Former Sri Lanka winger Chandrishan Perera says that the 132-10 licking given to Sri Lanka by Asian rugby giants Japan last Saturday in Nagoya had proved that the island nation has a big mountain to climb in terms of fifteens rugby in the region.
Perera speaking to Ceylon Today in the wake of the record loss suffered by Sri Lanka said that despite the hammering, newcomers in the team will be better for it having come through a baptism of fire in Test rugby.
He however warned that the sport’s keepers here the SLRFU will need to charter a new course if Sri Lanka is to survive in the Asian Five Nations.
If a solid professional programme is initiated then it would allow the islanders to stake a claim for glory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup with Japan being the host, he observed.
“The outcome in Nagoya for me basically defined where Sri Lanka stands in world rugby,” Perera, a household name in his pomp and a popular television commentator said.
“Though, I could not see the game, as I was commentating on the Brady, it was evident that the game was a mismatch from the get go. The physicality of the Japanese forward pack including their power game had been too much for our boys and it had resulted in the lop-sided nature of the game. But, I hope those players who were out there on the deck would have gone through a baptism of fire and they will be better for it.”
Asked whether there would be any mental scars from the game for Sri Lanka before hosting Philippines in Colombo on next Saturday, Perera said he was not sure as to how the side would respond.
He noted that probably Sri Lanka might have enough fuel in the tank to see off the Volcanoes but insisted that it was imperative that they confine the demoralising result against Japan to history and bring their ‘A’ game to the Philippines tie at Race Course on May 17.
“I presume our boys might just have the arsenal to repulse the Philippines,” the former CH & FC star wing added.
“I also do not know the precise situation on the injury front and depending on those types of things they need to take their mind away from the Japanese game and have a good rest and then recharge their batteries for one big crack at Philippines. But, the big picture is for the SLRFU to now itself fast–track a professional programme to keep our boys in shape with the aim of having a crack at a slot at the 2019 RWC. For that they need big investments and other stakeholders to join the scrum big time because time will not standstill.”
He also said that in his heart he would still say that what suits best for Sri Lanka will be the 7’s version of the game.
Perera maintained that unless those saddled with the task of guiding the destiny of SL rugby understand what the fifteens is about, on the evidence of the outcome against Japan, it was futile to even think of any rewarding future in it.
Japan stayed on course for its seventh straight Asian 5 Nations title and more importantly its eighth successive appearance at a Rugby World Cup following a 132-10 thrashing of Sri Lanka on Saturday. (JK)
