Sri Lanka Rugby Sevens Coach Hisham Abdeen says his players are a courageous lot and wouldn’t be unnerved at the thought of playing against New Zealand in the team’s first match at the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens.

"I keep telling them that the All Blacks are humans after all and we too can do what they do on the field. What we’ve got to do is attack without losing the ball," Abdeen told The Island.

Abdeen highlighted the team’s tackling as the most significant improvement he has seen in the players. "There was a lot of emphasis on tackling during every training session. If we lose the ball, we need to fall back, tackle and recover it," said Abdeen who added that his players would run the ball at every given opportunity against the All Blacks.

Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia and Zimbabwe will form one of the groups in the Hong Kong Sevens which will be worked off in Hong Kong from March 27-29. He rates this group as the toughest in the Hong Kong Sevens tournament.

Abdeen said that the team had a blend of both experience and youth and added it was encouraging to have the services of Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who is credited with scoring a try against New Zealand, in international sevens rugby. "The boys need to be courageous and believe in themselves," emphasized Abdeen.

He praised the approach of new skipper Fazil Marija towards leading the side and added, "He is cool customer. That’s what’s expected of a captain. He is showing all the potential of becoming a very good leader," said Abdeen.

He also had high praise for new players Sajith Saranga of Kandy SC and Airmen Chanaka Chandimal. "Saranga is so fast he can play both as a prop and winger in sevens rugby," he said. Abdeen said he has been presented with a balanced side.

He said he would count on the experience that the seniors carry. "Some have been touring with the sevens team for 4-5 years and all the seniors have reached the peak of their career. This would definitely be a strong point of the side," he said.

Abdeen said that the team had had enough practice and added that the two domestic tournaments held before the Hong Sevens had certainly helped in the preparations.

Asked for his comments about Sri Lanka’s chances against Zimbabwe he said, "I know very little about Zimbabwe. All I can say is that they move the ball around fast. I’ll be watching them closely when they play their first few matches in Hong Kong".

This year’s Hong Kong Sevens Tournament will be significant for Abdeen because it marks 25 years since his team won the Bowl Championship Trophy in 1984. "This year’s trip to Hong Kong is sure to bring back nostalgic memories for me. Twenty five years ago I captained the side and the team won a trophy. This year I am going as coach to the same venue and wish the team would be able to have a memorable outing," he said.

Abdeen also thanked the contributions made by the Team Manager Imthie Marikar, the rugby administrators, National Coach George Simpkins and the team’s physiotherapist W. Dharmaratne for chipping in with contributions. "The boys have been trained well, provided with the best nutrition and are happy," said Abdeen.

The squad

Fazil Marija (Captain), Mohammed Sheriff, Gayan Weeraratne, Sajith Saranga, Saliya Kumara, Pradeep Liyanage and Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Radeeka Hettiarachchi, Dinusha Chathuranga, Dilanka Wijesekara, Suranga Arunashantha and Chanaka Chandimal.