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.”
