Destructive dark horse of Rugby World Cup
Roar Guru By KingsofCommentary, 25 Aug 2011 KingsofCommentary is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua, Kahn Fotuali’i, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, Samoa, wallabies
Related coverage
- Rugby Union news
- Wallabies news
- Rugby World Cup 2011 news
- New Zealand All Blacks news
- Rugby 2011 news
Manu Samoa, the tenth-ranked IRB nation, recently sent shockwaves through the rugby world with an utterly convincing win over the second-ranked Australians.
The side, marshaled by dynamic Crusader’s halfback Kahn Fotuali’i, is a world-class unit that combines the qualities of raw power and unbridled flare that has characterized Pacific rugby for decades.
This time, though, maturity, accuracy and composure are in the mix.
Samoa’s squad harbors potent firepower, including winger Alesana Tuilagi, who steamrolled a quality Wallaby opposition involving Red’s dynamite Digby Ioane. Alesana is the older brother of Manu Tuilagi, who has been named for England in jersey 13 for the pinnacle tournament.
Head coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua has done a sterling job in uniting his team of overseas-based players.
One can only imagine the threat Samoa would pose, if their full complement could also comprise of Samoan stock that have previously been capped by other nations, but for that reason, are subsequently ruled ineligible for their homeland.
Looking towards the Rugby World Cup then, now a matter of days away, this team hailing from the western-most parts of the Samoan Islands, is poised to inflict some serious damage in their pool and into the final rounds en route to their desired destination at Eden Park.
Notably, 30 minutes south of the Rugby World Cup headquarters is the de facto heart of the Pacific nations, which is Otara and the surrounding suburbs of South Auckland.
This means, the players will be as comfortable in this setting as they would on the streets of Apia, thus eliminating any geographical trepidation. It is a competitive edge against foes travelling from much farther afield.
Samoa is housed in Rugby World Cup’s Pool D, and open their campaign against Namibia on September 14 in Rotorua. They then face:
- Wales: September 18 at Hamilton
- Fiji: September 25 at Auckland
- South Africa: September 30 at Auckland
Clearly, the lead contender in this Pool are defending champions South Africa.
However, based on present form, which includes two defeats against the Wallaby side Samoa beat, the Pacific warriors will be eyeing their first ever victory over the mighty Springboks in a rivalry that records six defeats from six matches.
Look then to Wales, a nation the Samoans have battled also on six previous occasions, for which they have secured three victories. A 50-50 split is incentive enough for the Pacific nation to go one-up on the Welsh.
Fiji represent a genuine threat based on a history of fierce rivalry, that for Samoa, records 15 wins, 3 draws and 25 losses from 43 matches.
In saying that, momentum and focus are Samoa’s friends against a Fijian XV suffering political and economic upheaval.
Theoretically, should Samoa secure a first ever victory over the Springboks, they would finish on top of their pool and likely face Ireland in a thoroughly winnable quarter-final.
However, a second-placing in their pool would likely force a rematch against the Wallabies.
A quarter-final victory for the Samoans, will see them pitched against a team derived from Pools A and B, which include New Zealand, France, England, Scotland and Argentina.
Historically, the farthest Samoa has advanced in a Rugby World Cup is to the quarter-final stage.
In 1991, Samoa was defeated by Scotland 6-28 at Murrayfield Stadium. Scotland would also be the exit-point for the Samoans in 1999 via a quarter-final playoff, which they lost 20-35.
1995 was the other quarter-final occasion in which the Pacific nation was bravely defeated by an inspired South African XV, 14-42 at Ellis Park Johannesberg.
The same Springbok side would go on to hoist the Webb Ellis Trophy following an epic final victory over the All Blacks, 15-12.
Now, in the final countdown till Rugby World Cup 2011, builds a calm and menacing confidence in the Samoan camp ahead of another historic campaign.
And whilst New Zealand’s hopes are firmly fixed on the fortunes of our own First XV to quench 24 years of barrenness, hearts will also point fondly towards the plight of our brothers from the Pacific.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
August 25th 2011 @ 5:21am
jus de couchon said | August 25th 2011 @ 5:21am | Report comment
Wish Samoa the best. Its sad we in England have poached a Tuiliaga . Would have liked to have seen Samoas first game be S.A. before the quater finnal machinations muddy things.
August 25th 2011 @ 6:40am
Jose Naranja said | August 25th 2011 @ 6:40am | Report comment
Excellent post Kings. Samoa will be a crowd favourite at the RWC. If you do come up against Ireland things should go your way as they’ve really been in the doldrums lately. Samoa versus the Boks? The two most physical sides in rugby. What a clash it’ll be. Go Samoa.
August 25th 2011 @ 7:52am
AdamS said | August 25th 2011 @ 7:52am | Report comment
It’s wihout a doubt the toughest, most physical pool. Samoa can put in a spoiler, possibly adding injury to insult. As can Fiji, the only saving grace is that Fiji and Samoa meet each other before their final games against the Welsh and Boks . Above all others this one is anyones for the taking. I don’t see the Boks as any certainty to take this pool. If they don’t it throws most peoples predictions of progression right out the window.
Picture the RWC post pool stage if France spoil the AB’s and Wales or Samoa take out their pool, it’s all over the shop.
August 25th 2011 @ 7:59am
The Bush said | August 25th 2011 @ 7:59am | Report comment
The difficulty with this pool for Fiji and Samoa is that they need to not just get up against the other Island, but also against Wales to go through to the knock-out stages. Sadly I can foresee one of those two (2) teams beating Wales, but then losing to the other Island nations and thus allowing Wales to go through on something like bonus points or for-and-against.
August 25th 2011 @ 8:11am
Uncle Argyle said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:11am | Report comment
I can’t agree mate. I think Samoa’s win over Australia was deserved but will go down as another ‘flash-in-the-pan’ type performance. I have no doubt of the Samoan’s toughness nor ability. I do question their one dimensional play and a smart team will beat them with sound tactics not meeting their physicality with a direct running game.
It is for this reason I don’t think the Welsh will look to take any team on up front for too long. I think they will rely on 10 man rugby, field position, drop and penalty goals. I think this will frustrate teams like Fiji and Samoa who will want the game to flow and for the Welsh to run at them (Australia’s mistake). I think Wales will win the pool!
As for South Africa they may get sucked into the crash and bash game and if Morne Steyn is not playing to kick goals the Jappies could be a surpise scalp for either Samoa or Fiji.
August 25th 2011 @ 8:36am
obert said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:36am | Report comment
manu samoa is not going to beat wales with the crap team it just named..tasesa lavea at flyhalf? you gotta be kidding me..
August 25th 2011 @ 9:35am
KiwiDave said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Tusi Pisi too though
August 25th 2011 @ 8:54am
King of the Gorgonites said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:54am | Report comment
I have made this bold prediction before, but i believe SA will be the team to miss out in this pool.
Wales will beat SA in the opening game. pressure will be on SA big time. if the boks than lose to fiji or Samoa they are essentially done. it could all come down to the last match of the pool, samoa v boks, winner takes all.
what a story that would be. the wallabies would much rather play samoa than the boks.
August 26th 2011 @ 2:58pm
jaysper said | August 26th 2011 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
hmmm, i think theres a snowballs chace in hell that the boks will exit in pool play
August 26th 2011 @ 3:21pm
kovana said | August 26th 2011 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
They said the said the same thing about a Q-final Exit for the ABs in 2007..
August 25th 2011 @ 10:04am
sheek said | August 25th 2011 @ 10:04am | Report comment
The islanders – Samoa, Fiji & Tonga – have another problem that all nations will face, but perhaps for them even more a problem – the refs.
Lack of discipline is an ingrained trait in the islanders. They don’t like being shackled, especially by the ref. And the refs are the so-called elephants in the room. We can see them all around us, but we don’t want to talk about them!
So this, plus the fact most of the islanders don’t develop the style & structure to get past the occassional blinder, might see them flounder when it matters most.
But I’ll be happy for one of them to prove me wrong…..
August 25th 2011 @ 11:13am
Adam said | August 25th 2011 @ 11:13am | Report comment
I think the fact that so many of the Samoan team now play in Europe is going to see them perform very highly. There is no longer the traditional fading out in the second half. I believe Samoa and to a lesser extent Fiji, will be able to perform for the full 80 minutes and give Wales and SA a real run for their money.
August 25th 2011 @ 12:01pm
knockon said | August 25th 2011 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
Agree re the Refs. The most biased refereeing performance I’ve ever seen was a world cup game between samoa and england. Dickinson blew the samoans off the park, literally. Eventually the did get frustrated and the game became a joke.
August 25th 2011 @ 8:04pm
Shahsan said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
No, the worst reffing display against Samoa was Jim Fleming in the Samoans’ quarterfinal vs South Africa at the 1995 World Cup. I would argue that at least three of the Springboks’ three tries were illegal (go watch the tape). Good for Chester Williams but Fleming, like Derek Bevan in the semi, clearly knew which team he wanted going through. Maybe he got a gold watch too from Louis Luyt.
The problem for the island teams, in fact for all the smaller nations, is that refs take the opportunity to show off their knowledge of the law books when they ref the small teams, something they dont dare do when they ref the biggest nations. How many times do refs dare penalise McCaw or Pocock or Brussow, or Botha, Du Plessis, for examples, without paying the price?