Win predictor Wesley 51 % Isipathana 49 %
Script by Brian Thomas
Edited by Christopher Jordashe
Scrum and engage with SriLanka sports. Com.
Isipathana sadly had to cope with injuries and even viral health infections in the past few weeks. Hence the brand of rugby they displayed has not been upto expectation or plan. Wesley on the other hand, seems more settled as a team unit because their win against the previous Peterite champion outfit, displayed their complete dominance in the second half and we rate them slightly ahead of Isipathana.
Isipathana after Lemons tend to reduce their agression and have lacked fluency unlike the knockouts where they played like terriers until that last whistle.They must also add those vital points in the 2nd half when available and need to rectify the set backs in this crunch game.
Their brand of sucking the energy levels of the opponents’ forwards and setting their fast three-quarter line in motion has been lacking due to some recurring injuries with their key centres.
A SWOT analysis of Wesley vs. Isipatana.
S = Strength
Isipathana has a strong set of mobile forwards and is quick on breakdowns , excellent in pick and drives. However analysis with a close eye on their territory gain on mauls lacks intent at times. The green machines are the best as a unit in line outs,giving good ball to their three quarter line.
Skipper Dodangwala is an exceptional line out specialists. Their threes have the capability of passing quick and attacking with their penetrative centres/wings..
Wesley is a perfect example of playing very orthodox rugby , they possess excellent defence skill levels that have starved, many an opponent from getting over their white wash under tense circumstances. Wesley has also improved in using their three-quarter line who play a pivotal role, especially full back Hadhi, a very deceptive runner when creating the over lap. Wesley might come second best in pick and drives against Isipathana, but they will be very productive in turnover ball from rucks.
W = Weakness
Isipathana seems to slumber after lemons. Their line defence gets vulnerable, this was proved not only against their loss against St Thomas’ but also Dharmaraja, in which they leaked 14 points. Against Zahira, 19 points and against Kingswood, they tightened their defence and did better giving away only 10 points. Isipathana tends to lose gas after Lemons as observed..They must maintain the same urgency in the breakdowns as these are important facets of the game until 70 minutes.
Wesley, on the other hand, must throw caution to the wind when defending territorial kicks , they seem to get into an over intent mode that succumb to unforced errors, that’s due to spreading the ball a shade too early for a three-quarter move even when circumstances warrants a forwards move option. Correct decisions are key in crunch games as you will not get many oppurtunities to score.
Wesley is similar to Isipathana at times and shows lack of intent in defence in the back line.
T = Threat
If Isipathana gets a tag on and play their brand of rugby using their mobile forwards and suck the energy out of the double blues, Isipathana could then use their line speed, which obviously has not been upto par recently , well if they click , Wesley will see a rabbit out of the Isipathana hat.
Isipathana will mentally face the Wesley threat of being an unbeaten side that has conceded fewer points than them in defence. Back of their minds , they lost to St Thomas due sheer lack of defence of their back line but also lost the battle upfront.
Wesley are exquisite in defence and Isipathana faces the threat of a do or die defence mode of Wesley in the fringes.
Finally, before we get a view from our third eye, Tony Amit , let’s read how both teams faired in round 1.
Isipathana beat Ananda in their key opener by 32 points to 12 but conceeded a goal and a try . They were tested by Kingswood, conceeding 22 points but winning by 32 points. Zahira gave them a run for their money, scoring 27 points after leading by 26 points to 8 at Lemons. Dharmaraja scored 14 points in the second half after being led 20 points to 5 at the breather but their only loss was to the Thomians who beat them after 16 long years by 36 points to 24.
Wesley is unbeaten in the league so far. Thumped Science College by 63 points to 15 , the DONS by 29 points to 10 , beat St Anthony’s by 24 points to 8 , they drowned Ananda by 43 points to 11, and their exquisite win against defending champions St Peters by 23 points to 8 keeps them in the top bracket alongside Trinity and St Thomas’.
Views from our third eye, Tony Amit who needs no introduction to the Rugby fraternity. He states a win predictor of 55 % to Wesley to 45 % to Isipathana. He stated the green machine is coming off in patches, which he feels is appalling, knowing their skill levels
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