12 Jul 2013

Sport: Cooks claim underdog tag for Oceania Cup rugby final

10:50 am on 12 July 2013

The Cook Islands have claimed the underdog tag ahead of Saturday's Oceania Cup rugby decider against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.

Both teams are unbeaten going into the final round of matches, following victories over Tahiti and the Solomon Islands.

The winner will advance to a home and away playoff against Fiji next year for a spot at Rugby World Cup 2015.

The Cook Islands team manager, Cam Kilgour, says the team still hasn't hit their straps.

"We're only really playing 30 minutes of good rugby at the moment - I think probably still getting used to the heat. The side's coming together well but every game has been really tough and this weekends game with the crowd advantage to PNG, and again the heat factor, I think they go into the final favourite and that's sort of what we're putting our focus in - just clicking and getting our basics right, and playing for our country and the Cook Island people around the world."

Tahiti and the Solomon Islands will square off in the other game on Saturday, with both teams still seeking their first win.