With the current Sri Lanka campaign out of the way the availability of 13 of our regulars back at training is a welcome event. We will have to play catch up this week to regain our team working together once again after 3 weeks of separation due to the recent Internationals. There has been many comments in the papers and around the rugby establishments regarding players being unavailable to play for SL due to club influences but let me set the record straight by saying that that has never been an issue with CR and FC. Our players have been and will continue to be available for any SL campaign that may arise and it is unfortunate that a few who should know better, cause such commotion and disruptive issues to overshadow the most important objectives.

Our upcoming game v Havies will be a real test for us and although their record this season has not been the best they will be buoyed by the latest thrashing of Police SC at home last round. Havelocks will surely lift for the CR match and we will be in for a torrid encounter be assured. We expect their forward play to be the platform of their game but their backs can too turn it on in counter attack and we will have to wary of this potential to breakout from inside their own half.

The team this week will have some changes and it will be a little different but I really feel the changes will do well for the team. The forwards will be the most significant change and there will be a little changes in the backs with some experimentation. Our problems in the match v Air force have hopefully been tightened up and we are looking for more control at the breakdown which will lead to better continuity. Our goals this week will be to complete our patterns, maintain control at the breakdown and more continuity. Our style of play will not change as I feel it is what makes us so formidable, the boys like to play it fast and that will be the order of the day on Saturday.

We will be also looking to get tighter in our defensive areas too, and this week we will be focusing on dominant tackles and forcing turnovers through our defence. A big factor this week will keeping our line in tact and not conceding any tries or penalty opportunities in our half. The word on the street is that there will be another huge crowd at Havies this Saturday so we hope our faithful supporters are once again there in numbers to lift the team to another victory and consolidate our lead on the table.