Discipline a key factor

Fiji Times - Tuesday, April 01, 2008 7:53 AM

CRUSADERS coach Iliesa Tanivula says discipline will be the key factor that will determine the outcome in the Colonial Cup final this weekend.

The Crusaders will face the Knights after early favourites the Stallions and the Highlanders were kicked out in the semi-finals.

Crusaders lost twice in the final of the Colonial Cup. Their first loss was against the Highlanders 35-27 in 2005. The second loss was against the Stallions 14-12 last year.

Lack of discipline was the downfall for Crusaders in both games.

Tanivula said they cannot afford a repeat against the Knights.

"It will be a tough tussle," Tanivula said.

"The silverware is at stake. Both teams haven't won it before which makes it more interesting."

The Crusaders qualified for the semi-final after a 29-6 victory over the defending champions the Stallions in its final round robin match.

The Etuate Waqa-coached Knights have secured a home final after a 24-16 win over the Highlanders last Saturday.

The Knights staged a dramatic second half come back to down the Highlanders after trailing 7-13 at the half way mark at Ratu Cakobau Park.

Knights coach Waqa was ecstatic with the win saying his boys created history. "The boys created history in front of their home crowd and I salute them all," Waqa said.

"We came to win and give something back to the home fans after the loss to the Highlanders in the pool games. We achieved our goal." This is the first time that the Knights will play in the final. The Knights reached the semi finals of the Colonial Cup in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

However the Knights coach believes that they cannot afford to play catch-up rugby in the final.

"I believe our feet were not planted on the ground from the kick off against the Highlanders," Waqa said. "This was why the boys did not perform so well in the first half. We had a good discussion at the break and worked on a game plan that would lift our game and especially how to use possession wisely. And I thank the boys for a job well done."

The Highlanders are rueing their chances after missing out on a finals berth for the second year running.

The 2005 Colonial Cup champions failed to add to their half-time advantage eventually giving the match away to the opposition.

Highlanders coach Josua Toakula was not a happy man after the loss.

"It's the goal of every coach to win all their games but unfortunately the game did not go the way we had hoped for," Toakula said.

"But all the same I would like to first thank all the players that have taken part for the Highlanders this season. It was a good season overall for us and I hope the boys will learn from the loss and strive to do better next year."

"I extend my congratulations to the Knights. They played their hearts out and deserved the win. And they certainly used to their advantage our mistakes in the second half and turned them into points."

The final is at Ratu Cakobau Park on Saturday starting 3pm.