Experienced Sri Lanka face NZ Under 85 kg in second match on Saturday

SRI Lanka rugby fraternity was left stunned after a 50-point heavy defeat to a well-drilled New Zealand Under-85kg outfit in the first leg of their tour at Nittawela Stadium in Kandy last weekend.

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Kiwi side, known for their pace, structure, and tactical execution, ran riot in the hill capital, scoring at will as Sri Lanka struggled to find rhythm or cohesion. Despite fielding a young and energetic squad, the home side was simply not prepared to counter the relentless pressure from a more organized and better-prepared New Zealand unit.

The selection policy has come under heavy scrutiny, with many pointing to the decision to field a fresher side lacking in top-tier experience. Headed by Sudath Sampath, the selection committee opted to rest senior players in favour of blooding new talent a move that has now spectacularly backfired.

Star players such as Tarinda Ratwatte, Tharindu Chathuranga, Heshan Jensen, Danushka Ranjan, Dinal Ekanayake, and Janidu Dilshan were left out of the starting lineup for the first leg, a decision that raised eyebrows even before kickoff. Their absence was sorely felt as Sri Lanka failed to impose themselves at any stage of the match.