Must-Win Clash: Hong Kong China vs Madagascar in WXV3 2024!

In a thrilling showdown on Friday, October 4, 2024, the Hong Kong China Women’s rugby team faces off against Madagascar for their second fixture in WXV3 2024. With their hopes of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup 2025 at stake, this match is a critical must-win for the HKCR ladies at the Emirates Stadium in Dubai.

This encounter is historic, marking the first-ever test match between the two teams. Both sides entered the WXV3 tournament with disappointing losses in their first fixtures, with Hong Kong succumbing to Fiji with a score of 3-38, while Madagascar faced a heavy defeat from Spain, finishing at 0-83.

Madagascar earned their place in this tournament by reaching the finals of the 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, where they stunned Kenya but ultimately fell short against South Africa. Their preparations included a challenging test match against Kenya prior to their journey to Dubai, where they were overrun 19-63.

Head Coach Andrew Douglas has made strategic changes to the starting lineup, introducing Georgia Rivers, Chan Hiu Tung, and Mei Nam into the squad, with Karen So, Lucia Bolton, and Hoi Laam making way. While the core of the team remains intact, Douglas is confident that these adjustments will bolster their chances against Madagascar.

In a pre-match statement, Douglas emphasized the importance of moving forward from the loss against Fiji: “We have to absorb the lessons learned and are looking forward to this new challenge against Madagascar. The team has been engaging in some deep reflection, and we hope to translate that into a positive performance on the field.”

Captain Pun Wai Yan expressed her team's readiness for the challenge ahead: “We’re excited to showcase our potential on the world stage and are fully committed to fighting for the entire 80 minutes. This week has been pivotal in building our confidence.”

The Hong Kong pack had difficulties against the physicality of Fiji, particularly in the lineouts, which were disrupted multiple times. Veteran forward Tammy Lau Nga-wun addressed these concerns, stating, “While Madagascar might have the physical edge, we believe speed and tactical play will be our advantages. I can’t wait to test our capabilities against them.”

Fullback Sabay Lynam is eager to see improvements in their attacking strategy: “I hope we can exploit the wings more effectively, which could shift the dynamics of our game. We’re determined to seize more opportunities than we did against Fiji.”

Despite Madagascar's previous struggle, center Valisoa Razanakiniana made an impressive 18 tackles in their last match, underscoring her defensive skills.

As the teams prepare to face off, Hong Kong China holds a world ranking of 18th, while Madagascar is positioned at 25th according to World Rugby.

Stay tuned for exciting updates on this must-watch encounter, which promises to be a thrilling demonstration of talent and grit on the rugby field! The match will be available for fans to watch via RugbyPass TV and local broadcasters—an event not to be missed!