The debate: Who is the Special One?

Ever since our interview with current SMUrugby City Boy’s Coach, Rong JingXiang, “shit-stirrers” from various sources have flooded our tagboard and wrote to us. Some have questioned whether Rong has achieved more than Harry, or if there is possibly a better coach out there suitable for the talented City Boys.

The position of being the City Boys’ coach never used to get much attention until recent years. It is highly speculated that the position of being City Boy’s head-coach has been highly sought after, and that many coaches in Singapore have at some point in time expressed interest in the job over the last 2 years.

In the last 2 years, with 2 different coaches, the team has shown to be able to deliver the goods regardless of who they were being coached under – winning their respective tournaments and achieving the ultimate goal of winning the Tri-University Rugby Championships in both years under both Harry Mason and Rong Jingxiang respectively.

Based on our statistics analysis, both coaches’ achievements with the club are relatively on par and there are perhaps minor differences on paper. However, it is said that the team under new coach Rongy plays with a lot more structure, flair and confidence as compared to team that played in the previous season. But that may be due the inclusion of the new players, such as Derek Chan, Bryan Ng, Nick Hwang and EJ. However, making a comparison between the two coaches and judging who did a better job will be highly inappropriate and unprofessional of us as both coaches have been vital and integral in developing SMUrugby to where it is today – so much credit must go to both of them. As it is never going to be easy to coach a team with so much talent, of which most of the backline players are natural wingers and finishers of the game, rather than playmakers.

So kudos to both coaches, Harry Mason and Rong Jingxiang.

Under Harry Mason’s time (2007 to 2008)
- Won Blacks Midnight 10s Bowl in 2007 & 2008
- Finished 3rd in the ringEmail 7s
- Won SUniG 7s Cup 2008
- Won Tri-University Rugby Championships

Tri University 2008 Statistics

o Won 3 Matches Lost 1 (65pts scored & 35pts conceded)
o 1 Bonus point
o 8 tries scored & 5 tries conceded
o Most tries in a game for SMU : 3 against NUS (2008)
o Total points tally 10

Under Rong JingXiang’s time (2009 to current)
- Won Tri-University Rugby Championship

Tri University 2009 Statistics

o Won 3 Matches Lost 1 (64pts scored & 32pts conceded)
o 2 Bonus points
o 9 tries scored & 3 tries conceded
o 1 clean sheet
o Most tries in a game for SMU: 5 against NUS (2009)
o Total points tally 11