The UAE coach Apollo Perelini hailed the character of the team after their late showing earned victory over the Conference Barbarians on Friday.
With the UAE five points down entering the final quarter, they upped the tempo to score four tries en route to a 36-24 triumph.
It was the perfect test for Perelini and his players to respond from a losing position, and gives them plenty of confidence ahead of their final warm-up game against a strong Premiership XV selection next Friday.
Perelini said: “The last 15 minutes, I said ‘we need to learn how to grind out results’. I wanted to see their character. I know we were down, but I said to not worry and focus on the processes. The outcome will look after itself. Just do the things we need to do to win.
“Our platforms weren’t good. You can’t build pressure from bad platforms. We have a lot to work on, but I was impressed by their character to grind out the last 15 minutes.”
With three weeks until the squad depart for the Asia Rugby Championships in Malaysia, the two warm-up matches will provide them with the perfect opportunity to get in the right mindset.
REPORT: Late tries earn victory for @uaerugby over Conference Barbarians
— Sport360° (@Sport360) April 21, 2017
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“At the moment, they are not quite bonding together or playing for each other. They are all individuals trying to play as a team, but we are not fulfilling the structures that we are working on,” added Perelini.
“We will analyse and get better. We need these games. I couldn’t have asked for a better game.”
Much will be discussed this week at training, allowing Perelini and his players to tighten up the set-piece and their attacking and defensive structures. Five of Perelini’s current team will be dropped after the game next Friday, as he looks to trim his team to 27.
“We are now able to see where we need to be. We’ll analyse our set pieces. I wanted to see where our set pieces lay,” said Perelini.
