This should be a humdinger at Nittawela today
Kandy vs CR encounters always have delivered the unexpected - File pic by Amila Gamage
There will be a stunner of a rugby match to titillate the palate of rugby fans when unbeaten Kandy SC (no surprises, there!) meet unbowed CR&FC in a Dialog Rugby League game at Nittawela today.
In the recent past, the CR have given Kandy hell in Colombo, but have not performed so well in Kandy. Last year’s scores were 24-12 and 50-15. Putting the question to Nilfer Ibrahim, the CR coach, his answer was on emphatic that wont happen this time.
Ibrahim’s confidence stems from the fact that the club has assembled a superb array of young talent, especially in the back division. In the case of Tarinda Ratwatte and skipper Kavindu Perera (who both share a Kandy background), old is gold. Add the talent of Kevin Dixon, Reeza Raffaideen, Chamod Fernando, Harith Bandara and Rahul de Silva, and it becomes clear why the Longdon Place Club is so high on confidence.
CR’s record over the past three weeks hasn’t been earth-shaking. Wins of 24-23 (CH), 28-22 (Navy) and 38-17 (Police) don’t remotely suggest invincibility. For that matter, Kandy’s record is slightly better. One gets the impression that the CR has been ‘working’ towards this game.
Rahul de Silva should get the nod over Harith Bandara for the scrum half’s berth. De Silva is energetic, very hands-on and, importantly, thinks on his feet. He performed well for the Havies last season.
CR will be relying heavily on Omalka Gunaratne for a good performance. Joel Perera, a flanker, and lock Shehan Dias also have important roles to play.
But the start of the show for the CR, so far, has been Tarinda Ratwatte. He has touched down for a couple of natty tries. Yet his chief value has been as kicker. 53 points in three games bespeak a certain excellence. It would be true to say that he also directs operations from the vital position he occupies.
CR has got a choice between Supun Warnakulasooriya and Navy cross-over Dulanjana Wijesinghe as hooker. The final choice will be interesting. A former captain of the Navy team, Wijesinghe is probably ahead in terms of experience.
Kandy, nearly everyone’s choice as the best team in the league, is brilliant, enigmatic and, quite often, a show-stealer. By their standards, they have merely performed adequately in the lead up to this game. They struggled at times against the Airmen (28-19). The Police matched up to them well at Nittawela (32-23). Kandy’s performance against the Army shows that they are getting better by the game (38-10).
Leaving aside, for a moment, Kandy’s back division that provides the dash and the zip, the forwards have done their part well. The performance in the line-outs was probably short of satisfying. However, the scrums were good for the champions. The way they held up the rugged Soldiers in the five-metre scrums was impressive. Buvaneka Udangamuwe was always a threat to the opponents.
Kandy had a tough third game. They came back well. Importantly, Kandy knows how to finish. They take their chances. Unlike other teams, they don’t let the opportunities slip away.
Anuruddha Wilwara, a stunning winger, was probably, not really ready on his return to the side. Danushka Ranjan, who scored twice against the Police, was reduced to more modest proportions. The best of skipper Richard Dharmapala is yet to be seen. Winger Vishvamitra Jayasinghe has continued his try-scoring act.
Fullback Thilina Wijesinghe has been spot on with most of the conversions. He also came up with a neat try where he chipped over the defence to follow up and touch down. Ratwatte’s near presence could spur him to even greater heights.
This game should be a humdinger. But beating the champions in their backyard has invariably proved difficult.