There are two things about Samoan rugby that give it a distinctive edge. First, there is the cultural pride that Samoa is the center of the universe, that often lifts the players to perform superbly on difficult occasions.
In the Rugby World Cup in 1991, the Samoans defeated Wales at Cardiff, a feat that was often beyond some of the then Five Nations teams for most of the previous decade.
Second, there is a physicality about the play of the Samoans that can be totally intimidating when they get on top of their opponents.
On these occasions, and Sunday at ANZ Stadium was just such an occasion, Samoa not only beats their opposition, they beat them up.
And this is what happened on Sunday afternoon.
On a slippery field, with rain falling from time to time, Samoa defied their underdog tag and tore into a makeshift Wallaby side like attack dogs. The Samoans looked much bigger than the Wallabies. They played bigger and harder.
The victory was not a fluke, and that is the disturbing aspect of it for Robbie Deans and the Wallaby coaching staff. The Samoans scored tries, and could have scored more.
Their scrum held up, even when Samoa was down to a seven-man pack, which turns the spotlight on the Wallaby scrum. The Samoan lineout was competent. There was one lineout loss on their five-metre line, thanks to a great leap from Daniel Vickerman.
The Wallabies were not able to slice through with attacks, in the manner of the Reds. There is a difference in quality between Super Rugby and Test rugby, especially when it is played with the intensity of Sunday’s match.
The captaincy of Rocky Elsom has to come under question.
He would have gone on to the field with a game plan that committed the Wallabies to playing a fast game to move around the bulkier Samoans. Part of that game plan too would have called for forcing attacking situations like five-metre lineouts.
But when Samoa went in front in the first minutes of the match, and then scored a try to take a 10 – 0 lead, the penny should have dropped that this was not going to be the expected walkover. The Samoans had to be taken out of the game as early as possible. If it needed kicking penalties to do this, then kick the penalties.
It should not have needed someone sending a message out on the field to Elsom to get this message across. A smart captain would have picked up the vibes virtually from the kick-off which Samoa contested and won.
It is with the benefit of hindsight now but it is evident that the game was lost when Elsom turned down three easy shots at goal after conceding the early penalty.
I would not expect the All Blacks, for instance, next Friday against Fiji, to take their opponents so lightly.
Of course Deans had to use this game to sort some of the players who had done well in the Super Rugby tournament, to find out his 30 players for the Rugby World Cup 2011 squad. And in this sense, there is some truth in the alleged (but in my opinion infrequently accurate) truism that you learn more from a loss than a victory.
What did Deans learn?
Rod Davies, Beau Robinson, Nathan Sharpe (perhaps), Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom are not up to Test standard right now.
Elsom, playing his second game of the year will probably come right. Whether he necessarily has to captain the run-on side (and whether he makes it) are big questions for Deans to answer. My guess is that Deans will stay with Elsom, just as he did as All Blacks coach with Reuben Thorne.
Davies, Robinson and Giteau look like lost causes, as far as I’m concerned. Giteau has the advantage that he plays in every position of the backline.
Having him in the Wallabies squad means that Deans needs to carry only two specialist halfbacks, Will Genia and Luke Burgess. This gives him the option of, say, selecting four props.
I’ve noticed before in the season that Davies tends to slip over going to a tackle. He is small and this is a rugby league trick for small backs running the ball back to save themselves from being monstered and allowing for a quick play-the-ball. But in rugby union it gives the opposition a good chance of a turnover, and this is what happened on Sunday.
Robinson gave away penalties and generally was ineffective in his stint on the field.
Sharpe made one good bust, but when the Wallaby scrum struggles a bit when he is playing, you have to think that his pushing is not vigorous or purposeful enough.
Whether Vickerman is the answer as the jumping second-rower remains an open question. He put a lot of pressure on the Samoan lineout. He hit some of the rucks and mauls with a vengeance. All in all, he is probably a better prospect with James Horwill than Sharpe going into the Rugby World Cup tournament.
The three players who impressed me were Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane and Scott Higginbotham.
McCabe put a monster hit on in the first plays of the game. He ran strongly. Deans is clearly looking for a big inside centre to protect the middle of the field against the big runners that the Springboks (with their best side), France and the All Blacks will field.
Ioane was the best Wallaby on the field.
He made breaks virtually every time he got the ball. As in the Super Rugby tournament, he was a handful for the defensive line, especially running the ball back from kicks.
Higginbotham came on late and made an impact. The issue here is that his best position is blindside flanker, Elsom’s slot.
In my view, players who make an impact with their play should start the match when their impact value is higher than towards the end of the match in most occasions. So here is a difficult selection problem for Deans to resolve.
In the 54th minute of the match, with the scoreline Samoa 24 – Australia 16, the Wallabies’ big guns, Will Genia and Kurtley Beale, came on.
There was plenty of time for them to pull the match out of the fire. But the fact is that while they were on the field, the Wallabies scored seven points and the Samoans eight.
This is a statistic that tells us all about momentum in big sport. Even with a lot of time on the board, the momentum of the match was all with the Samoans.
Beale actually played splendidly. He made several breaks and took the ball up strongly. Genia, still a bit tired from the Super Rugby final, made some uncharacteristic passing mistakes.
But we get back to the way the Wallabies started by not respecting the Samoans at the beginning of the Test.
Next Saturday the Springboks are putting on to the field at ANZ Stadium a very much second XV. The lesson from the Samoan Test is that games have to won on the field.
I would expect the stronger side that Deans will select for this Test, hopefully the best side he can put on the field, to step up and do to the Springboks what the Samoans did to them.
Justin
Guest
Because he is slower than a draught horse and has no passing ability.
sph45
Guest
Thoughts on JOC at 10 if Quade gets injured?
Blind Freddie
Guest
I thought the way some of the Wallabies played, they were scared of getting injured what with the world cup not far away they just might be a bit desperate not get injured now if you know what I mean.
Handles O'Love
Guest
so what?
stu
Guest
I agree - Giteau concertina-ed the space the outside backs had and by not attacking the linelet the samoans play a sliding defence - going over the top in the somme would have been a safer option than picking up one of his hospital passes. There was real lack of brains on the park - the samoans were match fit and by the time they scored their third try were never going to capitulate.
Melb Rebel
Guest
I have never seen a #8 get hit backwards or behind the gain line as Macalman. And not this test match. Bring back Pocock and I think a big difference. gee I wish George Smith could be available for experience and even off the bench. The backs well, it all started going backwards and sideways with Giteau. Gee this guy has lost confidence. Against another side other than Samoa and his style seems better suited to outside yes? So the question is inside centre and you think Fainga or O'Connor. Horse for courses. Davies v Tuiglia? But after 3 tries in semi and good final the bloke would be feeling pretty bad. I actually would play the utility Ash Cooper at full back because he would end up defending for Cooper. My biggest bug bear continues to be how much time is wasted during test matches. Should have a RWC rule that we have timeout for everything, scrums , kicks at goal etc.
Ben S
Roar Guru
McCalman didn't spend his time on he wing, BennO, and Australia were getting dicked down the middle, so why send on a loose forward to play out wide?
Canon
Guest
What a game! With all the crowing that the likes of Spiro Zavos have been doing after the Red's victory, I must admit to a real sense of pleasure in seeing Samoa do a number on the Wallabies. Super Rugby form does not translate immediately to internationals and hopefully now that message is clear. Let's be honest, if Elsom went for penalties from the start and the Wallabies won most people would've been furious at how cautious Elsom was being. The point was amply illustrated by how the crowd cheered when they kicked for the corner flag. I honestly thought Elsom had a pretty good game, for someone who has only played one game all year. The blindside flanker's role in the team is a thankless one because often it goes unnoticed. Protect the blindside, hit the rucks and mauls and occasionally carry the ball - he ticked all those boxes. Elsom is a quality player and it wont be long before he gets upto speed. For all those who are clamouring for Higginbotham to come in at 6, the guy has no international exposure! He will get shown up for his lack of experience by the likes of Ferris, Dusautoir, Smith and Kaino. Elsom is a decent captain and you need to give him more credit. Captaincy is something that you grow into, amply shown by Richie McCaw who probably the best captain gong around right now. He wasn't good at the '07 WC and only started coming into is own around 08/09 I would say - 2 - 3 years after being made captain. Would you really want someone like Horwill, Genia, Sharpe or Pocock (the names I've been hearing) to be captain against McCaw, Dusautoir or Smit in a WC quarterfinal or semifinal, in their very first year of captaincy? The would get outplayed and outwitted and that will immediately spread through the entire team. The biggest problem that the Wallabies have is that their tight five is poor. Losing Benn Robinson was a massive blow IMHO and there aren't any international class props left. Against the Samoans, the tight five didn't scrummage well, didn't hit the rucks hard and the mauling was very poor. The entire back line 9-15 suffered as a result of this and there is no point in pointing fingers at Phipps and Giteau (both of whom had reasonable games) when they are getting very poor ball from the forwards. Some of the Samoan forward play was real old school stuff, and until they ran out of puff late in each half you could've thrown a blanket over the 8 of them. Fantastic. As a AB fan I will say I am more than happy with the way things are going on our end and do believe we have a super opportunity to lift the cup this year. It does not mean that I hope the Wallabies play badly, I would rather beat you at your very best. My suggestion to you guys is stop whinging and get behind your team. Stop reading the rubbish spouted by people like Spiro Zavos who are just looking for the next headline and make up your minds as to how your team is going. You do no good to your team by second guessing it.
GrecoRoman
Roar Guru
Thanks AK. Was busy at work today, so I couldn't make a contribution. I would write an article, but I suspect it would probably be rejected by the mods.
John Allyne
Guest
Why Not Tom Carter
Marc David
Guest
The problem i saw was there was too many Brumbies in the starting team. Of course they were gonna play like them then! Giteau was in control of the team and they played the meaningless drivel they have played all year. He should have been taken off at half time and Beale at fly half, only cause quade or oconnor didn't play. Same thing this week. If you want the team to play like the Reds you must pick the Reds team. Horwill, Higgs, Samo, Quade, Genia and Faingai should start
Coxinator
Guest
I asked the same question in my article posted a few months back when JON re-signed.
Truth be Told
Guest
Unfortunately they are about to introduce a quota system limiting the number of overseas based players in each team...
cookee
Guest
no deans aint smart i agree J-B
brumbyjack
Roar Rookie
Only one course of action available.....The captain, Two dads, and Kid dynamite should get together and lobby for the coach to be sacked.....surely it was all the coaches fault
cookee
Guest
they are not involved but mackenzie should be.
cookee
Guest
sheek,and blaming elsom is less simplistic than a coach who prepares for an inevitable loss in your book.theres no cows sheek.go the reds.
Bruce Rankin
Guest
Sadly I was unable to go to the game or watch it on TV.....given how well Samoa played I'll definitely catch a replay if I can......... much soul searching for Deans and the Wallabies. Coincidentally last Thursday night I went to an LBW Trust “Rhythm & Swing” dinner held at the Strangers Room in NSW Parliament, with Sir Richard Hadlee as keynote speaker and Rocky Elsom as Guest speaker – both to be interviewed by Stephanie Brantz. Rocky Elsom did not show or even send an apology!! In hindsight the “no show” by Rocky appears to epitomise his performance against Samoa. After the 2007 World Cup I wrote an article for The Roar on "The Art of Captaincy", espousing Elsom's credentials as the future Wallabies captain. Based on Elsom's "no show" performance last Thursday night and clearly, according to all reports, his "out of his depth" on field performance yesterday, my judgement was sadly misplaced. Fortunately Mark Ella was in the audience and agreed to step in for an impromptu interview by Stephanie. Mark did a fantastic job and wowed the audience with amusing tales from his rugby career – plenty of laughs. He was asked what he thought of Quade Cooper..... “he’s the wrong colour” – great hilarity. Also fortunately, the Wallabies now appear to have a natural captain and vice-captain in Horwill and Genia - both unchallenged in their respective positions for the Wallabies. They have both proved their leadership credentials in the toughest provincial competition in world rugby. All that remains is for Robbie Deans to take a deep breath and make the critical change.
johnny-boy
Guest
It's bugging me, do they have any small wiry people in Samoa :)
lACHIE
Guest
mmm do you think the aussies choked ?