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The HKCR senior men’s representative side put in a dominant and ruthless display on a cool and dry evening on 13 July at the Estadio Heroes de Curupayty in Asuncion to run out 80-12 winners over Paraguay in the first-ever test between the two nations.
The 12-try victory was laid on a platform of forward domination in the set piece, one area in which Head Coach Andrew Douglas had expressed concerns about pre-game.
He said after the win, “We wanted to start well and be physical and I think we achieved that so I am very happy. We wanted to establish front-foot dominance and then utilise those wide channels and we did that well, I thought, especially in those first twenty minutes. The breakdowns were quick and the set piece was solid.”
Following an electric light show and AC/DC’s Thunderstruck on the loudspeakers preceding the game, the Hong Kong China men took no time to chalk up their first points once the game was underway. An early attacking set of phases probed the Paraguayan defence earning a kickable penalty but the side went for the touch and the lineout option which would be a formidable weapon all game as Alex Post scored the first from the back of a driving maul.
A second try was quickly added as the driving maul again reaped the rewards, with captain Joshua Hrstich the beneficiary resulting in a 14-0 lead. The third try was from an excellent break by Hong Kong China full-back Matthew Worley cutting through the defence to run in the final 20 metres and dot down under the posts for a converted try.
Matthew Worley soon secured a brace to silence the once boisterous crowd due to the fast Hong Kong China start, the pace of attacks caused the South Americans too many problems as the ball moved around rapidly, and centre Ben Axten-Burrett added the 5th try in the 17th minute for a 33-0 lead.
A yellow card soon thereafter for Joshua Hrstich led to a period of defence and several scrums on the Hong Kong China try line. After withstanding several attacks, the Parguayans finally breached to score their first points in the 28th minute with the score 33-7.
It was Hong Kong China’s turn to re-apply pressure when they were back to a full complement and another lineout and smart lineout move saw the ball move right for the 6th try as right-wing Charles Higson-Smith dotted down for the converted score. The half ended with one more attacking maul and Alex Post secured his second for a halftime lead of 47-7.
The conditions were good on the synthetic field and there was no dew to worry the ball-handlers as the Paraguayans kicked off the half. The chop tackles and steals in rucks were effective from Hong Kong China and the backs found space as they burst through the middle to set up phase attacks as captain Hrstich went over for his second and the team’s 8th try.
This was followed by a period of some enforced errors and repeated scrums before a lovely break by the backs off the base of a scrum nearly led to more points but the final pass couldn't be held.
The Los Yakares (The Alligators) had some attacking opportunities as the game opened up but were well-defended and the substitutions were made around the 65-minute mark.
A trademark bruising run from Luke Van Der Smit set up the second try of the half in the 59th minute and a lead of 59-7 before the pressing on the Paraguayans from the lineout to score in the corner again and extend the lead to 66-7.
The Paraguayans got one of their own back shortly after to make it 66-12 but the pace of the game in the second half was not quite as fast as the opening quarter but both sides still looked to play their game with Hong Kong China domination up front and a couple of near tries denied.
Murray Brechin scored just before the final whistle, before a final try after the clock for a final score of 80-12.
Captain Hrstich said after the game, “We knew they would be physical and tough and come after us. We were disappointed last week with how we started and didn't execute the game plan so that first half here was satisfying. We knew if we could get set-piece dominance we could be in a good place.”
James Holmes, who made his debut on the night said, “Yeah it was a good game against a big physical side but the boys stuck to the game plan and I thought we were pretty clinical and it was great to get a good victory and hopefully more to come. It means the world to get my cap and it's been a long road to get here and I hope it's the first of many. It's massive for me and my family and I'm buzzing to keep going with the boys.”
Douglas added of the debutant, “I was really happy for him as were the team as it has been a long time coming. He would probably admit he didn't scrummage as well as he would have liked in the first 20 minutes but he got stuck into his work after that and adjusted really well. He always has been very good around the field and I think we are excited and proud of him.”
Read more about the squad selected to face Paraguay here.
With one tour game left, Douglas said of the final match against Brazil, “They will also have a big strong pack and they love the physicality and macho mentality in South America. We will have to move them around and change the points of attack but also not run away from the physicality and the set piece dominance.”
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