RUGBY UNION
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ORANGE Emus demolished Bulldogs last weekend in the first of two consecutive Blowes Clothing Cup games in Bathurst, and head back down the Mitchell Highway to clash with CSU tomorrow.
For Emus co-coach Graydon Staniforth, despite the now fourth placed Bulldogs being a superior side to the ninth-placed students, tomorrow’s clash is looming as the more difficult one.
In his eyes, this is the type of game where the best sides shift up a gear, and the lesser teams get complacent.
“We haven’t worried about that this week though,” Staniforth said.
“We’re viewing last weekend as the start of our season in a way. Last week was our best performance of the year, and I think everyone is very aware of how important it is for us to turn up this weekend.”
Outside the loss of No.8-come-centre Rob Thorburn and bog-trotting hooker Tom Goolagong, who miss the clash with a fractured skull and shoulder complaint respectively, the greens are at full strength for tomorrow’s clash at University Oval, affectionately known as ‘The Zoo’ to the students.
VIDEO: Michelle Cook and Matt Findlay preview Saturday's Blowes Clothing Cup action:
Simon Badgery returns to the side to replace Thorburn at inside centre, while utility Keith Howarth will don the No.2 jersey in place of Goolagong, with Emus’ side also boasting two former students in Nick Hughes-Clapp and scintillating prop Steve Fergus.
Staniforth said despite his side’s superiority on the ladder, the students remain a dangerous prospect thanks to their trademark unpredictability with ball in hand, not to mention the fact CSU is gunning to break a five-game losing streak and have won four of the past five encounters between the two sides at University Oval.
“We haven’t played all that well against them in the past,” he said.
“They never give up, they’ve got plenty of enthusiasm so we need to start well, as always.
“Outside that, keeping on working on our ball movement and intensity off the line will go a long way to winning the game.”
Emus’ clash with CSU Bathurst kicks off at 3.15pm.
ORANGE EMUS: 1 Nas Havealeta, 2 Keith Howarth, 3 Steve Fergus, 4 Nick Hughes-Clapp, 5 Sam McLean, 6 Scott McLean, 7 Andrew Cosgrove, 8 Alo Finau, 9 TJ Cunynghame, 10 Adam Perri, 11 Tom Green, 12 Simon Badgery, 13 Nigel Staniforth, 14 Carter Hirini, 15 Isaac White