“We really want to bring this one to Guyana” – Coach Adonis
By Akeem Greene
With one goal in mind, to win, Guyana’s National Rugby team, the Green Machine will depart today to play host Mexico in the final of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s Championship and 2019 World Cup Qualifier on October 1.
Head Coach Lawrence Adonis
Over the past weeks the team has been involved in intense training sessions under the watchful eyes of head coach Lawrence Adonis and most recently Argentine scrum specialist Diego Giannantonio and according to Adonis the ruggers are confident and ready to do battle in Mexico City.
Speaking to Guyana Times Sport on Monday after team’s final practice session at the National Park Rugby Field, Adonis said “We are very confident, because we have been doing a lot of work and since Diego has been here he has straighten out some techniques in the weak areas and the guys have been working well; I think once we handle the high altitude, we should be okay in that game”.
Adonis added, “We really need this one, most of the times the teams from the north has been hugging the sweet and we really want to bring this one to Guyana; One thing with this team, they might be going at a sleep pace and soon as it close to game time everybody gets hungry and is ready to go out there and get a victory”.
The Agrentine coach was integrated into the team to help oil the Green Machine’s rusty scrums and the head coach is pleased with the improvement.
“It has been showing, especially some of the areas especially the work on the ground work with balls has been really working for us but there is still more the players need to understand,” Adonis disclosed.
The coach further stated, “It has even been suggested that the fronts and second row players get the right type of boots so they can be able to hold and push a lot better in the scrum”.
Commenting on the squad composition, Adonis revealed that they have been dealt a serious blow with the loss of Kevin Mckenzie due to a broken thumb but firmly believes that there is still a wealth of experience in the squad.
Mexico and Guyana earned their way into the Rugby Americas North Final by winning the North and South Zone qualifiers respectively. Las Serpientes completed a comfortable 39-3 and 75-10 wins over the Bahamas and Bermuda before being challenged by Cayman Islands but still managed to win 34-24.
The Green Machine also had three convincing wins out of three; they started off by defeating Barbados 49-17 which was followed by a 23-5 win over Jamaica. They then snatched a 23-18 win against Trinidad and Tobago.
The local ruggers have leaped nine places to 47 (their highest world ranking) after three wins in the tourney and should they defeat Mexico they will face the South American B Championship winner in November
The squad reads: Richard Staglon (Captain), Avery Corbin (vice-captain), Jason Tyrell, Rondell McArthur, Patrick King, Rickford Cummings, Kevon David, Reign Dey, Jose Felicien, Dwayne Schroeder, Jamal Angus, Ryan Gonsalves, Lancelot Adonis, Peabo Hamilton, Osei McKenzie, Ronald Mayers, Vallon Adams, Godfrey Broomes, Blaise Bailey, Elwin Chase, Cyon Kitt, Trevin Selman, Dane Parks.
Officials: Lawrence Adonis (Head coach), Diego Giannantonio (Argentine scrum specialist), Kenneth Grant Stuart (Assistant Coach), Robin Roberts (Manager) and Phillip Barrington (Physio).
