Hong Kong vs. Germany- Repechage

Canada defeated Kenya 65-19 in the first match of the World Rugby Repechage at Stade Delort in Marseille, France. Hong Kong then faced Germany in the second match of the day with Germany emerging with a 26-9 win. The repechage tournament represents the last chance to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Hong Kong, Canada, Kenya, and Germany are competing in a round-robin format event to be played across three match days on Sunday 11 November, Saturday 17 November and Friday 23 November 2018. The winner will slot into Pool B at RWC 2019 alongside defending champions New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, and Namibia.

Recap

Germany started strong from the onset of the match going through 13 phases before being penalized for holding on in the breakdown 5-meters from the line.

After back and forth play by both sides, Hong Kong’s Salom Yiu had a long break that moved the team within Germany’s 22-meters. Soon after, Germany was penalized and flyhalf Matt Rosslee slotted the kick for a 3-0 lead.

Hong Kong was then cited for a scrum infraction as Germany drove forward, but Raynor Parkinson’s kick was wide.

Germany has had 70% of the possession and played in Hong Kong territory for the first quarter of the match, but Hong Kong’s defense and some mistakes by Germany, have impacted scoring opportunities.

Finally, in the 22nd minute, Germany knotted the match at 3 all after a Parkinson kick.

Hong Kong placed Germany under pressure from a lineout at midfield as Salom Yiu took an inside channel and the team advanced the ball to within a couple meters of the line. After a penalty by Germany, Hong Kong elected to go for points and Matt Rosslee’s kick gave the team a 6-3 lead.

Salom Yiu had his third break of the match getting to within 2-meters of the line as Germany made a try-saving tackle and then poached the ball at the breakdown and cleared.

Germany advanced the ball to within meters from the line, before a Hong Kong penalty for collapsing a maul resulted in Christopher Hilsenbeck kick to tie the match at 6 all.

Hong Kong again placed Germany under pressure taking a quick tap off a penalty and after a break, went through phases before a handling error thwarted their attack within 5-meters of the line.

The first half ended with each team kicking two penalties for a 6-6 tie. Both teams had their chances to score tries, but each time came up short. Possession and territory were about equal during the half.

Second Half

After a scrum infraction by Hong Kong in the 49th minute, the tie was broken as Raynor Parkinson slotted a kick and Germany took their first lead the match, 9-6.

Hong Kong then had a quality attack with several players effectively stepping and finding gaps in the defense. A penalty by Germany, then allowed Matt Rosslee to knot the match at 9 all.

Then it was Germany’s turn to attack and they advanced to within 10-meters of the line before a stolen lineout allowed Hong Kong to clear. The attack by Germany continued and ended with another Parkinson penalty kick to take a 12-9 lead.

From the restart, Germany drove forward and a maul infraction by Kane Boucaut, resulted in the Hong Kong player to be sent to the bin. Germany then advanced to within 5-meters of the line, but Hong Kong’s tenacious defense created a turnover. A penalty by Germany then allowed Hong Kong to relieve pressure through a clearance kick.

Soon after, Germany stole a Hong Kong lineout and German hooker Kurt Haupt scored the first try of the match in the 67th minute. Parkinson then slotted the conversion to push the lead to 19-9.

Germany had another chance to add to their points, but the penalty kick by Jamie Lee Murphy was wide.

Germany then capped off the day with a try by Matthias Schösser and a conversion by Parkinson for a 26-9 win over Hong Kong.

The win by the 29th ranked Germany over 21st ranked Hong Kong will create a ranking shift, but it sets up a key match on November 17 against 23rd ranked Canada, which could potentially decide the repechage winner.

Hong Kong will play 28th ranked Kenya prior to that match.

Germany scored the only tries of the match, with Kurt Haupt scoring his first in his international debut.

Squads

Hong Kong: 1 Dan Barlow, 2 Dayne Jans, 3 Grant Kemp, 4 James Cunningham (capt.), 5 Jack Delaforce, 6 Michael Parfitt, 7 Mike Coverdale, 8, Thomas Lamboley, 9 Liam Slatem, 10 Matt Rosslee, 11 Conor Hartley, 12 Max Woodward, 13 Tyler Spitz, 14 Salom Yiu, 15 Casey Stone16 Ben Roberts, 17 Ben Higgins, 18 Jack Parfitt, 19 Fin Field, 20 Kane Boucaut, 21 Bryn Phillips, 22 Jamie Hood, 23 Lewis Warner

Germany: 1 Julius Nostadt, 2 Kurt Haupt, 3 Samy Füchsel, 4 Michael Poppmeier (capt.), 5 Eric Marks, 6 Sebastian Ferreira, 7 Jaco Otto, 8 Jarrid Els, 9 Sean Armstrong, 10 Raynor Parkinson, 11 Mathieu Ducau, 12 Jamie Murphy, 13 Wynston Cameron-Dow, 14 Marcel Coetzee, 15 Christopher Hilsenbeck 16 Dasch Barber, 17 Matthias Schösser, 18 Jörn Schröder, 19 Timo Vollenkemper, 20 Ayron Schramm, 21 Tim Menzel, 22 John Dawe, 23 Carlos Soteras-Merz

Repechage Schedule Preview