Dubai Exiles coach Jacques Benade has told his players they have to prove themselves again to earn a place in the starting XV for the new season. The team enjoyed a stellar campaign last term, winning the domestic double.
While the South African cherished the achievements, those feats are now in the past and he has turned his focus on 2016-17 beginning with tomorrow’s West Asia Champions League clash against Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
The two sides meet at The Sevens in Dubai and with Sri Lanka’s Kandy also featuring in the three-team tournament, the South African insists it’s a chance for his players to make their case ahead of the new season beginning on September 23.
“Yes absolutely. I think that’s how we see these two games by giving the new guys an opportunity to play and also players who were also on the fringes a chance to get on the field,” he said. “For me, every year is a new year and if they played every game last year, it means nothing now. We are starting all over again this year.
“There will be players who played in the 2nds, who now want to play first team rugby, so I think everyone has good competition and in certain areas there is really good competition. It means the players will have to work really hard to make the starting line-up.”
The coach has nearly a full-strength squad to choose from with only two or three players missing, and expects a stern test against the “top” capital side.
“It’s an ideal opener for us,” he said. “You want to play against top teams and players. “Quins have shown they are one of the top teams, they are consistent, and will definitely be a big threat this season. I think they will be in the top-two top-three.”
Opposite number, Michael McFarlane goes into the encounter on the back of a an impressive pre-season but is not concerned of tomorrow’s opponents.
“We’ll look to experiment with a number of lads in different positions and get minutes under their belt,” he said. “I’m not really looking at any other team. All my focus and energy is into Abu Dhabi Harlequins. I’m not really concerned into what everyone else is doing.”
