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Finetuning the focus for Euros

27 Jan, 2012 02:52 AM
EUROS won't be focusing on their unbeaten record when they face a challenging road trip to play arch-rivals Warrigals on the weekend.

With a top two finish secured, Euros coach Mick O'Connor said he was looking at continuing to improve the side's skill set when action in the Mount Isa Irish Club Rugby Union Premiership heads to Cloncurry.

"Remaining undefeated is not a priority we have set ourselves at the club," O'Connor said.

"Obviously winning is important and we have been able to do that to make sure we finish in the top two.

"The most important thing now is to build on the work we have done in the first half of the season and implement the new ideas we want to develop leading up to the finals."

O'Connor said he was pleased with the team's performance in their first game back after the break and other than a lack of fitness he felt the side had shown initiative.

"The players went out there last week and put together some of the things we had been working towards late last year," he said.

"I think it's time now for the leading players to continue to play to the game plan and take the younger players with them."

Warrigals will be desperate to arrest a recent run of defeats.

The Dingoes were brave when losing to Keas last week, but with only one reserve was always going to have their fitness tested.

Injured Warrigals captain Darren Rogers said it could be another case of plenty of game time for the players who do make the trip to Cloncurry.

"We are getting some players back but there are still a few missing in action for various reasons," Rogers said.

Warrigals will welcome back influential forward Jeremy Biggelaar, and second-rower Mick Scotney will have benefited from a full game under his belt after an extended injury lay-off.

Rogers indicated a lack of front-row options was causing the club the most concerns.

"We are a bit light up front but hopefully we can find some beef before the weekend," he said.

Rogers said the lack of bench players did have a silver lining.

"For those guys who do play, it means they get a lot more game time and their match fitness will improve rapidly'" he said.

Both sides have plenty of talent in their backline, but with rain predicted it looms as a battle of the forwards with defence a key.

"I think we defended pretty well for three-quarters of the game against Keas and we will need to repeat that for the whole game against Euros," Rogers said.

"We will need to work overtime against them and go as hard as we can in defence before taking advantage of any attacking opportunities."

Kick-off Saturday 6pm at the Cloncurry Showground.

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STANDING TALL: The Warrigals forwards prepare for a line-out. The Dingoes pack will need to match it with their Euros counterparts in what looms as a tough battle. - Picture: NEIL RATLEY/4948
STANDING TALL: The Warrigals forwards prepare for a line-out. The Dingoes pack will need to match it with their Euros counterparts in what looms as a tough battle. - Picture: NEIL RATLEY/4948
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27 January, 2012

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