Neill calls for public support ahead of Serbia match

Rugby coach Damien Neill has issued a rallying cry to the Maltese to give their support to the team on Saturday for the crucial World Cup 2007 Euro Round 2A Pool D qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro at the Hibs Ground, at 2 p.m.

Malta, currently fourth in a five-team group, must beat the strong Serbia side and Bulgaria, in Sofia, the following week to secure a place in the next round of the complex qualifying phase.

Poland, who beat Malta 38-13 in November, are leading the group with two wins from two matches.

Serbia, with one win and a draw, and Switzerland, with one win, two losses and a draw, are sharing second place in the group.

Malta are next with one win and a defeat followed by Bulgaria who lost twice so far.

"Saturday's match against Serbia is a massive one for our chances to qualify to the next round," Neill told a news conference yesterday at the Corinthia Jerma Palace Hotel, the team's base in Marsascala.

"Serbia are our main rivals for second place in the group. Last year, we beat them in a European Championship qualifier at Marsa. That was an incredible result and hard to fathom for them.

"Now, it's going to be even more difficult for us to repeat that feat. Every player has to be at his best if we are to get a result.

"We have been training very hard for this match. All the players are in good shape so I'm confident that on Saturday we will make a decisive step towards qualification."

Serbia are coming into this match after a home 11-11 draw against Switzerland on March 19. Asked whether he is taking that match as a barometer to gauge Serbia's strength, Neill replied: "No, not at all. I am just concentrating on my team because I firmly believe that if we get our game right and play at the top of our level we can win the rest of our group matches."

The Hibs Ground at Corradino is a new venue for international rugby in Malta.

Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU) treasurer Pierre Grima said they were forced to move out of Marsa as athletics equipment had temporarily occupied part of the turf pitch, making it impossible for international rugby to be played.

"We are happy to be holding our matches at the Hibs Ground," Grima said.

"The facilities are exceptional and more importantly the dimensions of the pitch fall exactly under the rules of the International Rugby Board.

"The Hibs Ground has a much bigger capacity than Marsa and we hope that the Maltese will fill the stands on Saturday to support our players."

The MRFU relies mostly on sponsorships, particularly that of Cisk Lager. This month, it has also received praise from IRB chairman Syd Millar.

In a letter sent to PRO Mike Turner, Dr Millar said: "This week, as part of the Round 2A Pool D qualifying, Malta take on Serbia-Montenegro at home. As I write Malta are 54th in the world rankings and Serbia 64th, which indicates that the match should be very competitive.

"Interestingly, Malta was the fifth most improved team on the rankings in 2004, moving up 13 places. This followed impressive victories over higher ranked countries Latvia and Switzerland.

"I would like to wish both teams the best of luck in their quest for success in the World Cup qualifying stages, not only for this occasion but for their future matches in Pool D this year."

Through the PRO's efforts, the MRFU has arranged for a television team from the IRB to be present at the match.

They will be filming the game and the footage will contribute to a programme that goes out to over 100 countries around the world.