Agility the key to foiling Serbs - Magro

The Malta rugby national team today at noon make their much-awaited debut in the European Championship Group 3A qualifiers when they play hosts to Serbia and Montenegro at the Marsa Ground.

During the week, national coach Graham Richards admitted that this afternoon's encounter is the toughest test the Maltese team has ever faced in the international arena.

Serbia are one of the traditional teams on the continent and their recent 31-3 win over Hungary in the Euro qualifiers provided a clear indication of their strength.

The main threat to Malta's prospects of winning the group and subsequent promotion to a higher division is widely expected to come from the Serbs.

However, Malta too is fast gathering respect in the international field. Since earning their first win in 2001 against Monaco, under the guidance of former coach, the late Nigel Bennett, the team has gone from strength to strength. When Richards took over the reins in 2002, after Bennett's departure, the team maintained its positive momentum to stretch its unbeaten run to seven matches.

The rapid impact of the Malta national team has caught the eye of several players of Maltese origin who ply their trade abroad. Their inclusion has given an extra dimension to the team.

For the match against Serbia, Richards has roped in Maltese-Australian players Adam Magro and Rohan Spiteri and English-based Jamie Caruana. These three newcomers will make their debut today.

Magro is the first player with a full-time professional background to represent Malta. The 32-year-old played top-class rugby in Australia, Japan and Ireland. At the moment, he is studying at the Oxford University where he plays as an amateur player with the rugby team.

Last December, Magro was voted man-of-the-match in the annual Varsity game played at Twickenham, which pits Oxford and Cambridge university teams against each other.

Facing Serbia in his first match in Maltese colours, Magro conceded that a tough challenge looms for the home team. However, he was quick to point out that he has already spotted some fine qualities in the Maltese side which should serve them well today.

"Serbia will be a very difficult test for us," Magro said. "Their convincing win against Hungary says all about their quality. Maybe they are slightly superior from a technical point of view, but our team has a big heart and that is an essential ingredient to be successful in rugby."

Magro described the Serbian team as a very physical side with a very strong defensive pack. He reckons that Malta's swift play could pose problems to their superior opponents.

Fast players

"Serbia have a very strong defensive pack which however lacks agility and that could be a bonus for us. We have many fast players who can put our opponents in great difficulty," Magro said.

"We are not focusing too much on our opponents. The most important thing for us is to perform to our best. I'm expecting a good crowd behind us and certainly we have every intention of creating another historic day for Maltese rugby."

Malta's starting formation: 1. I. Borda; 2. T. Webb; 3. S. Worthington; 4. C. Diamantino; 5. D. Gasan; 6. S. Haycock; 7. D. Grima; 8. S. Kempster; 9. J. Dimond; 10. R. Spiteri; 11. N. Portelli Warren; 12. A. Magro; 13. M. Cuschieri; 14. L. McFadyen; 15. J. Caruana.

Reserves: D. Mascena; H. Collins; D. Borg; P. Azzopardi; C. Vassallo; O. Sacco; M. Attard.