DUBAI // Alistair Thompson, the UAE captain, insists his side have no psychological scars from the two hefty defeats they suffered against Hong Kong last year.
The two foes meet again today in the opening match of the 2012 Asian Five Nations, just five months after the visitors dealt the UAE a 72-14 trouncing in the Emirates Cup of Nations in Dubai.
These countries are no strangers to each other. They met in the first ever Five Nations fixture in Al Ain four years ago, when Hong Kong edged out the home side 20-12.
The last time Hong Kong visited this region for a Five Nations fixture they suffered a shock defeat, as a Jonny Macdonald breakaway try earned victory for the Arabian Gulf - the forebears of the UAE - in Bahrain in 2010.
They have been unrelenting in exacting revenge since, notching up over 130 points in the course of two victories over the national team in 2011.
However, while Hong Kong have retained the nucleus of the side who swept them to second place in last year's tournament, the UAE have few players who experienced last year's travails.
Duncan Hall, the new performance manager, handed debuts to 10 new players in their bruising warm-up Test match in Tunisia earlier this month.
And Thompson insists the few survivors from the Cup of Nations in the UAE side have plenty of motivation to erase the memory of that collective torment.
"A lot of the new faces coming in haven't been on the receiving end of that," said the No 8, who made his international debut in the 72-14 loss at the end of last year.
"It was a skeleton crew in that tournament. Although our squad is not huge at present, we are more comfortable with each other now.
"In terms of psychological scars, the players who played in that game are not scarred in any way. We are just keen to put wrongs right."
Just two players in the UAE line-up today know what success against Hong Kong feels like.
Sean Hurley and Steve Smith, the two wingers who survive from the Gulf's victory in Bahrain in 2010, have each shelved thoughts of retirement to commit for another campaign. Hurley, the versatile Jebel Ali Dragon, is closing in on the representative caps record for a player in this region, currently held by Mark Gathercole, the former Dubai Exiles prop who played 43 times for the Arabian Gulf.
Mike Riley, Gathercole's former front-row partner for club and country, also remains keen on adding to his own haul of 35 appearances for the representative side, despite his absence from today's playing squad. Hurley will win his 38th cap today, and wants a win to celebrate.
"We are nothing like the team that played in December," he said.
"We are dwelling on what we have done together in the past six weeks as a team, nothing before that."
THE TEAMS
JAPAN
World ranking: 14
Coach: Eddie Jones
Prospects: Have never lost a match in the four Asian Five Nations tournaments staged to date. Since beating the UAE by 111 points last year, they have played at a World Cup and brought in Eddie Jones, the former Australia coach, to replace John Kirwan.
HONG KONG
World ranking: 26
Coach: Leigh Jones
Prospects: Cemented their status as the best of the pack chasing Japan with an impressive display last year, and then won the Emirates Cup of Nations in Dubai in December. Ever present in the top flight since the 2008 inception of the Five Nations.
UAE
World ranking: Not ranked
Coach: Duncan Hall
Prospects: A win and a draw last year was enough to secure a solid enough third-place finish, even though the national team's points differential was the worst in the tournament. Wholesale changes include a new coach and captain this time around.
KAZAKHSTAN
World ranking: 30
Coach: Valery Popov
Prospects: Only just survived a relegation battle with Sri Lanka last season, which suggested the rapid advance Kazakh rugby had made in recent years had slowed. They face another nervous campaign as this year's Five Nations is stronger than ever.
SOUTH KOREA
World ranking: 31
Coach: Kim Myung Joo
Prospects: Korea spent years as the undisputed No 2 in Asian rugby behind their neighbours in Japan, then were shocked when the Arabian Gulf consigned them to relegation from the top flight in 2010. They bounced back at the first time of asking.
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The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
The specs: Volvo XC40
Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Try out the test yourself
Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
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How%20I%20connect%20with%20my%20kids%20when%20working%20or%20travelling
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
