FIRING from the first whistle will be the aim of both teams when minor premiers Euros battle Warrigals in the Mount Isa Irish Club Rugby Union Premiership on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With first spot in the grand final on offer for the winner, the pressure will be on from the first minute of play at Rugby Park.
Despite their 68-10 demolition of Keas in Cloncurry last weekend, Euros looked lacklustre in the opening stage of the game, and coach Michael O'Connor said it's something the team needs to rectify.
"We need to be prepared to go from the first whistle," he said.
Euros will continue to base their game on strong defence, and O'Connor said part of the team's success this season was the result of trust.
"Everyone's got faith in [their] team mates," he said.
When asked if Euros were going to make any changes to their game plan, the coach waxed philosophical.
"Why fix it if it's not broken?" he said matter-of-factly.
At the time of publishing, Euros were unable to provide any details on squad changes, but they will be focusing on a combined team effort rather than putting the pressure on one or two key players.
Warrigals are coming off the back of an 18-7 loss to Cloncurry last weekend and will be out to prove they are true contenders for the premiership.
The loss of Tim Conlan with a broken leg will give them added incentive to dominate Euros and walk away with a victory.
O'Connor said he believed Warrigals would feel the effect of Conlan's loss, but would not comment on who Euros were focusing on shutting down in the Warrigals line-up.
"We will treat them all with the same measure of respect," he said.
Warrigals coach Guy Constable said Conlan was the only change to their line-up for the game.
He said they tried to get approval from the board for a replacement hooker for the game, but the request had been denied because the player in question hadn't played three games this season.
"It's disappointing, but it was worth a shot," he said.
"Rules are rules."
Without a specialist hooker in the team, scrums during the game will be uncontested.
"Tim was one of our key players," Constable said.
"We don't have a lineout thrower for the game."
Warrigals are wary of their opponent's skill and physical style of play, but are confident they can win on Saturday night.
"There's a reason they've gone through the season undefeated," said Constable.
"We can definitely beat them; it's just a matter of our younger players keeping focused mentally."
n The game follows the Cloncurry v Keas match and kicks off at 7:30.
