Kandy rugby on show today
Kandy will not have it easy against the Soldiers - File pic
Kandy’s Rugby crazy fans will have their first look at their sleek 2017 outfit, when the team comes out today to go head to head with the Army. The wait could prove beneficial as the champions will be all fired up to parade their wares.
CH were swept away by Kandy (23-6) in the opening game. It wasn’t all that convincing, but a win is a win, nevertheless. The Police match, won 43-11, should have silenced some of the sceptics. It was tough at certain moments, but Kandy was expected to, and did, survive the storm.
For year after year, Kandy’s success has come about primarily because of the brilliance of the back division. It will not change this season, and may remain a fact in the next few years too.
The wings are where the team is particularly strong. Anuruddha Wilwara has withering speed, while Richard Dharmapala likes to look for gaps before using his speed. Arguably, Sri Lanka’s best centre Danushka Ranjan and the experienced, difficult-to-stop Gayan Weeraratne do the spadework before releasing the ball.
Nigel Ratwatte, who occupied the stand-off’s berth in the absence of Fazil Marija, combined well with Srinath Sooriyabandara. Ratwatte, wisely, restricted himself to the basics and didn’t attempt any fancy stuff. Sooriyabandara made a slight slip but it didn’t prove at all costly.
Kandy, probably, didn’t have as much possession from the lines out as they would have liked. The absence, through suspension, of Shehan Pathirana would have had something to do with that. However, the Kandy pack, with the likes of Suhiru Anthony, Buwaneka Udangamuwe, Asitha Ratnayake and newcomer Ashan Darling in particular, were able to make light of that.
The Kandy forwards have risen to the challenge very well and have defended their goal-line with great ferocity and commitment. The fall that they have conceded only one try in two games shows how successful they have been.
Losing to even a revamped Navy side is no disgrace. Army’s misfortune was that, that game was played at Welisara. It was also the season – opener. But they had better fortunes in their second game as they overcame the CH and FC 20-15. This was after the hosts had led at half-time. That about sums up Army’s Rugby. They fight to the end and don’t allow you to take the lead, to sit back and relax.
Central to their performance is the contribution made by two robust daredevil players, prop Asoka Jayalal and No.8 Manoj Silva. Captains in 2015 and 2016 respectively, these two highly-motivated and very physical players take the team along with them. Flanker Chandima Abeyratne is another source of inspiration.
Given the strength of their forwards, the Army naturally plays to their strength. Army’s coach Nilfer Ibrahim is, essentially, a back division coach. His skills should rub off on them sooner rather than later.
The halves-combination of Mohamed Rizvi and Ashan Bandara have been playing together for a couple of years. This experience should see them through even in tough situations.
Sans any awesome, fear-inducing names, Army’s back division of skipper Tusitha Senanayake, Hasan Maduranga and effervescent Sudaraka Dikkumbura will have their work cut out to penetrate the Kandy defence.
With his long, loping strides, full back Gayan Salinda is invariably in position to collect the ball. What sets him apart is his ability to put over 60-70 per cent of the kicks. On the subject of kicking, Kandy’s Tilina Wij esinghe is probably his superior. Tilina’s ability to link up with the line and go forward was especially evident in the Police game.
Army, with their heavy artillery can make it tough. But Kandy should be carrying too many guns for them.