The Cook Islands have claimed underdog status for their rugby World Cup qualification playoff against Hong Kong tomorrow in Rarotonga.
The Cook Islands perform their haka. Photo: World Rugby
The Cook Islands manager Cam Kilgour said their best chance against the Asian champions is to play a dynamic, Pacific-style game.
"We're the rugby players that are born with a rugby ball in their hands so that's the style that we want to play but if we are to win, that's the way I think we are going to do it," said Cam Kilgour.
"It is going to be a hell of a challenge but we are not just going to make up numbers this time."
Hong Kong win the Asia Rugby Championship 2018. Photo: Hong Kong Rugby Union / Ike Images
The Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones said while his team may struggle to contain the Cook Islands bigger players, they have had more time together to build their combinations.
"We've just come out of a competition. We are reasonably well battle-hardened. We've got a good collective as a team and we are very aware that you guys [the Cook Islands] probably only had two weeks to prepare so it is very much about the collective versus the individual and we will see who comes out on top there," Leigh Jones said.
The return leg of the play-off is in Hong Kong on July the 7th with the winner going into a four team repechage tournament.