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NACRA 15s South Zone C/ship…‘Green Machine’ intensifying preparations for B/dos clash
By Rawle Welch
Evidently not satisfied with the level of preparations that they’ve been afforded so far, Head Coach of the Guyana national rugby squad commonly referred to as the ‘Green Machine’ Laurie Adonis speaking with Kaieteur Sport on Saturday, at the National Park, said that the current phase of preparations definitely needs to intensify.
Members of the national rugby squad seen during a practice game on Saturday at the National Park.
Adonis, who is spearheading Guyana’s preparations for the upcoming clash against Barbados in the NACRA 15s’ South Zone Championship pointed to a late start as mainly responsible for the squad’s slow buildup in its training for the Barbados engagement, but assured that by the time April 23 come around Guyana will be ready to successfully defend home turf against an opponent they know very well.
Guyana defeated Barbados last year in its opening engagement, before losing to nemesis Trinidad and Tobago that captured the South Zone title.
Adonis, a former national player with vast experience as a Coach, disclosed that they are presently working on a few areas that the Bajans are strong at, namely line-outs, scrums and tackling, adding that they will have to be able to stop them from dominating those aspects of the game to come out victorious.
“Those areas we know they are traditionally strong in so we have to be well prepared to nullify their strength and use it to our advantage,” Adonis stated.
The Head Coach noted the importance of all the games which according to him has become increasingly vital for the sustenance of the sport here with winning the best certification for future funding from the International Rugby Board (IRB).
Quizzed on the unusual late commencement of preparations, a development that is totally strange to national teams, Adonis revealed that the Union was forced to accommodate the staging of the GTT 15s’ tournament, while the late arrival of players from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) did not help the situation.
He, however, was confident that they will be ready for the task ahead and urged the fans to come out in their usual numbers to rally around the team as it seeks to continue its dominance over the Bajans.
He disclosed that three players will be arriving shortly from Trinidad and Tobago where they will join the squad in its preparations ahead of the game.
They are all very experienced players in Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers and Peabo Hamilton, all players who have played an integral part in Guyana’s unrivalled success in the sport over the past decade.
Quizzed on how important and crucial it is to have the experienced players around to guide the younger ones, Adonis said it is vitally important since they are the ones who will have to build the confidence in those that haven’t been around very long, while also pointing to crucial periods in the game where their knowledge in certain situations could help ease the tension.
Commenting on fitness which has always been the standout feature and responsible for the teams that swept aside every regional challenge not so long ago, the Head Coach expressed his disappointment about the current state of affairs, but evaluated that the players have shown admirable commitment since and their level of fitness has improved tremendously.
He also welcomed the improved turnout at practice sessions and was hopeful that the trend continues.
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