By Jonathan B Geddes

GORDON have borrowed the successful Wallabies’ playbook from their memorable third Test victory over the Lions for Saturday’s do or die clash with minor premiers Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra Oval.

Heading into Shute Shield’s intriguing final round the Highlanders are in seventh spot with 53 points and to make the finals they have to beat Easts – ideally with a bonus point.

They will then keep their fingers crossed that Eastwood (57 points) are beaten by Sydney University or Randwick (56) lose to Hunter.

Like Gordon this weekend, the Wallabies went into last Saturday’s Test as underdogs. But the Aussies won by producing an antagonistic and in your face style of rugby.

Expect the same approach from Gordon on Saturday, in what will be their biggest game of the season.

“As I said to the players we have to be pretty aggressive about it, go for it and try to get our five points. That is all that matters,” Gordon coach Harry Fehily told Rugby News. “Even four points just increases the complexity of us getting through.

“We are most likely not going to die wondering on the weekend.   

“It is possibly the last game for a lot of players in that team and the last time a lot of players pull on the Gordon jersey so it is trying to stoke that emotion and get something out of it.

“The message to the guys is that it is their job to go out and get a win.”

 TAMING THE BEAST

FEHILY knows the challenge facing his side taking on the minor premiers on their home ground.

“They have only lost one game all year, we love making it hard for ourselves, don’t we?” he said. “We are attempting the great escape. For us it is win or go home, that is the best way of putting it.

“But I suppose if you going to get yourselves out of a hole like this there is no better way of doing it.”       

PROGRESS SCORES AROUND THE GROUNDS

FEHILY will keep close tabs on both the Eastwood and Randwick games on Saturday.

“I personally will have someone sitting beside me watching both games (on Stan) so I am aware of the  situation,” Fehily revealed.

“The only reason I need to watch them is if, for some reason, Randwick are only going to get a losing point out of the game and we have our points in the bag then we just have to be careful we don’t throw the game away.”

But he will definitely not be updating his players about the other scores at halftime.

If need be Fehily may communicate a message to his captain with 10 minutes to go around whether the team needs to keep going to the corner to collect the five points or they are OK and try to close the game out.      

JOEY JUMPS BACK   

GORDON are paying the price for their inconsistency during the season.

Their shock 40-33 loss to Souths two weeks ago was a prime example of that.

“Myself and the president and a lot of lot of the players were pretty embarrassed about how easily we rolled over,” the coach admitted.        

Then last weekend they trailed third-placed Hunter 22-7 before showing a lot of character to fight back and win 24-22.

“Honestly I feel disappointed we are in this situation,” Fehily said.

“The silver lining is that if you can figure a way of getting through this then you can get a huge wave of emotion and momentum behind you.”         

The team has been bolstered by the recent return of Super Rugby inside back Joey Walton who was released by the Waratahs and will play five-eighth against Easts.

Besides his obvious rugby talent, Fehily said Walton has also made a big impact off the field. 

“After that Souths game he kicked the coaching staff out of the (dressing) room, closed the door and spoke to the whole team himself,” Fehily said.

The next Monday Walton and injured skipper Milan Basson again spoke to the playing group pointing out a few home truths. 

“I think that was a decent turning point,” Fehily said.