Chris Jones-Griffiths thinks the UAE rugby team have found their level – but is challenging them to hoist themselves up to become an established Division I team in Asia.
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In terms of an international presence, the UAE is a fledgling nation in the rugby world but the Falcons can soar, according to their most capped ever player. Abu Dhabi Harlequins prop Jones-Griffiths won his 20th cap in the 53-22 win over Thailand on Sunday as the UAE began a new era in Division II of the Asia Rugby Championship in promising fashion.
The veteran Quins player has been around the international set-up from the beginning and has seen some bleak days, the darkest of which was the record 111-0 mauling at the hands of Japan in May 2011. Jones-Griffiths played the full 80 minutes of that game but believes the UAE’s fortunes might just be about to change.
“In the old Five Nations we played three seasons but very much felt we were hanging on,” said Jones-Griffiths. “We were playing Japan, Hong Kong and then South Korea, all of whom had a more developed set-up than the UAE.”
After the UAE’s win over Thailand and hosts Malaysia’s 46-13 win against Chinese Taipei on Sunday, today’s game is already being billed as the Division II decider.
Any clue how to tolerate waiting until tomorrow 13:00!! @uaerugby vs. @MalaysiaRugby #Tension but confident in my men pic.twitter.com/b3aWfnPqdN
— Qais A. Al Dhalai (@QaisUAE) May 12, 2015
“In the new format I think we’ve found our level within Asia, but I still feel we should probably go on to win it,” said Jones-Griffiths. With the players we have, I feel the UAE should be targeting becoming an established Division I side.”
The Quin says he and his colleagues are confident going into today’s game. He said: “It will be the biggest test. We saw Malaysia play and they looked good, but we are confident. We grew into the game against Thailand. Now the challenge is to take that into today’s game.”
Both Jones-Griffiths and scrum-half Ed Lewsey have been named in the starting line-up by head coach Roelof Kotze, who has picked an unchanged XV for the Malaysia Test. Lewsey, a colleague of Jones-Griffiths at Quins, gained his first cap against Thailand. He celebrated with a try and is also looking forward to the game against the tournament hosts.
“Winning my first cap was a great occasion and after a scrappy first half we controlled the game,” said the former Wales age grade and students international, younger brother of England’s Rugby World Cup winner Josh.
“Today will be tougher. We saw them play Chinese Taipei and they have big ball carriers and dangerous backs. We know it’s going to be a tough challenge.”
