14 man Exiles win Battle Royale against semi-pro Les Tigres de Dubaï

Teenager, Marcus Kruger, finished the game with 20 points.

There’s nothing that Dubai Exiles RFC likes more than to pit themselves against professional and semi-professional teams. It’s a challenge, it’s hard work, it requires skill, effort, belief and a steely resolve. With no West Asia Premiership in the 2021-22 rugby calendar the trip to Bahrain, and the return fixture at The Sevens is sorely missed. Bahrain is a tremendous place to go and play rugby. Over 2,000 supporters fill the ground in Saar and help to create that famous and formidable ‘Red Wall‘. If you want a true reflection on where your team stands in the great scheme of things, these games are how that question is answered.

Saturday afternoon’s trip to Dubai Sports City to play against a now semi-professional Dubai Tigers outfit would provide the answer to that question this season. The Tigers are a completely different proposition since the October 91 – 0 hammering they received at the hands of the Exiles at The Sevens Stadium. Several players recently brought in from the French Pro D2 league and of course the former Hurricanes‘ Fijian contingent of Saki Naisau and Mossy Vecanaua.

For this fixture, the Exiles were without several of their more experienced and ‘heavier’ players. Hooker Dave Gairn was unavailable, back row and UAE International Matt Mills was out, hard carrying UAE International Stephen ‘Stavo’ Ferguson was unavailable, lock Gareth Bacon was out and in the back line, speedy centre Michael Stubbs was recovering from a dislocated ankle sustained in the opening minutes of the 59 – 17 win over the Dubai Hurricanes in November.

One thing was for certain, this rugby match was no ‘gimme’, a lot of Exiles‘ teenagers were going to have to step up and do a job, and that’s exactly what they did.

Schalk du Preez sets off on one of his sprints

Will Simmonite chases the kick off

It was an inauspicious start for the Dubai Tigers. Former Narbonne full-back, Australian Clint Eadie sending the kick off high and wide over the touch line. The Exiles opted for a scrum back in the centre and with the Tigers front row keen to make an impression an early shove encouraged referee, Jaco de Wit, to award a free kick which Exiles‘ fullback Conor Kennedy duly sent down into the Tigers‘ 22. A rush of blood from the Tigers‘ covering defender, choosing to try and run the ball out rather than to send it off the field, and he was soon on his back with no support. Exiles‘ flanker Anthony Kapp latched onto the ball and Exiles were on the attack only 5 metres out from the Tigers‘ goal line. There were a few attempts at crashing the ball over the line until it was moved wide out to the right for teenager, Roman Wheatley, to score. 0 – 5 Exiles.

Carel Thomas watches proceedings

Exiles‘ tight head and Club Captain, Lukas Waddington

The first Tigers attack came from an Exiles scrum just on the Exiles‘ 22m line. In a sign of things to come, the absence of the usual ‘weight’ in the Exiles‘ eight allowed the Tigers to push the men-in-black off the ball. Former Hurricanes‘ 8, Mossy Vecanaua, playing centre for the Dubai Tigers went route one. His run was halted by another Exiles teenager, Marcus Kruger. Marcus, and his brother Hannes, are two of the 10 Exiles‘ Under 19 players who were in the DESC school squad of 12 that won the Emirates Dubai 7s Gulf Under 19 Boys title in December.

A couple of phases later and the Tigers were on the Exiles‘ try line. When it looked odds-on that the Tigers would score, they inexplicably knocked the ball on. Referee Jaco de Wit brought play back for a Tigers scrum beneath the Exiles‘ post, a free kick to Tigers and the Exiles‘ back row was caught napping when the Tigers‘ 8 tapped and crashed over the line. Converted 7 – 5 Tigers.

Roman Wheatley crosses for the Exiles‘ first try

In what was developing into a true arm wrestle of a match some ‘niggle’ and ‘afters’ made frequent appearances in the game. There was no doubt the Exiles had the beating of the Tigers out in the wide channels, every time the ball was pushed wide lots of ground was gained. From one of the Exiles‘ ‘sweeps’, wing Schalk du Preez had been forced into touch after picking up 30 meters. From the resulting line out, Tigers‘ centre, Mossy Vecanaua, dropped the ball. The Exiles pounced, moving the ball to another teenager, Hannes Kruger, who did a sublime pass to his looping brother, Marcus. It was almost try time, but the Tigers cover defence managed to bundle Marcus Kruger in to touch 5 metres out.

It was the Tigers that scored next, much to the delight of the home team supporters. “the Exiles have nothing’ were the shouts from the Dubai Sports City stand. The Exiles had missed their own line out on their 10m line. The Tigers‘ big centre had thumped into the midfield and moved the ball on to the wing for simple run to the Exiles posts. The Exiles defensive line had been sucked in and gone missing in action. Converted. 5 – 14 Tigers.

It was very important that the Exiles scored next. From the kick off the Tigers infringed and 18 year old Marcus Kruger stepped up and slotted a much needed 3 points. 14 – 8.

The next try came from the Exiles. Jaco de Wit had given a penalty for an offside after Tigers passing had broken down. Justin Walsh sent the ball into the Tigers‘ left hand corner. Jaen Botes soared above everybody in the line out, once the maul was set, prop and stand in hooker, Pieter Killian drove over to score. Converted. 14 – 15 Exiles.

The Tigers were keen to make an impression and get back into the game. On 29 minutes they certainly made an impression on the Exiles‘ Marcus Kruger, the Tigers‘ big number 3 deciding to stamp his mark on the teenagers chest after a tackle, the youngster was lucky it wasn’t his head.

The Tigers had their tails up and were pouring in to the Exiles, a big hit by Jaen Botes on Tigers‘ centre Mossy Vecanaua dislodged the ball. Conor Kennedy gathered after the Tigers players all stood still and took off as the referee waved play on. Conor didn’t quite have the legs to go all the way and was scragged, a couple of rucks later and the Exiles were awarded a penalty and set themselves up for what was unquestionably the try of the match – delivered by the Exiles‘ youngsters.

From the penalty, Marcus Kruger missed touch. The Tigers‘ full back, eager not to repeat his error of the opening minutes, put his foot through the ball, and sent to straight into the hands of 18 year old Hannes Kruger just inside the Exiles‘ half. Hannes moved the ball infield to his brother who split the Tigers‘ defence and passed to Schalk du Preez. The Exiles‘ wing hit the accelerator and just as it looked like the cover defence was going to get there, he floated a pass back inside to a supporting Marcus who crossed to score. Converted 14 – 22 Exiles.

The final score of the first half went to Tigers. With the Exiles looking like they were going to turn around with an eight point advantage the Tigers had managed to earn themselves a line out on the Exiles‘ 5m against the run of play. The initial surge was repelled, Epeli Davetawalu putting in a crunching tackle, but the ball was recycled, the Tigers‘ number 5 hurdled into the would be Exiles tackle and over the line. Converted. 21 – 22 Exiles. Half Time.

Dubai Exiles Director of Rugby and Head Coach, Jacques Benade

Dubai Exiles‘ Director of Rugby and Head Coach, Jacques Benade, is famous throughout Gulf Rugby for his calm and relaxed approach to half time speeches in tough matches. The former Natal Sharks, Blue Bulls and South Africa ‘A’ outside half could be heard gently imparting his thoughts about the first half in row z of the nearby Dubai Cricket Stadium.

The Tigers‘ number 6 didn’t like his own head and took a shine to Carel Thomas‘s

Justin Walsh got used to high tackles throughout the match

Referee, Jaco de Wit, checks with the AR

From the kick off the Exiles were immediately on the front foot. Powerful Kenyan centre, Brad Owako, had burst through a tackle and sent the ball on to Conor Kennedy, Conor in turn found Hannes Kruger who hared off down the touch line. A mass of red defenders eventually brought the youngster to a halt at the 5m line and bundled him into touch.

The second half was a far more tense affair. It was physical and it was tough. 11 minutes had been played when the first opportunity for a score came the Exiles‘ way. The Exiles had won a line out on the Tigers‘ 5m line and moved the ball infield. Justin Walsh was the first to try and bulldoze his way through the Tigers‘ back line. The Tigers‘ number 6 decided it would be a good idea to see if he could unplug the head of Exiles‘ scrum half Carel Thomas, and from the resulting penalty Carel, took a quick tap and snuck his way over the try line. Converted. 21 – 29 Exiles.

Jaen Botes causes havoc in the Tigers‘ defence

Anthony Kapp was a nuisance around the rucks all game

Marcus Kruger lines up a penalty

The big talking point of the match came in the 56th minute. Former Dubai Hurricane, Saki Naisau, had kicked the ball behind the Exiles‘ defensive line but been beaten to the pick up by Hannes Kruger. Hannes set off on a mazy run, when he was tackled big South African Number 8 Jaen Botes attempted to clear the ruck, latching onto his own player, Schalk du Preez and driving through. There were protestations from the Tigers‘ forwards, fuelled by noise from the Tigers‘ supporters and the big South African received a red card. The Exiles were down to 14 players, with 24 minutes left on the clock. ‘Botes‘, who would normally have a lot to say about such things stood on the touch line and looked completely befuddled.

Epeli Davetawalu goes route one

Justin Walsh carried incredibly hard all game

At this juncture you’d anticipate that there would be an onslaught from the Dubai Tigers. But it didn’t really materialise. For the last quarter of the match it was by no means, one-way traffic. Yes, within 2 minutes of the red card, Saki Naisau, crossed to score under the posts, but in the build up to that try the depleted Exiles pack was dogged, determined and fighting for every inch of ground. Conversion missed. 26 – 29 to Exiles.

The Exiles were not in the mood to lose this game. They’d worked hard to be where they were on the scoreboard, dogged defence, being combative in rucks and mauls had kept their noses in front for most of this UAE Premiership match. On the 62nd minute a Tigers ruck infringement had given youngster, Marcus Kruger, a penalty opportunity which he duly accepted, adding another 3 points to the Exiles‘ tally and edging the Exiles closer to the sanctuary of a two score lead. 26 – 32 Exiles.

The Exiles, even with 14 men on the pitch, were still looking to attack and still reaping the rewards whenever they got the ball into the wide channels. The clock was quietly becoming the Exiles‘ friend. Brad Owako looked like he was enjoying himself in the middle of the Exiles back line, sitting down would be tacklers with great enthusiasm.

The telling moment came with only 5 minutes left on the clock. The Exiles were on the attack close to the Tigers‘ try line. they somehow managed to turn the ball over to the Tigers who promptly set off on a breakout from their own line. The ball found it’s way into the hands of Fijian, Saki Naisau, who looked like he could go all the way and break Exiles‘ hearts. It was Marcus Kruger who brought a halt to the Fijian flyer who failed to release the ball when tackled. Penalty to the Exiles disaster averted.

Time was ticking away. With only a few minutes on the clock, Tigers frustration gave another penalty to the Exiles which was very kickable for Marcus Kruger, and with just 3 minutes to go the ball sailed through the uprights and the Exiles were two scores ahead. 26 – 35 Exiles. The Exiles‘ youngster put in a sublime performance and would finish the match with 20 points.

It was a matter of holding onto the ball and running the clock out for Dubai Exiles RFC. With the Tigers needing two scores to steal the result. Every scrum and every scrum reset was being cheered by the Exiles‘ bench, there was simply no time left for the Tigers to find two scores. Full credit to the them, they kept going and did find a fifth try, but that score came after 4 minutes of injury time had been played, when the conversion was kicked, referee, Jaco de Wit, blew the final whistle and brought to a close what had been an incredibly tough and intense Premiership rugby match. 33 – 35 Dubai Exiles. Full Time.

Will Simmonite is pretty pleased

No ‘win bonus’ this week

DUBAI TIGERS V DUBAI EXILES RFC

French Pro D2 Rugby UAE Premiership (15th January 2022)