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Rugby: Philippine Volcanoes look to rebound at home versus Hong Kong

The Philippine Volcanoes aim to be Asian Rugby's comeback kids when they take on Hong Kong on Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Its the national team's second match in the Elite division of the 2013 HSBC Asian 5 Nations, the top tier of Rugby Union in Asia and the qualifer for the Rugby Union World Cup.

Two weeks ago the Volcanoes kicked off the single-round-robin competition by getting outgunnned 121-0 in Fukuoka against Asia's highest-ranked team, Japan. The United Arab Emirates and Korea Republic are the other teams in the Elite Division.

The bottom team is relegated to Division 1, the second tier, and whoever is on top in the 2014 edition of the tournament qualifies for the 2015 World Cup in England, with the second-place side entering a repechage, or second-chance four-team tournament.

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Last week Japan traveled to Hong Kong and knocked down the home side 38-0 while the Philippines was on a bye. Hong Kong had earlier vanquished UAE 53-7 in their first game.

The Philippines are hoping for a better performance in front of their supporters on Saturday.

We've had our best two training days recently without Jarred” said Volcanoes interim head coach Stuart Woodhouse.

Woodhouse picks up the reins from fellow Aussie Jarred Hodges, who rushed back home to be with his wife, whose mother is critically ill.

The Philippines has one major injury concern; number 8 Jake Ward injured his ribs versus Japan and will not play. Chris Hitch will move to Ward's spot in the back of the forward pack while Darren Seeto moves over to #7.

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Placekicker Gareth Holgate, who muffed two penalty goal attempts in the cold and wet weather in Fukuoka, has been moved to center in the middle of the back line, with Mattt Saunders getting shifted over to the wings.

That means Alex Aronson, a Filipino-American from California, will take over at flyhalf, one of the main conduits of possession from the forwards and the backs. Aronson will also be tasked to boot over penalty goals and try conversions.

Hong Kong are currently ranked 29th in the world, almost thirty places higher than the Philippines. Leigh Jones, Hong Kong's Welsh coach, said “we're expecting a torrid thirty minutes of Rugby but I'm sure the lads will come through.”

The last time the two sides met was in 2011 when Hong Kong traveled to Manila and outclassed the Volcanoes 74-10.

Woodhouse is hoping that the weather will play a role in a Philippine victory.

Hong Kong is also in the middle of summer but our hope is that our preparation over two weeks in this heat will help us.”

Captain Michael Letts is hopeful that the extra week of training will benefit the team.

It was a tough ask against Japan with guys coming from all over the world, but now with the extra week it should help.”

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The Philippines and Hong Kong have been friendly Rugby rivals for a long time, with Rugby sending their “A” or developmental squads over for games, as well as their ladies team.

The President of the Philippine Rugby Football Union, Rick Santos, was at Friday's press con and is optimistic about the future of the sport in his country.

We've seen the success of the Azkals and how its grown youth Football and we hope to do the same with Rugby.”

Santos, whose father is from Zamboanga and whose mother is from Nebraska, played college Rugby in UC Berkeley.

After Saturday's game the Philippines travel to Ansan in Korea on May 11 to take on Korea Republic and then play UAE in Rizal Memorial on May 18. That could be a pivotal clash, since the bottom club in the Elite Division is relegated back to the second tier and is replaced by Sri Lanka, who won Division 1 this year.

Hong Kong will be a favorite on Saturday but that hasn't fazed Woodhouse, who says that among the team “there has been no discussion about anything else but winning.”

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333. Follow the Volcanoes @PhilippineRugby. Live coverage of the match will be on Solar Sports. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.