The All Blacks vs Samoa, what’s the point?
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By ohtani\'s jacket, 26 Aug 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Argentina, Auckland, Northern Hemisphere, Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa
The All Blacks are set to play a midweek Test against Samoa on September 3rd, a ludicrous fixture to say the least. The reasoning was to give the All Blacks a match between the August 17th Cape Town Test and September 13th Brisbane Test.
And when a fixture against Argentina couldn’t be arranged, Samoa stepped in to fill their boots.
Needless to say, the Northern Hemisphere clubs refused to grant releases for a Wednesday night Test in New Plymouth. And who can blame them?
Samoan coach Niko Palamo has been forced to arrange a “trial” in Auckland this week in order to field a side.
It’s understood that Samoa will consist of players from the Islands, and a few Auckland-based Samoans. Palamo has warned that, “I probably will have just one player from the forward pack that played in the Pacific Nations Cup and the situation isn’t looking much better in the backs.”
Henry, on the other hand, is expected to play his full strength side.
Setting aside the obvious, such as this should be an All Blacks “match” played in Samoa not Taranaki, what more can be gained from the All Blacks playing Samoa instead of playing for their provinces?
The injury risks are the same, if not more considering how hard those Samoan players tackle when they wear the jersey. But the lack of structure and defensive organisation is the real killer.
The All Blacks will look to focus on the set pieces and the breakdown and try to continue their methodical, controlled approach.
But the pressure won’t be there.
The game will open up, New Zealand will score easily, and the backs will have a field day.
Will the All Blacks really plug the corners and challenge the lineout if there’s a midfield paradise on offer?
I will be cheering Samoa. A try is worth a gold medal in these lopsided affairs.
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- Explore:
- All Blacks, Argentina, Auckland, Northern Hemisphere, Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa
Benjamin said | August 26th 2008 @ 7:10am | Report comment
I see your point, BUT…
1. A game is a game. Who else is available?
2. Money for Samoa.
Arturo Chan Mow said | August 26th 2008 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
The NZRFU should have been more serious about this and had in the weekend instead of a mid-week game. Its an insult to Samoa as mid-week games are mainly reserved for local rep games not for an international team. Or maybe it should have been played in Apia. New Zealand are quick at judging before things happen and maybe its a closer match then expected.
ohtani's jacket said | August 26th 2008 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
New Zealand rugby would be better off with All Blacks playing for their provincial sides & Samoa have nothing to gain from a Wednesday night Test in Taranaki. If the NZRU were interested in money, they wouldn’t be playing this Test in New Plymouth. It’s a PR ploy. They’re trying to take the All Blacks out into the heartlands, having open trainings and such. Unfortunately the Test will be an open training too.
Our backs are suddenly going to find space. Space that isn’t there in Tri-Nations Tests. Space that won’t be there a week later. Brisbane is like a World Cup knock out for us. This Samoa Test is like a World Cup pool game. I don’t see how it qualifies as preparation & I think the All Blacks would have a tougher time in Air NZ Cup rugby.
mudskipper said | August 26th 2008 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
I’d like to see the New Zealand Maori play the remaining All Blacks…or a State of origin style match North vs. South island contest, now that would be excellent…
Shahsan said | August 26th 2008 @ 6:40pm | Report comment
Or just the old Possibles versus Probables. What great matches they used to be.
H-RAINE said | August 26th 2008 @ 6:52pm | Report comment
they could have a more intertaning samoa/tonga/figi vs new zealend match now that would be better
True Tah said | August 27th 2008 @ 10:42am | Report comment
OJ,
re: you’re questioning of why the game is not being played in Samoa, I understand that the Islander sides always prefer to play NZ in NZ – they reckon they will get more money that way.
The ABs have never played a test match in the Islands, and given the strong links between NZ and the Islands, I thought this was strange, so I looked into it.
Pretty much all the 6 Nations have played in the Islands, and Australia last played their in the 1980s against Fiji.
The ABs should be playing for their Air NZ Cup sides – does the Air NZ Cup get decent crowds?
ohtani's jacket said | August 27th 2008 @ 10:54am | Report comment
I’m sure they prefer to play in Auckland not Taranaki.
The Air NZ Cup gets poor crowds and basically has no future as a professional competition. Too many of the Unions are running at a loss and the fact you have to pay an All Black despite the fact he doesn’t play for you is ridiculous.
Artruo said | August 27th 2008 @ 11:06am | Report comment
You would get more crowds in Apia then you would in Yarrow Stadium for this type of game. Besides majority of Samoans support the All Blacks not Aussies or SA. But money is everything to the AB, thats probably why they have not won a world cup in 21 years. Promote the game to the true fans of rugby that deserve it.
ohtani's jacket said | August 28th 2008 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
There’s a bit of a new crinkle to this now that Joe Rokocoko is returning to club rugby this weekend.
Depending on how he goes, Henry might be tempted to bring him back for the Samoa Test, though I guess it’s a long shot. There will be obvious doubts over his match fitness and whether he can slot into the kicking game.