Brad Janes is confident the UAE can bounce back from their opening night humbling in the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) when they face South Korea on Saturday.
The national team were soundly beaten 43-10 by Hong Kong in the first fixture of the campaign at The Sevens, Dubai at the weekend.
History suggested the game was likely to be tough for the home team. Hong Kong have won the past five ARCs, and are the favourites to claim the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifying place which is on offer to the winners of this year’s tournament.
However, the UAE had entered the competition full of optimism after a fine performance last season, when they finished second for the first time.
That result encouraged the UAE Rugby Federation to arrange an unprecedented programme of matches to ready them for this ARC, given the prize on offer.
The winners qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runners-up will also enter a system of repechage games for the final place at that event.
The national team have had matches against Zimbabwe and Germany, as well as a tour to Kenya in preparation for the Hong Kong fixture. But they then fell flat when the ARC kicked off.
Janes scored the lone try, as the UAE briefly threatened to fight back from a nervy start, only for Hong Kong to assert their class thereafter.
The Jebel Ali Dragons flanker was not downcast after the defeat, though, and says there will be an improvement when they face Korea in Incheon on Saturday.
“This was our first 80 minutes together as a squad,” Janes said. “We went to Kenya, which was a great challenge, but it was a bit disjointed being three 30-minute sections with rotating teams.
“This is our first platform to build off. Taking that in mind, there are positives to work with. There were good things.
“When we come to kick-off against Korea next week, that warming-up period should be out the way. We should be hitting the ground running.”
Janes’ personal performance was the most obvious positive for the national team. On debut, the openside flanker made yards every time he carried the ball, as was best shown when he powered over for the home side’s only try.
“Brad was outstanding,” Jacques Benade, the UAE coach, said. “He is a workhorse, and he used his feet well in the contact area.
“He is not the biggest boy, but when he carries, we actually make yards. We need to learn from that in what we are doing, because we do have the carriers. [Hong Kong’s] defence was well organised, but it is something we need to fix.”
Benade will be glad to have been able to call Janes into the side for his competitive debut. He has been one of the leading loose forwards in the domestic game in recent seasons, and has just become eligible under World Rugby’s residency rules.
“It is a great opportunity and privilege to be in the national team with the boys now,” Janes said.
“It has always been an aspiration of mine since I arrived [in Dubai]. I knew a couple of the boys from the Dragons were playing, and it was something I looked up to.
“I had a goal in mind and I am happy to reach here, play for the national team, and represent the UAE. It is such an amazing opportunity and I am super grateful. Just to be here representing the country is such an honour.
“The management have given us the confidence to go after it, and that is what we are going to do next week.”
Benade says his side need to work harder if they are to turn around their fortunes against the Koreans, who won their opening game against Sri Lanka.
“Our work rate wasn’t good enough,” Benade said. “You decide how quick you want to make that game. Are we going to get set fast? Are we going to get in positions where we need to be?
“Sometimes I thought we just weren’t there. It is a lot of hard work. We have a big pack, but if you play a big pack you have to dominate the set piece.
“We will learn from this and get better. There are a lot of things we can do in the next few sessions.”
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:
Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)
Date of birth: October 8, 1993
Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland
Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)
Career prize money: $13,928,719
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TOURNAMENT INFO
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Thursday results
UAE beat Kuwait by 86 runs
Qatar beat Bahrain by five wickets
Saudi Arabia beat Maldives by 35 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, third-place playoff – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
3pm, final – UAE v Qatar
South Africa's T20 squad
Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
