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Trinity will play Zahira in the first semi-final at the Race Course Stadium this Friday.
Trinity College, no doubt, will fancy themselves, but they know the sword of Damacus hangs on their necks if they take Zahira for granted.
The two schools have played each other since 1925 , even though Trinity has been dominant many games Zahira have lost due to a miss between the cup and the lip.
This is a different era. Zahira will have to be at their best handling the Trinity forwards. The Lions tend to prey using the 8 upfront in taking advantage of breakdowns , with their forwards pounding on the availability of the loose ball, excellent coordination in the rucks, line outs, and a deadly yard gain in the rolling maul. So far, we have not seen them as pick and go specialist , but if given the opportunity, their ball carriers can be yard gainers.
Zahira are under dogs. Trinity line is their weak link that the Maradana boys can exploit. Having started that, they must ensure not to give Trinity full back Shan Altaf any kicking opportunity at goal because he can thump them with accuracy.
Zahira, as underdogs, can look forward to extra , over complacency, and enthusiasm and experimental tactics from Trinity, which can give birth to both forced and unforced errors, which they must take full advantage of .
Trinity is excellent in defence. Remember, they kept the physically bigger Thomian pack by defending their try line with just 13 players. Most of the Zahira players in the park are new kids on the block , but if they play with grit and freedom , who knows, it could be the David Goliath battle.
Win predictor Trinity 65 % Zahira 35 %.
It will be a Darby come Saturday as Isipathana plays Royal for the second semi-final.
Isipathana has come back to playing their brand of Rugby , the comrade between the forwards and the three quarters clicked to near perfection when Isipathana outplayed Wesley in the second half over the weekend.
Royal as underdogs will like that tag because, more often than not, they pack a punch when chips are down.
No doubt, given the current form , Isipathana is a strong favourite in forward play , linking their fast running three Quaters in motion , and are expected in beating the Royal defence since the Reid Avenue boys have to mend a lot of cracks in defence. They let Kingswood cross their line 4 times in a close game. They also had their share of anxiety against the D.S. conceeding 24 points.
The Royal line is similar to Trinity seem flat footed. However, the line kicking by Royal is executed by full back Farook he has been excellent.
Royal is also vulnerable to the high ball , they are not only the pioneers to the roling maul but masters at executing it to perfection over the years.
Sadly, this year, it has not worked to plan, including their line outs execution.
Dushantha Leuke is a play to win coach. He is not a new kid off the blocks. The Reid Avenue boys have spent more time at the Royal Rugby complex than their class rooms during the week.
Isipathana knows the Royalist are wounded tigers , their back against the wall can be a danger signal for the Green Machine.
Win predictor 60 % Isipathana 40 % Royal.
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