POISE under fire and the ability to allow phases to continue and build momentum are what Knights Rugby Club coach Johannas 'Hansie' Hickey wants to instil in his players from the outset of next Saturday's league opener.
"Patience is the main thing I am trying to get through to the boys," said the coach when met during training at the Berakas Sports Complex yesterday.
"If we keep to the game plan there will be situations which arise which we can score off. Last time if they saw the gap, they would all go crazy and lose the plot a bit.
"Now they know they need to build momentum before they can score," said Hickey, whose team's stifling defence only allowed 12 points over five games last year.
After losing out on both the league trophy — the Kamaruddin Cup — and the Darussalam Cup to the Belait Pythons last season, Hickey has no doubt as to who their toughest opponents will be.
Though the Knights beat the Pythons 10-7 in last season's finale, the Pythons still collected their third straight league title despite both teams finishing with the same record.
In their first test the Belait-based team walked away champions by virtue of losing the game by less than seven points. BRFU awards one point for every loss by less than seven points - a ruling which handed the Pythons the championship by a single agonising point when the final tally was calculated.
Rubbing salt in the wounds, the Pythons got a double over the Knights when they captured the Darussalam Cup 14-5. The cup is a knockout event played between the league's four teams.
Hickey is not big on dwelling in the past though.
"We'll just do our best and play our game. It's going to be the side that makes the least errors and if you are as error free as possible you will be in a good position to win," he said of the Knights' chances this season. "By going back to basics (and) have the backs playing off the forwards, we have very good team spirit and the services of a few expats."
The team has two new flankers, New Zealander Stuart Smith and South African Julian Penstone.
Stuart has played at age-group level for New Zealand provincial powerhouse Canterbury, while Penstone saw action for his adopted Botswana.
The Knights will also call on the services of Toma Unoi, who played for Waitakere City in Auckland -- one of the southern countries toughest leagues and for Auckland Samoa.
Hickey will also lace up for the Knights this season, the 38 year-old has played for the Glenora and Te Atatu league clubs.
Hickey was impressed with Knights' captain Dinnie Hj Bakar, whom he described as "the most complete Bruneian in the game today".
"He has nice passing both ways and he is a good kicker and thinker. I hope his skills can help direct the backs," added Hickey, who replaced Ben Bourne last year.
To date, the Knights have four titles, the biggest was the Pesta Sukan Kebangsaan (PSK) title in 2008 while representing Temburong.
The Knights and Pythons will be joined by the Bandar Blacks, Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Royal Brunei Yacht Club (Yachties) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in this year's league. The Brunei Times
"Patience is the main thing I am trying to get through to the boys," said the coach when met during training at the Berakas Sports Complex yesterday.
"If we keep to the game plan there will be situations which arise which we can score off. Last time if they saw the gap, they would all go crazy and lose the plot a bit.
"Now they know they need to build momentum before they can score," said Hickey, whose team's stifling defence only allowed 12 points over five games last year.
After losing out on both the league trophy — the Kamaruddin Cup — and the Darussalam Cup to the Belait Pythons last season, Hickey has no doubt as to who their toughest opponents will be.
Though the Knights beat the Pythons 10-7 in last season's finale, the Pythons still collected their third straight league title despite both teams finishing with the same record.
In their first test the Belait-based team walked away champions by virtue of losing the game by less than seven points. BRFU awards one point for every loss by less than seven points - a ruling which handed the Pythons the championship by a single agonising point when the final tally was calculated.
Rubbing salt in the wounds, the Pythons got a double over the Knights when they captured the Darussalam Cup 14-5. The cup is a knockout event played between the league's four teams.
Hickey is not big on dwelling in the past though.
"We'll just do our best and play our game. It's going to be the side that makes the least errors and if you are as error free as possible you will be in a good position to win," he said of the Knights' chances this season. "By going back to basics (and) have the backs playing off the forwards, we have very good team spirit and the services of a few expats."
The team has two new flankers, New Zealander Stuart Smith and South African Julian Penstone.
Stuart has played at age-group level for New Zealand provincial powerhouse Canterbury, while Penstone saw action for his adopted Botswana.
The Knights will also call on the services of Toma Unoi, who played for Waitakere City in Auckland -- one of the southern countries toughest leagues and for Auckland Samoa.
Hickey will also lace up for the Knights this season, the 38 year-old has played for the Glenora and Te Atatu league clubs.
Hickey was impressed with Knights' captain Dinnie Hj Bakar, whom he described as "the most complete Bruneian in the game today".
"He has nice passing both ways and he is a good kicker and thinker. I hope his skills can help direct the backs," added Hickey, who replaced Ben Bourne last year.
To date, the Knights have four titles, the biggest was the Pesta Sukan Kebangsaan (PSK) title in 2008 while representing Temburong.
The Knights and Pythons will be joined by the Bandar Blacks, Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Royal Brunei Yacht Club (Yachties) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in this year's league. The Brunei Times
