Hussain’s boys ready for big test
As Indian skipper Nasser Hussain jokingly tried to measure up against his towering 7’5” Chinese counterpart Ma Bing, it depicted the gulf separating the two rugby playing nations. A gulf that Hussain and his boys have been trying hard to fill.
The teams will come face-to-face in the opening encounter of the Asian 5 Nations Rugby Division II here on Tuesday, and Hussain is well aware of the enormity of the challenge.
“A lot is at stake. The tournament provides a pathway for Indian rugby as we aspire to get to the top,” said Hussain here on Tuesday. “It is a home event and we are prepared well.”
The four-nation tournament is a test event for the October Commonwealth Games, with the winner being promoted to Division I. Thailand and Philippines are the other two teams in the tournament.
The Indians had a rare opportunity to train with top-ranked New Zealand, in their run-up to this event. The squad had exclusive sessions under famed Kiwi coach Gordon Tietjens, and even got a chance to film the world beaters’ training session. “The New Zealand tour was planned in view of this particular test event, and the Commonwealth Games thereafter. It was a massive learning experience. I would love to see the boys translate the hard work on the field in the coming months.
“I know we cannot be counted up there at the moment, but as a captain I am looking to create a few upsets here, and in the Commonwealth Games. That will be quite a start,” he said.
From losing their first ever international 0-85 to Singapore in 1998 to beating Pakistan 92-0 in a recent encounter, India have begun to take their first steps in the sport.
Said Hussain, who played under his father Aga Hussain’s captaincy in the opening match in 1998, “It stands as my best memory. We have had quite a journey since then. The sport has grown in the country, we have a larger pool of players... a pathway has been created I would say.”
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