Philippines cruise to win, whilst Iran win war of attrition over Pakistan

International School Manila provided the perfect setting for two very different opening games in the 2009 Asian Under 20 Division 2 Tournament.

First up were home team the Philippines, who have blended schoolboys from three international schools, local Filipinos and overseas based players of Philippine heritage, up against Laos, who have an entirely home-bred team.

All things considered the boys from Laos looked extremely relaxed during their warm up; sixteen of the squad have never left the capital city Vientiane, let alone been overseas and they also can’t have failed to notice at the team hotel that they were far and away the smallest team of the four.

Laos

Surprisingly Laos decided to take the Philippine team on up front early on and to be fair they managed in the main to hold their own. Their front-row has all represented the national senior team already and although not the biggest of units, their technique is such that they shaded the scrums in the first half.

Frustratingly for the Philippine coaching team scrum-half Andrew Farrer took twenty minutes to be convinced that the best way to score tries was to provide quick clean ball to what has to be the best centre partnership the under 20’s has seen since David Carmen and Matt Saunders in 2006. Matt’s brother Ben, already a seasoned international player and Ned Stephenson really does look ‘the goods’ and by half-time they had scored a hat-trick between them to put the Philippines 19-0 ahead.

Philippines

Shortly after half-time Saunders scored his third and to be honest, with any space conceded at all, Laos had no answer to his pace and changes of direction. An accusation of selfishness could maybe be levelled at Farrer, however the lad has the fastest feet in the tournament, an ever improving service and a self belief that will allow him to make game winning breaks. Whether he will chance his arm around the fringes so often against the bigger Iranian back-row is debatable, but for all the shouts of ‘let the ball out’ from the sidelines, he constantly looks dangerous.

Throughout the second period tries were scored with regularity. Farrer got his just deserts, Stephenson got a second and with head coach Matt Cullen ringing the changes, Buchel, Aloda and Avondo all scored, having been introduced from the bench.

Nine tries in total, all bar one converted and an unanswered 61 point haul. Matt Cullen was clearly pleased, but he knows only too well that the hard yards are yet to come.

A national debut of note was made by Brent schoolboy Orlando Olvera, a tight-head prop in the mould of Gareth Chilcott of the England side of the eighties. Solid and visibly growing in confidence, he has been elevated from bit-part school team player, to corner stone of the national pack in very short time. I for one think he will quietly rise to the occasion.

Laos were valiant, but ultimately totally outmuscled and finished the game with several players needing medical attention. What will concern them most of all is that they have yet to face two very physical packs in Pakistan and Laos.

The second game of the evening was an entirely different kettle of fish. To come straight to the point, the Iranian pack are massive, in height, weight and all round physical presence.

Their game plan was not difficult to work out and they did not deviate from it often; why would they when Pakistan seemed entirely happy to go blow for blow with them. Both teams not only favoured the pick and drive, they absolutely relished it and the defensive work around the fringes by both sets of forwards was both well organised and committed. Expansive play did not seem to be on the evening’s agenda and little comment can be made regarding the attacking or defensive capabilities of either side’s back line based on last night’s viewing.

Iran had one period of over fifteen minutes where they were camped inside the Pakistan 22, indeed much of it was spent on their line and yet Pakistan did not capitulate. With no intention of over-committing they routinely allowed Iran to win the ball and then stopped the ball carrier dead in his tracks.

Pakistan (green) and Iran (red) contest a line-out

It was Pakistan, against the run of play that scored first and opened up a seven point advantage. This was to be fairly short-lived though as Iran, with a try through hooker Mohammadreza Mirzamohammadi, which was duly converted, levelled the game at 7-7. A successful Iran penalty meant that it was they who were shading the game at 10-7 at the break.

The second half was no less brutal than the first and the Philippines will be praying that these two have taken some of the sting out of each other. Towards the latter part of the game Iran exerted some dominance, as the Pakistan players finally started to tire. Two more tries were added through Hamed Nobarieskandani and Ali Nazari and a final score of 22-7 probably did not do justice to Pakistan’s yeoman efforts.

Iran

Thursday will see Laos take on Pakistan, who will be keen to register a win and stay in contention and the Philippines take on Iran. The senior team took 61 minutes to get on the scoreboard against Iran in July and I expect this game could be just as close. Iran will need to expand their repertoire to trouble the Philippines, as right now the local lads know that they just need to muscle up, achieve parity and let loose their quicksilver three-quarters. Muscling up, that’s the key; some of the local lads will not have taken on physical specimens like these and they will have to find that inner resolve and pride necessary to put their bodies on the line.

We await tomorrow’s games with relish.

Images courtesy: Trish Somera and Sam Chittick

This article is also available in the following Country/s. Philippines, Pakistan, Iran