Cook Islands Rugby Union Tri Nations 15s defending champions, Tokouso, will be heading to Aretere Park in Avatiu today, hoping for a strong finish as they face Tabusoro Fiji-CK.

Tabusoro made a good start to the annual series beating Cook Islands Residents 32-27 in the opening match last week.

Tokouso captain Okesene Moananu said: “The Fijians looked really dangerous in the backs on Saturday (last week) and it will be hard to contain them.”

“It’s important that we come out with a good result this weekend, otherwise if Tabusoro wins, it will be a dead rubber next week.”

In last week’s exciting Tabusoro versus Cook Islands Residents encounter, with the scores drawn at 27-all, Tabusoro were able to score a last-minute try to their replacement left winger Tomasi Vanuarua to win 32- 27.

Cook Islands Rugby Union (CIRU) development manager Ben Koteka said they expect Tabusoro to be better from last week’s match. With one win already secured, they are feeling confident and are considered the favourites for this weekend.

Today’s clash will be Tokouso’s first match of the series “and with a mix of players from various clubs and the little combinations will be important but overall team cohesion could be a problem”.

“As reigning (2023) champions Tokouso will feel the pressure of expectation,” Koteka saif.

The Tokouso versus Tabusoro clash is expected to be a hard, fast and high-scoring match with plenty of tries to be scored.

According to Koteka, this match will be a battle of the backlines with both teams having a great mix of speed/power to exploit any potential try scoring opportunities.

“However, discipline will be a key component – watch for correct tackle height, ‘stay strong’ and positive over the ball to build pressure and with adherence to the Laws of the Game crucial too.”

The leadership and guidance from the maestro first 5/8 Viiga Reupena for Tokouso and powerful number 8 Tua Ravula for Tabusoro will be key.

Tokouso’s Moananu says their concern is that their team is aging.

He said they had to wait until the end of the local competitions before they could put a team together.

“Our team is getting older and we’re not getting another influx of Samoans coming into the country. We’ve had players that came through previous waves of people coming in and we haven’t had an injection of new people. It’s still the same old players that we’ve had for the last four years,” Moananu said.

“We’re just relying on some locals with some Samoan connections to help us out.”

Tabusoro FJ-CK manager Kimi Narovu said they would be approaching today’s match with “utmost seriousness”.

“We will be facing the defending champion. Our team is committed to maintaining a higher level of focus,” Narovu said.

“This week, we will place particular emphasis on discipline on the field. Overall, Team Tabusoro Fiji CK is excited for a great game.”

In the curtain raiser matches, the Women’s Rugby 15s Series match will see Town battle Country at 1pm followed by the junior development at 2pm.

In last week’s enjoyable first match, Town were victorious winning by 12 points to 10 against a young and spirited Country team.

Both the Town tries were scored in the first half, to their powerful loose forward June Willie. Country scored both their tries early in the second half to Ani Marsters and Tepaeru Ngaroi – which led to an exciting final 10 minutes of play. Town were able to hold on to win 12-10.

Koteka said: “For this week’s match the young Country team will be looking to their senior players for leadership and guidance throughout.”

“Town will be looking for another good start but with an improved second half finish.”

Fixtures

1pm Women’s Rugby 15s- City vs Country, 2pm Junior Development, 4pm Tri-Nations 15s Tokouso vs Tabusoro.