighted kick ahead from the stand-off Mahammad Faiz Shamsukidir to dot down in the corner and edge Malaysia ahead 28-17.

Further tries from Malaysian centre Timoci Nacokula and the No. 8, captain Mohd Azwan Azimi, widened the lead to a seemingly untouchable 40-17. But full credit must go to India as they never gave up and came back to score two fine tries in the final 10 minutes from close in work around the fringes of the ruck including a slashing close in run from captain Nassar Hussain to bring the score to 40-22. Another late try from India's Ganesh Sawant brought the score to 40-29. A kickable penalty to Malaysia deep in injury time brought the closing score to 43-29 and ensured the home town heroes a slot in the finals on Saturday (June 6).

Scoring:
Malaysia: 43
Tries: Nacani Seniu (1), Lee Wei Meng (1), Semi Souvunidakua (1), Timoci Nacokula (1), Mohd Azwan Azimi (1)
Conversions: Mohd Fairuz Abd Rahman (3)
Penalties: Mohd Fairuz Abd Rahman (3), Azizan Abdul (1)

India: 29
Tries: Parvinder Singh (1), Bikash Jena (1), Nasser Hussain (1), Ganesh Sawant (1)
Conversions: Rohaan Sethna (3)
Penalties: Rohaan Sethna (1)
H/T: Malaysia 23 - 14 India

Ex-England international player Rory Underwood, whose mother is Malaysian, returned to his boyhood home in Kuala Lumpur to visit the tournament after helping launch this year's HSBC Asian Five Nations Series in Hong Kong in April 2009.

"In the first game between China and Pakistan both teams showed a lot of endeavour and determination and the second game the standard of both teams was really great. I have always said that what is great about the Asian Five Nations is the promotion and relegation it doesn't matter if you won or lost today, there is still everything to play for on Saturday. It is fantastic for the home side Malaysia to reach the final and I am really looking forward to Saturday's matches."

Malaysia coach Dean Herewini celebrated his first international victory at the helm with today's win and commented after the match saying, "We are not quite where we want to be, but I think we showed some potential and what we can achieve. We will take the win today, but so will China and I think they will be happy to get a game under their belt after their late arrival."

"Coming into the tournament, China was the team to beat and they still are," added Herewini, "I also rated India as the dark horse and I think that was proven today. China is now squarely in our pathway for development. To measure ourselves to be worthy of Division I we need to perform. If we can do that against China, it would be a huge boost for Malaysian rugby. People will stand up and recognize that this team is going somewhere."

Saturday's matches will determine exactly how far Malaysia can go. India will play Pakistan at 15.00 local Malaysia time, while the main event between Malaysia and China will kick-off at 17.00 Malaysia time. Attendance at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam is free and all are welcome.

more here ...