The Cook Islands remain bullish about their chances despite a 26-3 defeat in the first leg of their Rugby World Cup playoff against Hong Kong.
The home side conceded four unanswered tries in Rarotonga, including two in the first ten minutes of the match.
Coach Stan Wright said they had enough opportunities to win the game but simply failed to take them.
"We just weren't clinical enough. Just the little things like that when you go back and look over the game, like I did last night and this morning, it was just not being clinical enough," he said.
"Our accuracy wasn't there - if you take away those two first tries and the ones we missed their wasn't really much in it. We just didn't get the rub of the green - our mistakes cost us."
Hong Kong drew first blood against the Cook Islands with a four-try win in Rarotonga. Photo: World Rugby
The home leg was the Cook Islands' first test since losing to Tahiti in the Oceania Cup 10 months ago, a result that was later overturned.
The team has been in camp for two weeks and Stan Wright was confident they will be much better in this weekend's return leg in Hong Kong now they have a game under their belt.
"You could see we were about two games off the pace," he admitted.
"They looked battle-hardened, they've had numerous games (in the Rugby Asia Championship) and I feel if we'd had two more decent games the outcome could have been different."
"It was good to see over 10 guys getting their first cap and it was also pleasing to see our average age. We're actually just a young team, in term of the guys' ages, so that's pleasing to see going forward for Cook Island rugby.
"Those guys got a taste of test footy, the ones that don't come from a professional environment, so that's a positive."
Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones was thrilled with the performance of his side, who are now within touching distance of a place in the global repechage tournament in November, from which the winning team will qualify for next year's World Cup in Japan.
"It was an outstanding performance," he enthused.
"I don't get overly excited about things, but I think it was an historic day for Hong Kong. Cook Islands brought everyone back and they have some top-quality players in that side but our performance was just outstanding. It was a tough game and that was a hell of a win."
"Ahead of the game, we talked about every point being precious, whether we are giving them away or getting them. It was a great performance and the boys are celebrating now, but if you look at them, they are also grounded.
"They know we have to do the same next week. We won't be satisfied with losing. We want to make sure that we finish the job off next week."
Despite needing to overturn a 23 point deficit on foreign soil, Stan Wright remained confident his team could keep their World Cup hopes alive.
"The boys watched the video this morning and a bit last night and they realised we can actually do this so the belief is there, which is a good start, and all we have to do it take care of the little detail that was missing from yesterdays match and we have every chance of winning that game and winning it well," he said.
"I have no doubt whatsoever that we (can come back). Will it be mission impossible? Nah - I won a Heineken Cup against Northampton when we were 36 points down at half-time and we came out and won the game so can we do it? Yes, of course we can. Is the belief there? Absolutely."
A healthy crowd turned up to watch the Cook Islands take on Hong Kong. Photo: Cook Islands Rugby Union/Bluesky Cook Islands
