Sri Lanka gave off a superb fight back, with their dazzling runs and fierce tackling to score three tries all of which were converted, but could not match their much heavier opponents especially in the set pieces and the breakdowns and conceded three goals and a try. Korea thus clinched the important third place.

In the pool stages Tuskers beat Iran and Malaysia convincingly by 31-10 and 24-10 respectively but later in the day went down fighting to the host nation Hong Kong by 27 points to 12 , after holding on to a commanding 12-5 lead early in the second half.

In the final pool match played yesterday the Sri Lankan team shocked the entire crowd present at the grounds by defeating the formidable Philippine team 50-5. Sri Lanka gave a fabulous Fijian brand of rugby to thrash their opponents and enter the Cup championship semi-finals.

In the semis Sri Lanka did not have any clue to Asian giants Japan who thrashed them 43-nil.

For Sri Lanka ex-skipper Fazil Marija, Danushka Ranjan, Shenal Dias, Anurudda Wilwara, Gayan Weeraratne, Jason Dissanayka and Kanchana Ramanayaka played their hearts out in the tournament.

Japan kept their reputation as the number one team in Asia by coming from being 0-10 down beat Hong Kong 24-10 to bag the Cup Championship enabling them to go to the Rio Olympics in 2016. Meanwhile the Chinese men won the Plate Championship thrashing Malaysia 38-5.

Sri Lankan women’s rugby team gave an improved performance by securing sixth slot when they lost to Guam 21-5 in the fifth place playoff at Hong Kong Stadium. Incidentally in the pool stages Sri Lankan women thrashed Guam 22-7.

Captain Richie McCaw returns, having recovered from the leg injury that kept him out of the All Blacks final pool game against Tonga.

He is one of four world players of the year, along with Kieran Read, Dan Carter and Brodie Retallick in a side which boasts an impressive 1,295 Test caps in total. “The big boys have to step up to the plate and the team that does this the best will move through to the next round. It’s as simple as that,” coach Steve Hansen said when naming the side on Thursday.

The selection of Nonu ahead of Williams was always going to be a close call as was choosing between Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo.

Wyatt Crockett will start at loosehead prop after Tony Woodcock’s campaign was ended by a serious hamstring strain in the All Blacks last pool match against Tonga. Joe Moody, rushed over from New Zealand to replace Woodcock, goes straight onto the bench as a specialist loosehead..

A superb second half rally saw Science College, Mount Lavinia create history by beating Isipathana College by 21 points (3 Goals) to 18 (1 Goal, 1 Try , 2 Penalties) and clinch the Milo Rugby Knock Out Trophy in the final played at the Royal Complex yesterday. Winners were trailing by 7-15 at lemons.

It was a historic moment for the lads from Mount Lavinia as this is the first time they have won a major trophy in XV side rugby.

Isipathana were out to a flying start in the first half when in the second minute of play, full back Rehan Silva received a pass from winger Asitha Punchihewa and fell over the line for an unconverted try by the left corner flag. Score 5 Nil in favour of Isipathana.

Two minutes later, Isipathana increased their lead to 8 Nil, when their fly half Isuru Kongahawatta fired across a 30 metre penalty.

Five minutes later Science College hit back when off a three quarter move, centre Tharindu Maduranga made a lovely break to score a try mid right. He added the extra points himself to close the gap to 8-7 in favour of Isipathana.

On the stroke of half time, Isipathana increased their lead when their second row forward Chathura Dilshan powered his way to touch down under the post to give their fly half Isuru Kongahawatte an easy kick at goal. And the lads from Havelock town led 15- 7 at the breather. Early in the second half, in the 12th minute of play, Pathana went ahead further when their fly half Isuru kongahawatte put over a 30 metre penalty to make it 18-7.

Science College’s fight-back began in the 22nd minute of the second half when their scrum half Hashan Madumadawa scampered through for a try under the post. Tharindu Maduranga added the extra points to make the score 18 points to 14 in favour of Isipathana. Three minutes later, Science full back Supun Dilshan scored the most extravagant try of the match, when he collected a desperate clearance kick from Isipathana fly half Isuru Kongahawatte and burst through over 30 metres to fall over mid right for a glorious try. Centre Tharindu Maduranga converted to give them a 21-18 lead.

Although Isipathana tried hard in the last ten minutes, they could not pierce the rock hard Science defence and the lads from Mount Lavinia ran out worthy winners by 21 points to 18. Referee Irshad carder controlled the game.

Vidyartha College, Kandy stored off a late rally by Ananda College to register a good 31 points (three goals, two tries) to 22 (one goal, three tries) in their William Gopallawa Shield Rugby encounter played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy. At half scores were level at 12 all.

Vidyartha College were leading 31-12 till the last 10 minute of play when the Anandians fought back to reduce the gap with two unconverted and were pressing for the third one when time ran out for them.

It was Vidyartha who opened early in the game when fly half Chathura Perera went over and added the extra points himself.

But Ananda leveled the scores through a try by flanker Sandunika Perera and this was goaled by fly half Pramuditha Pushpakumara.

Vidyartha once again took the lead when centre Geeth Madhusanka scored far left off a three quarter move. Chathura Perera missed the conversion.

Minutes before the lemon the Anandian once again leveled the scores through an unconverted try by winger Senura Jayasinghe.

Sin binning of fly half Chathura Perera saw Vidyartha being reduced to 14 players but still they managed to breads Ananda’s defence through centre Geeth Madhusan and this was goaled by winger Dilum Paradiwatte. At this stage Ananda’s Avishka MAdhushan was sent on sin bin for tackling without the ball.

Fly half Chathura back in the field scored his second try and added the extra points for Vidyartha to lead 26-12. Midway in this half winger Dilum Paradiwatte out through the Ananda defence to score by the left corner flag.

Vidyartha led 31-12.

It was at this stage that the Ananda fight back was seen.

First it was winger Sachin Manujaya and later No 8 Tharuka Senaviratne who scored unconverted tries to close the gap to 31-22. Deepal Punnyawardena refereed.

Unbeaten Isipathana College thrashed Science College Mt.Lavinia by 45 points (5 Goals , 2 tries) To 20 points ( 1 Goal, 2 Tries , 1 Penalty) at Science grounds Mt.Lavinia yesterday. Winners Isipathana led 19-3 at half time.

Isipathana started proceeding by moving into Science territory and in the 13th minute their full back Rehan De Silva scored off a beautiful three quarter move. Fly half Isuru Kongahawatte made the conversion. Isipathana took the lead 7-nil.

Within the space of four minutes isipathana scored again when their flanker Wageesha Weerasinghe went over for a try and fly half Kongahawatte made the conversion again for Isipathana to increased the lead to 14-nil.

Science fly half Nishad Niranjan put over a penalty to make the score 14-3 in favor of Isipathana.

Just before half time Isipathana scored again, off a scrum Pathana worked their line for their centre Chamod Fernando scored a try and fly half Kongahawatte missed the conversion. Isipathana went further ahead with 19 points to 3 lead. This score remained at the breather.

After the resumption Science were awarded a penalty and Science captain Lasindu Karunathilaka taking a quick tap crashed through for try. Fly half Nishad Niranjan missed the conversion. Score read 19 points to 8 in favor of Isipathana.

In the 8th minute of play off a scrum Omalka Gunaratna broke through and off load it to flanker Wageesha Weerasinghe who sprinted his way to score a try after covering 25 meters near the right corner flag. Fly half Isuru Kongahawatte put over fantastic touchline conversion. Insidentaly this guy Kongahawatte had showen a tremendous improvement in his kicking due to the recent recruitment of their kicking coach Dev Anand. Isipathana led 26 to 8.

In the 12th minute of play Pathana off a scrum their scrum half Harith Maduranga made a break and gave a beautiful inside pass to his winger Asitha Punchihewa who changed direction and went through the entire Science defence to score a try after covering nearly 35 meters. Kongahawatte missed the conversion. Isipathana 31 to Science 8.

Within the space of four minutes Science did scored a try when their captain Lasindu Karunathilaka went over off a rolling maul. Fly half Nishad Niranjan made a fantastic conversion from the touch line to reduce the gap to Isipathana 31 to science 15.

Isipathana scored soon after in the 23rd minute of play. Omalka Gunarathna made a break through a scrum and ran almost 30 meters passing several science defenders and when challenge off load it to his scrum half Harith Maduranga who went through the gap and sent his second row Chathura Dilshan over for a brilliant try. Kongahawatte ones again made a superb touchline conversion to read the score 38-15 in favor of Isipathana.

In the 29th minute of play Science scored a consolation try through their second row Madushan Ayeshmantha and the conversion was missed by Niranjan. Score read 38-20 in favor of Isipathana.

Isipathana sealed the match in style when in the 36th minute of play pathana work their three quarter line off a scrum and their winger Dilan Gallage went through the science defense and gave a pass to his centre Kushan Indunil who went over for a fantastic try. Fly half Kongahawatte made a difficult touch line conversion to read the score as Isipathana College 45 to Science College20

Stadium pitches, hotel beds and weather patterns have been occupying the mind of South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer as he leaves nothing to chance in the hope of leading the Springboks to World Cup glory this year.
Meyer believes off-field preparations for the tournament in England are as important as what he does with the players on the training field.
His management team have gone over every previous World Cup in detail to see how the winning side set up their campaign on and off the pitch and what the fine margins that led to success were.
“We have looked at every trend that has won a World Cup so we know exactly what it is going to take,” Meyer told reporters on Monday.
“We have studied every single weather pattern for the last 20 years so we will know what to face.
“We’ve been at the hotels, at the fields. I have guys investigating the fields now again, (breakdown skills coach) Richie Gray is there looking at conditions at the exact times that we are going to play.” Meyer has personally visited all the Boks’ venues during the day and in the evening and was surprised by the conditions.
“I thought it was going to be slow, sluggish surfaces but most of the surfaces are soccer stadiums so it is short grass, very hard,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be a much quicker game than we thought and we want to try and replicate everything we have seen.”
The South Africa squad is in camp this week and they practised at Cape Town’s World Cup soccer venue, rather than one of the city’s top school facilities as they usually do.
Meyer has personally tested the facilities his players will experience in England, including the beds they will sleep in.
“We have been to the training venue to see exactly where the media will be, how do we close it up. I have been to every single hotel, I have almost slept in every single bed.”
The World Cup takes place from 18 September to 31 October. The Boks are in Pool B along with Japan, Samoa, Scotland and the United States. (Reuters)