UAE performance manager Roleof Kotze hopes to see the results of detailed work improving his players’ defensive organisation and handling skills during the 2014 ARFU HSBC Asian Rugby Sevens Series event in Malaysia.
The national side struggled during the previous round in Hong Kong a fortnight ago, finishing last after crushing defeats to Malaysia, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan in which they scored a solitary try.
Kotze has since been drilling his charges on the basics, hoping to see a step up in performance in Kuala Lumpur today and tomorrow for the second of the three-legged Asian Sevens events.
“We have identified some areas of our game where we are not there,” the South African said. “We have to try and strengthen ourselves in those areas.
“In the short term we cannot fix eveything, but we have worked with the guys on the field and on video. We have set a goal as a team to improve our defence and handling.
“Those are fairly easy areas to fix with a little bit of application. Hopefully, we will see the results of it this weekend.
“We can solve the last of these small issues and see the results in Malaysia.”
The UAE’s task has been hardened with the absence of several players to national service, with promising teenagers Majid Al Balooshi, Younes Al Balooshi and Abdul Al Hajri the biggest losses.
Team manager Mohamed Shaker will guide the side, who have been drawn in Pool D along with hosts Malaysia and South Korea.