THERE is plenty at stake in Sunday’s New England Rugby Union minor semi-final between Barbarians and Robb College with the winner earning another chance to claim a spot in the grand final and the loser bowing out of the competition.
The Barbarians had their hopes of making the major semi-final crushed with a two-point loss to Albies which saw the Blues leapfrog them into second position.
At Alcatraz oval on Sunday afternoon, the Baa Baas will be out to prove a point.
Many have tipped the Baa Baas as favourites heading into this match but coach Tom Bower said he doesn’t necessarily believe that to be the case. “It is very much the team that wants it the most on the day generally comes away with the points this year,” he said.
“It has been a tight competition and that is epitomised by some of the results that the teams have had.
“Our players are aware of this and I think that has really got them focused for this weekend.
“We know how we want to play on the weekend and it is just a matter of going out there and executing it.”
He said Robb have been good at the breakdown throughout the year and believes winning that area will go a long way in determining the winner.
Robb’s coach Sam Ditchfield agreed with his opposition’s view and is expecting a very physical match.
“They have got a big forward pack that is not very mobile so we have to counter the size difference between the two teams,” he said.
“They are a lot larger side than what we are.
“They have beaten us twice and we have beaten them once but the two times they have beaten us has been in the wet where it has been very much a forward game whereas on a dry paddock we managed to get over the top of them.
“We are pretty happy to go in as underdogs and have a fair crack at it.”
Ditchfield said both days of finals will be exciting to watch and encourages spectators to get out and witness the spectacle.
Kick-off is 3.05pm.
