Tuskers’ performances at Sixes and Sevens in Asian Series
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Sri Lanka performed quite impressively in front of their home crowd - Pic by Amila Gamage
The Tuskers warmed up despite the weather for a better place in the overall standings of the Asian Rugby 7s Series. Winning over Korea and China ensured a 3rd position in the Colombo Leg of the 7s. Coupled with China losing to Philippines in the 5th and 6th place playoff was good enough to move to 4th place from 5th, where they were at the end of the 1st 2 Legs.
Sri Lanka lost to Korea in the League stage, but did well to come back and defeat them to be placed 3rd. Having lost to Korea before the Colombo Leg and during the Colombo Leg and then beating more fancied China poses a question whether Lanka depends on random outcomes, and are not consistent. Looking at our performance during the recent past, it surely supports to think we enjoy random outcomes and are happy to note that as success. It is not that the skills and talent are not there, but just that there seems less commitment to being consistent. There seems to be lacking in an all-round performance.
It was in 2012 that “Gollings” Sri Lanka started to ride high in the Asian 7s Circuit. We are in 2017 and 5 years later, virtually running on the same spot, with a sudden performance that makes everybody stand up and cheer. Thereafter, they may only wake up for the 7s next year, both local and international.
“Grind while they rest. Study when they party. You will live like they Dream.” Grant Cardone. It is the same approach, same swerve and the same run. If you change the approach, the run and the swerve each year, you will never be consistent. You want to be the master, the need is to be consistent. How many coaches have handled the team since 2012?
To Hong Kong (HK), the tournament in Sri Lanka was important, as they needed a triple jump to get to the Rugby World Cup 7s in San Francisco in 2018. Having lost to Japan in the 1st Leg at Home and to Korea in Seoul, beating Japan twice in muddy condition at the Colombo Race Course, pinned the determination of Hong Kong to get to the World Cup 7s. Japan, by virtue of being overall winners, qualified to get there and also play in the World Series qualifier in HK, and a place at the Singapore 7s.
Japan and HK have been consistent in their performances over the last few years, while Korea has been a threat with outcomes that pike and fall. The question is whether Sri Lanka can win the 7s and is not about being in the 1st 4, as it seems to please some. To me they could!
It was indeed nice to hear of the Union felicitating the past ‘Greats’. There may be questions as to how some were recognised while some were not. That depends on the criteria that is set and is subjective, and will not please all at all times.
The men selected for honours are those who have done service to the game of Rugby in different capacities. I hope there are lessons to be learnt from the wisdom of those in that generation. The issue that stands in my query are what expansion of Rugby has been since the SLRFU adopted a constitution in 1992, with the best intent of spreading the game. This constitution had an amendment approved by the Sports Ministry in 1999. Yet the numbers of clubs that are in the top League remain same, 25 years after the constitution was accepted in 1992. The number of tournaments remain, save for the introduction of 7s. It is alleged that the constitution has been amended in and around 2008, and again in 2017. All, I believe, is for the betterment of the game.
In my curiosity, I addressed the Ministry of Sport in the first week of June 2017, asking for information which was passed on to another department for answer on Sept.12. A reminder has been sent by the Additional Secretary (Admin) on Oct.16, with reference to a reminder sent by me on Oct.4. I hope that, soon I will receive answers that will help in the process of determining the progress of issues that will help the game. I may be wrong in my assumptions, but I need to ask before I come to make observations. I wonder why the Ministry is prevaricating to send the information or, just say they cannot or, are not obliged to provide the information. I want to satisfy myself that Fiji is a town in Sri Lanka. That the Secretary whose rubber stamp is on a constitution, was in that post in 1992. This is despite Parliament releasing copies of reports which have been given prominence in the Sunday Times last week.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, Coach and an Accredited Referees’ Evaluator IRB