The New Zealand Kiwis stole victory in the final minutes to secure their Four Nations finals date with a 14-12 win over Toa Samoa in a Herculean bout at Toll Stadium, Whangarei.
After facing off with the traditional pre-match war dances, the Samoan Siva Toa and the New Zealand Haka, the two teams traded heavy blows early.
Quick hands down New Zealand’s right side had Jason Nightingale charging for the line, but Tim Simona brought him down.
Tautau Moga snatched a sloppy pass from Pika Hiku and sprinted 80 metres to score for Samoa, though Tim Lafai was unable to convert. Shortly after down the other end, Kieran Foran caught a sneaky pass from Shaun Johnson and darted his way to the line.
Samoa coughed up a try, but were undeterred, as Ben Roberts produced a brilliantly deft grubber collected by Daniel Vidot to score in the corner. Lafai was again unable to capitalise with the conversion though.
Tempers flared at times and Joseph Leilua found himself face to face with a grinning Manu Vatuvei. Both players were exceptional in their nation’s colours, imitating front rowers by hammering the defence, mainly each other.
The Samoans faced multiple surges of black jerseys but kept forcing errors. Johnson probed, ducked, weaved but couldn’t crack them. Vatuvai was denied a try due to obstruction, and New Zealand finished the half trailing 8-6.
Buoyed by their lead, Samoa came out of the sheds after halftime with a purpose, pinning the Kiwis inside their 20 then scoring though Leilua in the corner, who fended off opponents as if they were small children.
Dominating physically as well as through completions and possession, Samoa were still only up 12-6 over a home team who had just dismantled the Australian Kangaroos last week, and as ill-discipline and fatigue began to creep into the Samoan side, New Zealand sensed their chance.
The Kiwis smashed their way up the field then unleashed a string of passes and offloads, culminating in Nightingale touching down in the corner. Unable to convert from out wide, Johnson was nonetheless wreaking havoc with his kicking, passing and running game, but the clock was ticking.
With five minutes to go, the New Zealand half-back produced a diamond play by sprinting across the field, shaking off Peter Godinet then offloading out the back, where the ball eventually found Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who slammed it down over the try line to make it 14-10.
A line drop-out cut down Toa Samoa’s time for a final resurgence, and while the never-say-die Leilua stole another intercept and took off down the paddock, his pass was deemed to have gone forward.
Despite the disappointment from the loss, Samoa came away from the match emboldened by their passion and commitment, being able to match it with a heavyweight like New Zealand, and will look to take the fight to the Australians next week.
And while assured a spot in Wellington on November 15, New Zealand will not be given a respite next week, as they face an English side next hell bent on World Cup semi-final revenge.
Basil B'borgnay
Guest
good point, if the haters had got their way and that no try had been corruptly awarded to the Poms, then both the Oz and Samoan teams would already be out! Instead we are in for a grand stand finish!! Haters, they really are the low life pits of the world!!
Breno92
Guest
Oh yeah definitely. This tournament has been great, terrific follow up from the nrl season. And I am definitely not ruling out a massive upset with Samoa. Who'd have thought they'd be leading New Zealand 12-10 with 5 minutes left with the performance NZ put in against Australia the week before?
Go Warriors
Guest
You are right Breno the exciting thing is every team can make the final but any team could also miss the final with a loss. What a cracking tournament so far. If NZ beat England then the winner of the Samoa v Aussie game will make the final. Who would have thought could be the scenario at the start of the tournament and with Samoa playing so well an upset would not be unthinkable.
Breno92
Guest
Way to miss my point completely. This isn't about Australia, it's about people who are saying New Zealand are assured of a finals spot. What I said was merely an example of how New Zealand could possibly miss the final. Do I think that will happen? No. I expect NZ to beat England, but they still need to win or lose by 8 points or less to be "assured" of anything. Do I expect Australia to beat Samoa by 30? No. Again, it was just an example used to point out a way NZ could miss the final...
Les from POM
Guest
Breno92, you hellbent on pushing your vote for Aus to make the final despite the fact that their chances are very slim given the scenario that you have highlighted. Samoa will definitely lift for the game against Aus like most RL playing nations do these days and if their past 2 games against ENG & NZ is anything to go by, Aus is looking more likely to miss the final. Samoa by 4.
cedric
Guest
your right with that points spread, and the way the kiwis' went against Samoa should get them there against England I would think. Cause kiwis' were dissallowed 2 trys, that I thought were certain trys, but I could be a bit one eyed!! But Samoa pushed the kiwis and I'm sure England will. But I do think the kiwis were a bit flat and maybe believed they were above the Samoan team, and nearly weren't!! If Kiwis lose by 10, only the Samoans can help us. Bring on Saturday night!!!!!!!!!
Breno92
Guest
To answer both your responses. If I was a betting man, no, I wouldn't be putting money on those results, but that wasn't my point. My point was this article stated NZ are assured of a finals place when that isn't the case at all. Yes, NZ have put themselves in a great position being a win ahead and with such a healthy P/A playing England in New Zealand. Win and they're in, even a loss of 8 or less will see them through. But if the scenario I painted above does happen, New Zealand will miss out. Optimistic? Maybe. However Australia will know their scenario come Sundays game against Samoa. New Zealand win, Australia just need to beat Samoa. England win, Australia not only have to win, but win big. How likely that is, is irrelevant, it's still a possibility and NZ can still miss out.
Breno92
Guest
To answer both your responses. If I was a betting man, no, I wouldn't be putting money on those results, but that wasn't my point. My point was this article stated NZ are assured of a finals place when that isn't the case at all. Yes, NZ have put themselves in a great position being a win ahead and with such a healthy P/A playing England in New Zealand. Win and they're in, even a loss of 8 or less will see them through. But if the scenario I painted above does happen, New Zealand will miss out. Optimistic? Maybe. However Australia will know their scenario come Sundays game against Samoa. New Zealand win, Australia just need to beat Samoa. England win, Australia not only have to win, but win big. How likely that is, is irrelevant, it's still a possibility and NZ can still miss out.
da plane
Guest
not quite if England win by 10 and Australia by 25 NZ miss out
Realist
Guest
Very optimistic saying Australia will beat Samoa by 30. An upset is on the cards, Australia should have lost against England, that disallowed try was rubbsih. Samoa by 8.
2ztala
Guest
They say numbers never lie. And you're absolutely right with what you say but here's a number I'd like to hear; how much you're willing to bet on what you said happening. 'Cause budda I'll take the bet.
Matthew Edwards
Guest
You are right, I have had the exact same problem with them. I'd say it is the most likely scenario, a win next week would essentially get any of the 3 teams into the final, except Australia who need to win and win big.
Breno92
Guest
Everyone keeps saying that NZ are through to the final, but am I missing something? After today's game, the table currently stands like this; 1. New Zealand - 4 (20) 2. England - 2 (2) 3. Australia - 2 (-14) 4. Samoa - 0 (-8) With Australia to play Samoa, and New Zealand to play England. To me, NZ aren't assured of anything yet. Say Australia come out all guns firing against Samoa knowing they need to win and win well with such a poor P/A, and Samoa after taking it to England and New Zealand the last two weeks, just don't have the gas to match it with the Aussies, lets just say Australia run out 30 odd point winners. The next game between New Zealand and England lets just say England win by 12, the final standings would then read; Australia - 4 (16) England - 4 (14) New Zealand - 4 (8) Samoa - 0 (-38) So Australia would play England in the Final would they not? Now, I know I'm dealing in a lot of "what ifs" and "maybes" but you have to take those into account before you go around claiming New Zealand are "assured" of a Finals place. They still have to win to be to guaranteed a spot, and if they lose, hope Samoa can if not win, at least keep Australia at bay. Because Australia will know that if New Zealand do lose, they will have to win by that 30 odd points (depending on the margin of the New Zealand v England game) to make the final, so they will be holding nothing back...