The national rugby team are on the right track for the June 17-21 Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Asian 5 Nations Division IV after picking up a 44-21 over the Miri Rhinos in a friendly on Sunday.
It was the team's first warm up match after being put together two weeks ago by national rugby coach Ben Bourne. Leading up to the match, the national squad have endured tough weekend trainings at the Sungai Kebun Sports Complex - where they take to the pitch three times on Fridays and Saturdays and twice on Sundays.
Team captain Muhammad Redha Hj Adinin felt that the game went well for them at the Sekolah Menengah Sains Miri. "The game plan was carried out perfectly and the score line proved that the game plan set by coach Bourne was a success," Redha told The Brunei Times.
"We dominated most part of the game, won all of our scrums and even managed to win some counter scrums, mauls and rucks. "Our forward pack played well as a unit and combined well with support play with the backs.
"The flow of the ball from one end to the other with the forwards and backs passing and offloading was the main key of success to the match. "There are still a lot of areas to work on, but personally, I feel with the help of the training camp set up by the coaches. It will help to strengthen the areas that we still need to improve on, especially cover defence.
"Credit to coach Lim Chee Wee too for our strength and conditioning training as it also played a huge factor to the team's victory," added the forward. Vice-captain Ahmed Faez Anuar praised his back line for putting on a good show during the game.
"We had some strong attacking lines and the experienced players showed their cool under pressure," said Faez. "We also have size this time around. Like our winger Md Asanuddin Timbang - who is 105kg and runs fast. He's the finisher that the coaching staff was looking for, and our centres are also strong runners too.
"As for meshing up together, it was like peaches and cream, just goes well naturally.
"I guess it's because we all have played together some time over the past years, so it wasn't too hard to get things going on in the back line.
"Probably the only concern would be in defence... We still have a few things we need to tweak regarding the defensive line, especially from broken play, but that is something we will be diligently working on for the next few weeks," added Faez.
Brunei are scheduled to play the opening match of the Asian 5 Nations against Mongolia at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex on June 17 at 8pm.
Mongolia will then go on to face Cambodia on June 19 at 4pm before Brunei close the tournament with their match against Cambodia on June at 8pm.
