Sri Lanka should have it easy against Malaysia

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Sri Lanka which scored a morale-boosting 26-10 win over China in the curtain-raiser of the Singer Rugby Asiad should go on the rampage when they confront lowly placed Malaysia in their last Group 'B' match of the Cup Championship at CR and FC Grounds, Longden Place at 4.00 p.m. today.

Malaysia, the weakest team in the Cup Championship surrendered meekly to China on Monday losing by 56 points to 6 and have the herculean task of containing the Lankans who will be hell-bent on going on a scoring spree and storm into the final of the Rugby Asiad which has eluded them for 33 years having last entered the final in 1974.

The Sri Lankans are likely to make a few changes for today's game to give the much needed exposure to the players who did not play against China.

The Sri Lankan forwards gave a terrific display on Saturday and should once again reign supreme in the loose.

No. 8 Dushanth Lewke was the pick of the Lankan forwards and stood out in both attack and defence and was well supported by Imran Bisthamin, Jeewa Galgamuwa, Senthil Kumar, Ashen Karthelis and Shamil Mohamed and they should come up with another sterling display today.

The Lankan three-quarters should make the maximum use of the 'good ball' which comes their way.

They have a superb halves combination in Anjad Buksh and Fazil Marija while centre Lasintha de Costa who had a good game against China should slice through the Malaysian defence, but the biggest threat to the opponents will be posed by wingers Sanjeeva Jayasinghe and Lakala Perera with their powerful runs down the flanks with full back Radhika Hettiarachchi joining the line to form the overlap.

The Malaysians gave a pathetic display on Monday, but they will have to come up with a vastly improved performance if they hope to prevent the Lankans from going on a scoring spree.

The teams

Sri Lanka: Jeewa Galgamuwa (Captain), Senthil Kumar or Achala Perera, Shamil Mohamed, Senaka Bandara, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Imran Bisthamin, Ashen Karthelis or Kasun de Silva, Dushanth Lewke or Sumedha Malewana, Amjad Buksh or Saliya Kumara and Fazil Marija, Sanjeeva Jayasingha, Lasintha de Costa, Avantha Hettiarachchi or Niroshan Karunanayake, Lakala Perera, Radhika Hettiarachchi.

Malaysia: Mohamed Razak, Faiz Bin Ali, Shahiz Fullran, Izmin Abdul Hamid, Mohamed Bin Hamid, Mohamed Salelbin, Mohamed Amin, Sulaiman Yaakop, Razak Bin Abdul and Jasmiza Jasme, Raineo Mansur, Sherif Mohamed, Hirman Jeval, Hashim Hussin, Ehsan Mannan.

Kazakhstan-Chinese Taipei

Asia's fourth ranked team Kazakhstan who turned in a power-packed display on Saturday to score a resounding 69-21 win over Thailand should have no difficulty in entering the final by overcoming Chinese Taipei in their final Group 'A' match at the same venue at 2.20 p.m. today.

A victory over Chinese Taipei would see the Central Asian nation entering a Rugby Asiad final for the first time having entered the big league only a few years ago.