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DINESH WEERAWANSA reporting from South Korea

ULSAN, Friday. - Sri Lanka will scrum down with Taiwan in the bronze medal deciding last league match of the 15-a-side rugby tournament of the 14th Asian Games to be played at the Ulsan Public Stadium here on Sunday (13) kick off at 12 noon (9 am SL time). It will be a crucial game for both sides, with both of them losing their first two games to Asian rugby heavyweights Japan and South Korea, who will meet each other in the gold-medal deciding last league match at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The ankle injury to their key player and flanker Savantha de Saram is the only concern in the Lankan camp which is gearing up for their most decisive game of their tour here. "It is a do or die battle. This is the game we came here to play as the main target. We are going all out with our full resources to make a match of it. The boys are all set to give of their best and try to win to take the bronze medal. It will be a tough game but our minds are set on the target," Sri Lanka team Manager, Brian Baptist said in an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' today.

Flanker Savantha de Saram is a vital ingredient in the Sri Lanka 'pack' and his side can not afford to lose his services in this all-important game. De Saram has been nursing an ankle injury, sustained during Sri Lanka's 6-129 loss to Japan three days ago. "His injury is a big concern. We hope he would be fit. We have kept ice to his injured ankle and he spent whole of yesterday at the Athletes Village. But there is a change for the condition to improve but its too early to predict anything on his recovery," Baptist said.

If De Saram passes a late fitness test on the morning of the match, either Pradeep Basnayake or Sumedha Jayasinghe will make way for him. Prop Charaka Hewawasam, who played in the last game will be replaced with regular No.1 Jeeva Galgamuwa. Baptist said the two centres they tried out against Japan - P.D.N.Fernando and Royalist Rajitha Jayasundara fared well and would be retained for Sunday's game as well.

But flankers Herathge Karunaratne and Peterite Dilanka Wijesekera, who did duty against Japan, have been dropped to make way for the regular pair of Pavithra Fernando and Ravi Jayasuriya, Winger Lakshman Dissanayake, the schoolboy from Royal who played against Japan and injured his neck, has been declared fit but the team management is unlikely to risk him. There will be no change in the halves combination while full back Nalaka Weerakkody will return to man the last line of defence, moving last match's full back Radhika Hettiarachchi to a wing.

Both Sri Lanka and Taiwan are looking for their first win in the tournament after two successive defeats each. Hence, Sunday's meeting would be a mind game important to both the sides. Sri Lanka lost their first game to South Korea 11-70 and then to Japan 6-129. Korea too lost their first two games to Japan 19-76 and to South Korea 15-50. "We are ready for the big game. Sri Lanka has a good side but we are confident of winning this vital game and take the bronze medal," Taiwanese captain Chang said after a practice session this morning.

Sri Lanka team too had a long training session today under the watchful eyes of coach, C.P. Abeygoonewardena and his deputy "Laga". Manager Baptist and team doctor Seevali Jayawickreme too are doing a good job.

Sunday's match league match between Japan and South Korea will determine the gold medal of the 15-a-side rugby tournament. Sri Lanka's only IRB qualified international referee, Dilroy Fernando will have the honour of blowing at this game.

The teams:

SRI LANKA: Jeeva Galgamuwa, Mohammed Buksh, Sameera Wijesinghe, Pradeep Basnayake, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Pavithra Fernando, Ravi Jayasuriya or Savantha de Saram, Harris Omar (Captain), Champika Nishantha and Sajith Mallikarachchi, Kapila Knowlton, P.D.N.Fernando, Rajitha Jayasundara, Radhika Hettiararchchi, Nalaka Weerakkody.

TAIWAN: Wen Cheng Lin, Chi-hsiang Hung, Yu-Chen Chen, Cheng-chung Hsieh, Yu-ming Huang, Chih-wei Wu, Kuei-chih Pan, Chang Heng Ling, Wen-kang Hsieh and Wei-cheng Chang, Cheg-yen Sun, Fuh-hsin Yu, Ching-fong Chang, Teng-yuan yeh, Chih-ming Pan.

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