They are Gulf Top Six champions, are playing at home and beat Abu Dhabi Saracens a few weeks ago – but Doha head coach Aaron Palmer believes the West Asia Cup final is finely poised.
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The New Zealander knows Doha hold the upper hand but believes his team underestimate their opponents at their peril.
“I wouldn’t say we’re outright favourites, it’s one-all in games. Playing at home is obviously an advantage, and one we’re happy to have,” he said.
“Saracens are a good team and have shown immense consistency all year. They have a very good forward pack – they’re bloody monsters – and will use that to their advantage, but they have a great combination at scrum-half and fly-half and their centres are dangerous. There’s been lots of talk about them buying in players, but we’re all expats so we’ve all been brought in from somewhere.”
Expecting quite a crowd… pic.twitter.com/tuX4oe3do0
— doharugby (@doharugby) March 16, 2015
Doha beat Dubai Hurricanes in the final of the West Asia Cup four years ago but had never won the GT6 until this year.
“Winning the GT6 is pretty prestigious. We’re pretty happy with that and now we’re hoping to top the season off,” said Palmer. Second row Liam Griffin returns from concussion and No8 Tom Booth should recover from a knee injury, with the GT6 champions at virtually full strength.
Friday will also be a poignant day for Doha stalwart Liam Frost, who will be playing his last game for the club. Despite declaring himself a Manchester lad, having been born in Salford, and a Sale Sharks fan, Frost’s family have lived in the Gulf for over 30 years.
The former England schoolboy international, 31, is calling it a day after the final to concentrate on his young family.
“Liam’s a class player, and probably could and should have played Premiership rugby,” said Palmer. “He’s been at Doha since he was eight, he is Doha. This place means a lot to him so it would be nice to send him off with a win.”
