The customary May/June rainy season has not put a damper on the national rugby squad ahead of their match next week versus Jamaica, in fact the ruggers have raised their training intensity.
According to national coach, Laurie Adonis, the ‘Green Machine’ is charged up and ready to take the field on May 21.
“I’m trying to keep them from not getting too over confident,” Adonis joked yesterday.
“I had to let them know that the work is still to be done and at this point they cannot get too confident. We need to push these last couple of days despite the inclement weather but the guys are upbeat and ready to go because we saw some clips of Jamaica’s game and we know we have a chance of beating them.”
After drubbing Barbados 48-17 in the Rugby America’s North (RAN) season opener here last month, the squad needs to brace for the Jamaican invasion and continue its winning ways if they are to regain the RAN 15s title and move a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup.
“The guys really took a lot of confidence from our opening victory. It was the first Regional 15s game for a few players and now it will be really interesting to see how they go in their second game against a quality side like the Jamaicans.”
Adonis added “I think the guys put up a good performance and I’m obviously pleased with that win. Watching at Barbados we were able to do a lot of stuff that we practiced but coming up against Jamaica it’s going to be a different ball game because it has been years since we faced them and they stand to pose a greater challenge.”
Quizzed on if changes will be made to the starting lineup, Adonis stated that “You don’t change the winning formula but revealed that his players will be more ready and raring to go.
Once the national team is victorious in the Jamaica game and the Trinidad challenge on June 19 they will play the winner of the Northern Zone for the overall RAN title and move onto other Qualifiers in a bid to clinch a berth in the 2019 World Cup. (Emmerson Campbell)
