Saints claim underdog tag
USQ and Rangers look to keep Toowoomba flag flying in Risdon Cup knock-out
RUGBY UNION: USQ is willingly wearing the underdog tag into today’s Wagners Ridson Cup elimination final at Riddles Oval where they fight for season survival against Toowoomba Rangers.
Saints and Rangers resume their long rivalry in a knockout showdown where the winner progresses to next week’s preliminary final and the loser rolls up its swag for 2019.
Uni kept its premiership hopes alive last Saturday with a 27-22 knockout win over the Cods while Rangers need to regather themselves after a 41-38 extra-time loss to Roma.
“Rangers finished ahead of us on the ladder and have beaten us both times this year,’’ USQ coach Elisha Elisaia said.
“They are tough and always show up.
“We are happy going in tomorrow as underdogs but we’ll show up as well with no pressure on us. Every game is a grand final for us and tomorrow is no different.
“We had a good win last week and it’s probably the best we’ve executed all year before we fell asleep a bit in the second half, and Andre van Staden played a blinder for us.”
Coach Tom Crockett said Rangers had come through last week’s gruelling Roma encounter in surprisingly good physical condition but are sweating on a final fitness report on Matt Bougoure.
“It was a bit disappointing how we lost last week but it was a hell of a game,” Crockett said.
“We learned from it that we can’t afford to slacken off or lose our composure at any stage of the 80 minutes.
“We’ve stepped back our training a bit this week given last Saturday’s game with a little more of a relaxed approach rather than getting fired up.
“Uni is a good side and it will be a tough match. There are no easy games in finals.
“The boys seem okay and last Saturday’s effort against a good Roma side has given them a lot of confidence.”
■ MINOR premiers Bears, Dalby, Condamine, USQ and St George will begin their battle for an Emily Cherry Cup grand final spot when the women’s sevens’ finals begin today at Riddles Oval.