Manu Samoa added to their already formidable reputation by comfortably beating the Wallabies 32-23 in the first Test match of 2011.
Samoa played very well. In the first passage of play, they showed composure and accuracy with the ball, befitting a higher ranked country. Samoa went on to outplay the Wallabies across the park for most of the game.
The breakdown was one way traffic for the brutal Samoan forwards. They dominated so much that the Wallabies could not even rely on simple recycling plays.
Either the ball was lost or, as a minimum, it was slowed down so much that it was a very tough day for the youngster, Phipps.
The game was won and lost at the breakdown.
This game was reminiscent of the 2007 Rugby World Cup game against England.
The other countries in the same Rugby World Cup pool as Samoa – Fiji, Namibia, South Africa and Wales – should be worried and make sure that they have their health insurance fully paid up. Samoa could be the surprise packets of the 2011 tournament as Argentina were in 2007.
Wales, in particular, could become the next victim of the Samoan smash and grab raid. At least it won’t be a new experience for them.
As for the Wallabies, the back row and particularly Hodgson and Elsom had no answer to Samoa at the breakdown. Timani was found out by the step up in power and pace. His day will come, but he won’t be on the plane to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup. Alexander has lost his running game of yesteryear.
Nothing has changed with Giteau’s play. Despite his passionate play, particularly in last line defence, he continued to go across field all day. This allowed the defence to drift and destroyed his backline’s alignment and ability to attack straight up the field, make ground and score points.
His running lines verged on making the Wallabies’ backs space a hostile and unsafe work environment. Just ask Rod Davies.
McCabe straightened the attack and made yards all afternoon. He is a value for money player. It will be interesting to see who Robbie Deans selects at 12.
Will it be a McCabe/Faingaa “straight talking” inside centre or a Giteau/O’Connor “creative type” second flyhalf?
Adam Ashley-Cooper was better than he has been in 2011 for the Brumbies, but that is not saying much. I am a big fan but he needs to recapture his form soon, for everyone’s sake.
Ioane trucked the ball up all day but didn’t find the gaps that exist in Super Rugby. Davies showed he can handle the rough stuff but needs to put the long studs in.
Gerrard played well when called upon but was too passive in his contribution to the attack.
Despite being a passionate card carrying Australian, I enjoyed seeing the Wallabies found out today. The game performed a most important function; it was a full frontal, reality check.
The debutantes and discovered and the experienced players were reminded that you can take nothing for granted at this level, and particularly only six weeks from the RWC. Test rugby requires massive physicality, bordering on self destruction. Only one team, Samoa, was playing with that commitment today.
My main concern is that, despite the Wallabies knowing what to expect, and then experiencing what they had had known to expect, they did not or could not respond or go with the Samoans.
For Manu Samoa, and World Rugby, I just hope that this squad continue to play with this self belief and commitment. If so, Manu Samoa (as Pool D runners up) could meet Australia in the Quarter Final.
SamoanGuy
Guest
I just wanna remind u guys that everyone knew that pacific islander teams were good they just never lasted 20 mins, look now Samoa has proved that they can play 100 mins. Did u see the last tuilagi hit? Genia ran blind side (which he did all season for the reds and never gotten smashed) against to supposedly lazy samoan team in the last 5 mins and got belted by London Irish Centrepiece Seilala Mapusua he passed it to Digby he got smashed by Crusaders' Khan Foutuali'i he passed it to Rod Davies and he got absolutely taken back to his childhood Leicester's Alesana Tuilagi, it takes a complete ignorant ipswich bogan to overlook Samoa's performance. Samoa outscored Australia 4 to 2, there's no Kiwi excuse that Daniel Carter kicked 10 penalties, Samoa was absolute dominating in the ruck, dominant in the middle and even dominant on the edges, Samoa won all their line outs except their last one in their very own 5m line, Everyone says that Pocock would've added some mongrel in the rucks? really last time i checked Beau Robinson was the form Super 15 flanker (he carved up Ritchie McCaw in the S15 final) but got smashed at 3 times against the big samoan loosies (loss the ball twice too), Genia & Beale came in and they both got smashed.... to be honest Kurtley Beale to me is the Best Wallaby back, i know Quade Cooper won the S15 but to be honest, if u have a short memory Quade Cooper becomes wobbly cooper when he gets pressured, and the pressure the samoans put on the weekend was nothing we've ever seen before, even by the all blacks.... name a time u've seen a team absolutely rip apart the wallabies, u can name that time the bok's gave wallabies a hiding couple of years ago, but that was from like 7 Timana Tahu mistakes.... seriously everyone got smashed...... IGNORE SAMOA AT YOUR VERY OWN PERIL
Happy Islander
Guest
I totaly agree with 'ptovey01' Rocky Elsom a captain ?? Not at all. As a Full supporter for the All Blacks & Manu Samoa, I totaly think Nathan Sharpe should be a captain. He showed so muh heart that he wanted to win that game yet, DID MORE TALKING THAN ROCKY ELSOM. But I have to say: GO THE MANU SAMOA. You did us all proud.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Good for you. Hope you all had a great party.
Johnno
Guest
Hardly rare they are already are the most dominant race of people PACIFIC ISLANDERS POLYNESIAN AND MELANISAIAN and biggest superstars in contact sport. SBW JONAH LOMU TANA UMAGA INGA TUIGAMALA BACHOP BROTHERS SAMO, ILIE TABUA RUPENI THAU THAU, ROCKOKO, WALSEI SERAVI, SIVVATU, JOELI VIDIRI TATAFA PO0LATA NOU, WYVLIFF PALU, KEPU, OLO BROWN, DIGBY IONAE ,THE GIANT TONGAN PROP FOR NORTHHAMPTON, TUILAGI BROTHERS, WILLIE MASON TOTAUI KEFU, JOC ROCKOKOKO, TIMANI, RODNEY BLAKE, JERRY COLLINS, RODNEY SOLIALO, JEROME KAINO, MICHEAL JONES, FRANK BUNCE, MA NONU, KEVIN MELAMU, MICHAL JONES, FRANK BUNCE, DANEIL MANU, WILLIE OFANGOHUE, AND THAT IS ONLT TO NAME A FEW, havent even mentioned rugby league. Here's a few Jarryd hayne, manu Vatuvi, steve kearney,SBW, Francis meli, Ruben WIKI, ali lauititi, joe VAGANA, DAVE SOLOMONA, RICHIARD VILIASANTI,FRANK PRITCHARD, DAVID KIDWELL, DAVID FALANGOU, SAM RAPIRA, PETRO CIVONOCEVIA, NOA NADRUKUJOHN LOMAX, QUINTAIN PONGIA, LESLEY VANIKOLO RUNION TO. TEVITA VAIKONA. I Could go on and on of the contribution pacific island talent has made to rugby league and rugby union in the last 20 years, and now not suprisingly AMERICAN FOOTBALL which I no little about.
bennalong
Guest
Another reality check was the standard of refereeing It's obviously not kosher to mention it when Samoa played with such zeal and deserved their win, but Marius Jonker was terrible. It's always like this around World Cup time and the 'minnows' are treated to lenient calls Perhaps it doesn't matter Perhaps it's good But it doesn't sit well when the team uses shoulder charges, is off side at the rucks and mauls and takes out players on the ground and in the air. This is not a defence of a headless Wallaby performance but crap refing must be called to account
Aware
Guest
In contrast to Samoa, my impression was that the Wallabies lacked energy and motivation. A coach must be a big part in providing that. Deans has not impressed me as a coach. He may have been a master in NZ but they have a different rugby culture to us. I would opt for Ewan McKenzie because succcess breeds success and he knows the Ausralian game ...and not just because he coached the Reds to the Super title.
Naki
Guest
Shows you how little you know about NZ rugby Johnno trying to play the poaching card. I think you actually may want to check where some of the Pacific Island lads were born SBW Tana, Mealamu for example, in the current squad of 30 ABs only three were not born in NZ. By the way Michael Jones and SBW also have a Pakeha parent as well they have as much right to play for NZ as they do Samoa but in reality they are kiwis first but of Samoan heritage. You do understand that Auckland is the biggest Polynesian city in the world right?
robert
Guest
samoa has a great team and used this year's pacific nations cup to try out combinations..don't know what deans had in mind when he picked saturday's wallabies team..the forwards were pus-sies and the backs were little smurfs (and davies got raped on the wing)..they were always going to get smashed..
WayneO
Guest
He would be silly to present anything less then the best team he can. This will be a fixture that will be very telling for the Wallabies. A win and they are some part of the way back on track. A loss and the knives will be out everywhere.
Keith
Guest
HA-ha!
Maggie
Guest
Verbal spray. The Wallabies deserved to lose. Most should be ashamed to be wearing the Wallabies jersey, in this World Cup year, after the resounding loss to Samoa. Aside from the mismatch at the breakdown the Samoans gave away alot of penalties due to their fierce contesting. The Wallabies failed to convert most of these penalties into points. Were they crazy? In the first half they had a chance to kick for goal at least 3 times. Instead they kicked for touch to apply pressure at the lineout and push across for a try. This is a test match and points should be taken whenever they present themselves. The Wallabies would have had a better chance then of playing catch up Rugby. They played no way out Rugby and left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Johnno
Guest
I keep putting the question how many samoan palyers would make the all black team, they are vastly improved pro team form the team that got belted by 60 points in 2003 and 2007 world cups vs south africa. But other than than the wing tualigi who in my opinion is the no 1 winger now in the wolrd and maybe henry tuialgi, and joe tekori who didnt play how many would make the final All blacks 22. SBW of course who is now the best player in world rugby in my opinion he is samoan heritage, maybe digby ioane would make the all blacks another of samoan heritage. Samoa like Australia and allthe other main teams is a top 10-15 team in the wolrd the onyl team gurantedd to be in the top 2 in the world is NEw Zealand the rest it is an open horse race from 2-15 anyone can beat anybody on the day. Only team that cna be seen as a genuine world cup favoroutie and would start favorutie anywehre any place on planet earth currently is the nz all blacks. Who mind you like australia,NZ and now england try and get the best pacific island talent to play for them have been doing it for 25 plus years. eg SBW , JONAH LOMU, TUIAGAMALA, TANA UMAGA, TUILAGI BORTHERS, (the ALL BLACKS tried to get Rupeni thau thau) ROCOKO, SIVIVATU, SAMO, ILLIE TABUA,TOTUAI KEFU, PALU, TPN, TIMANI, MICHELA JONES, FRANK BUNCE, KEVIN MEALAMU, BACHOP BROTHERS, WILLIE OFANGOUHE, DANIEL MANU,OLO BROWN, I COULD GO ON AND ON
Hebrew Tie Tie
Guest
We absolutely smashed you walapeez all day yesterday!! & to say it was ur "b" team??.. OH WOT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!! elsom, sharpe, giteau, cooper, genia, ioane, vickerman, moore juz to name a few... that doesnt like a B team to me so just suck it up & admit to the fact that you's were totally outplayed n outclassed by the MIGHTY MANU SAMOA!!! O AI LE TOA!!! CHOOO HOOO HOOO!!!!
formeropenside
Guest
McCalman! I hope not - he was found out in 2010.
Aware
Guest
American football is very much an impact game. Proves my point.
robert
Guest
there's also about 40 samoans playing in the nfl..funny cause there's not that many samoans in the u.s (population 320 million)..most of them from american samoa (population 60,000)..
Aware
Guest
Despite all the lambasting of the Wallabies, It may be more the case that Polynesians, like black Africans in basketball, are physically ideal for the game of rugby and will eventually become the dominant race in the game. Their size, pace and ability to impact with power makes them physically ideal. Look at the enormous number of Polynesians now playing in French and British professional clubs sides. These are now starting to filter through to national ranks and you will see more players of Polynesian extraction playing for major world powers in rugby. It used to be rare for them to play for the All Blacks, but now they must be just about the majority. This trend will continue, especially as there were so many playing for different countries in the recent junior world championships.
Kuruki
Guest
True but out of those players who is actually available?? there's no point including players that are not available for selection anyway. There were plenty of players on the paddock in that game that will play the majority of the Tri Nations for Australia. Alexander, Moore, Sharpe, McCalman, Genia, Beale, AAC, Giteau, Kepu they will al feature heavily in the Australian campaign.
robert
Guest
the scary thing is that wasn't the best samoan team..henry tuilagi is coming off the injury list..and he's a massive unit..joe tekori at 6'7" brings bulk and power to the scrums..alafoti faosiliva will bring speed and bulk from the back of the scrum..treviranus is also a solid and speedy unit with great ball skills..can play at seven but a wrecking ball on the wing..Lolo Lui is an option at 10 or 15..coach tafua has quite an arsenal at his disposal.. but i think the biggest disrespect was having debutant rod davies mark alesana tuilagi..tuilagi is a juggernaut and a superstar in europe..davies is a nobody..lucky tuilagi didn't kill him..
the other Steve
Guest
Munster 09 Italy (scraped a win) 2010 Scotland 09 Recalling the last couple of November tours, the Samoa game could be considered part of a pattern where the Wallabies need absolutely every 'best' player to be on the park in order to win (or be competitive against the top five teams). The injuries list may be the death of RWC hopes.