With 14 minutes to play Manu Samoa were only six points behind the All Blacks in the historic and dramatic Test – the first in Samoa – between the two teams.
The intensity of play of Manu Samoa, their brutal tackling and the bulk and strength of their runners resulted in a contest that was far more confrontational and dangerous for the All Blacks than their matches, say, against Scotland or Italy, and even Wales in recent years.
In the end, the All Blacks through the boot of Dan Carter added another penalty goal. The 25-16 scoreline was Manu Samoa’s best result against the All Blacks.
A sweat-dripping, hollow-checked from exhaustion Richie McCaw, after waiting some minutes to regain his breath, told the crowd:
“I am not sure words now can actually justify the type of match it was but I will say to the Manu Samoa team: ‘The way you played, that’s what true Test match rugby is about … I just take my hat off to you. Going forward into upcoming matches and the World Cup, perform like that and you’ll get better. I know you are going to be a force to be reckoned with.’”
This was an honest appraisal on the Test. Honest because it acknowledged the tremendous spirit of the Manu Samoa side, in defence and on attack. It was a recognition, too, that the mighty All Blacks had to reach deep into their own reservoirs of courage, skill, tenacity and bloodymindedness in not contemplating defeat to force a victory that was much better than the scoreline suggests.
I say this because some of the New Zealand rugby (and rugby league) writers were dismissive of the All Blacks’ performance. The underlying notion here is that all the All Blacks have to do is go out, play well and they will smash their opponents off the park.
And the All Blacks did not do this against Manu Samoa, therefore they played poorly.
This is nonsense. Every game has to be won on the field. And in the era of professional rugby, even second tier teams are capable of defeating first tier sides, as the Wallabies found out to their cost in 2011 when they played Manu Samoa at Parramatta.
Playing Manu Samoa at Apia, in the first Test between the national side and the All Blacks out of New Zealand, was an incredibly difficult task for the All Blacks. It was, in my opinion, the equivalent of the NSW Blues playing the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium, to win back the mantle of winning the series for 2015. Well, we know what happened in that particular contest.
The fact that the All Blacks toughed out a win in an environment where the crowd was totally opposed to them and their opponents were fuelled with hometown self-belief is to the credit of the team, its on-field leadership and the coaching staff.
Rather than being somehow a portend to a poor 2015 Rugby World Cup tournament for the All Blacks, I believe that this gutsy display confirmed the belief that New Zealand is going to present a side in England in a couple of months’ time that is immeasurably better than the side that won the Webb Ellis trophy in 2011.
The Test between Manu (Warrior) Samoa and the All Blacks needs some further context because it was as much a sociological and historical occasion as a major rugby event.
With the relationship between Samoa and New Zealand as a League of Nations mandate territory between the World Wars, with the uprisings of the 1920s, with the mass migration to New Zealand in the 1960s by so-called ‘over-stayers’, with the second generation becoming New Zealand/Samoans and with the browning of the All Blacks from the late 1990s onwards, the Samoan-New Zealand connection has given rise to a people with two homelands, Samoa and New Zealand.
Two homelands and two conflicting loyalties, in many cases. And so when the All Blacks played Manu Samoa in Samoa it was like a State of Origin match, with an unusual twist. The origin of most of the players was New Zealand.
Manu Samoa at the 2011 Rugby World Cup tournament, for instance, contained only one player not born in New Zealand. The All Blacks, in the same tournament, actually had a couple of players (like Jerome Kaino) who were born in Samoa or American Samoa.
So when the usual suspects like Stephen Jones and the other like-minded British rugby writers start fulminating against Australia and New Zealand stealing Pasifika players, they are in Basil Fawlty-type ranting. England had more overseas-born players in their 2011 Rugby World Cup squad than New Zealand or Australia.
There is a tendency among the Pasifika community in Australia and New Zealand to identify with their ethnic origins, the origins of their parents or grand-parents, rather than their birth origins. This is rather like the immigrant communities in the USA, where people will identify themselves as Irish-American, Greek-American, African-American and so on.
The fact is that most players with a Pasifika background who play for the Wallabies or the All Blacks are born in Australia or New Zealand, or have been educated from a relatively young age in these two countries.
It is a fact, too, that the culture of Samoa is extremely Samoan-centric. There is a belief that Samoa is the centre of the universe, rather like the Chinese notion of the Middle Kingdom. Samoan pride in their ancestry, distinctive culture and in their nation’s history has a special dimension that is not easily understood by people who easily adopt (and I put myself into this category) an acceptance of assimilation.
Viewers of the match on Fox Sports, or people watching the replays, saw the distinguished figure of Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi, Samoa’s head of state, a former prime minister, president of the Samoan rugby union and a friend of the great and the good, including popes and presidents.
When we were youngsters at St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, a rugby school that produced distinguished scholars and leaders like the current deputy prime minister of New Zealand, Bill English, Efi and I were in the same dormitory. We were both interested in current affairs and on Saturday nights, when the other boys were watching a movie, we discussed the latest issue of Time magazine.
Everyone at the school played rugby. Efi was a big fellow and he was a bustling, enthusiastic forward for the Second XV. The First XV, which was unbeaten for a number of years, had a tackling machine, Morrie Thompson, the original ‘Chiropractor’, also from Samoa.
Most of the Samoan students stayed on in New Zealand, but even when they did they tended to identify (and their children, too) as Samoan.
Efi, who was of noble caste, went back to Samoa and entered into politics. I used to be amused when he came to New Zealand as prime minister – often the visits coincided with important All Blacks Tests – that he would get his secretary to ring me up in my office as a journalist with the national New Zealand daily The Dominion with an invitation for lunch.
I would tell my editor, ‘don’t expect me back any time, I’m going out for a long lunch with the prime minister of Samoa’. At lunch, the conversation turned to how rugby could be enhanced in Samoa. There were digressions, too, on Samoa’s ambivalent relationship with New Zealand. Efi’s grandfather was killed during one of the uprisings,
Presiding at the historic Test at Apia, with the New Zealand prime minister John Key sitting near him, was a fulfilment, I would guess, of an ambition for Samoa and for Samoan rugby, from my old friend.
The breakthrough for Samoan rugby really came during the 1991 Rugby World Cup tournament. Samoa, in its first Rugby World Cup tournament, defeated Wales, at Cardiff, something England couldn’t do for nearly a decade, with a rag-tag side of mostly unknown players (some like Michael Jones became famous) from the provinces of New Zealand.
The professional era has been operating in rugby since 1996. It has taken a long time for Samoan rugby to get back to the heady days of 1991. The passionate performance at Apia on Wednesday, acknowledged so generously by McCaw, indicates, to me at least, that the nexus between professional rugby and a strong national side for Samoa is becoming forged.
David Pocock has rightly called out for more involvement by Australian rugby with playing Tests in the Pasifika. Those of us who agree with this call have been underwhelmed by the ARU’s seeming lack of interest in these matters.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Rugby Union is further entrenching its emotional hold over the rugby-mad supporters in the region by sending the iconic New Zealand Maori All Blacks to Suva to play Fiji on Saturday, a match that Fox Sports (bless them) will televise starting at 1pm.
The Wallabies management will no doubt be watching this match closely (even if the ARU seems to be oblivious to the challenges of the region) because in their pool of death at the 2015 Rugby World Cup tournament, Australia plays England, Wales – and Fiji.
Muzzo
Guest
@ ShaneD Yeh mate, he would most definitely rank as one of the great No.7 to come out of NZ rugby, & at times he did play 6 or 8. It was such a shame that through his religion, that he would never play on Sundays, as there were a few times that the All Black's had to pass him over.
Muzzo
Guest
@ mania Yep mate, but those decisions are made by the NZRFU. it would be interesting though a Maori v Pakeha. lol.
Muzzo
Guest
@ the Sheriff Honestly I agree with your assessment of SBW, as with the news coming out of NZ, the AB's will looking forward to the return of, both Ma'a & Melikai.
Muzzo
Guest
@ Ra Yeh mate it was on that particular tour to South Africa, in 1970, that Bee Gee ( Thunder Thighs) was badly injured, & was out of the game for quite a while. From memory, I think it was in the last test.
Muzzo
Guest
@ Jerry Re Cannibalism, Yeh mate well before colonization, it was a practice that all of the Polynesian nations had.
mania
Guest
chivas - yeah get a palagi goal kicker and we'll be fine
Basil
Guest
ha!! It not even been a week, but the narcissistic Kiwi media just cannot keep their hands off it!! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11479514
scrumma
Guest
unbeknown to steve hansen who was a guest speaker in wellington over a year ago, there were a couple of samoan delegates at that conference, those samoan delegates let it be known last week before the allblacks left for Samoa that Hansen was to be honoured with a high chief status ceremony following the historic test match, because it was Hansen's answer to a question in which he said yes to a match against manu Samoa in Samoa, so yes Hansen did want this match.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I think I 'got it' a long time ago o.b ;) But as you know pro rugby is all about money and 6N teams playing a test in Suva or Apia when they can play in Auckland or Sydney means they aren't likely to do it. Plus with their Aug to May domestic season its nearly impossible for them to spend enough as a national team to travel on our side of the world. Also they can always hide behind "look even the kiwi or aussies who are a few hours away and spend 5 months/year as a national team don't do it so why should we'? That's why am glad the AB finally showed that yes, its feasible. Look at the impact, Pulver already saying they could do the same! That's why I say pity it didn't happen before. Instead of touring apartheid SA without your natives, I think a test or 2 in the P.I would have had a much bigger impact. Life isn't only about sports or beating your biggest rival, not in my world at least. When France was playing in bucarest every 2 years in the amateur era, we didn't expect the allblacks/wallabies/boks to do the same for obvious logistic reasons. We didn't even expect the brits to do that. As an aside I really liked what I saw from Fiji this arvo! I didn't give them much chance at the next rwc but again they showed that even without a strong scrum they can match a team that put 50 points on japan 6 months ago.
Birdy
Guest
But this simply isn't happening in England, somer. I'm not making a point about superior morality, just that the mechanisms are different and the situation is very different. The RFU is not conducting 'back door' recruitment for the England team; otherwise, I would suggest, with the money they've got we would be talking about much better players than we are. The players that caused England fans most discomfort where all fringe players to the team and squad - many fans didn't want them in on ability alone. In fact, you can argue, as an England fan, the RFU should be doing more. Bath wanted them to part fund the recruitment of Burgess, and they refused. Similarly, they wanted the RFU to part-fund the signing of Armitage from Toulon; someone who would definitely help the England team, and they refused again. I can pretty much guarantee that whatever 23 takes the field for England against Fiji in the first game they will overwhelmingly be born and bred in England, to English parents. The likely 3 who might not are the Vunipola brothers who have been in Britain since small children and Brad Barritt who has family connections to England going back generations, and was certainly not remotely on the England radar when he moved to England from SA (he's another one that divides England fans about whether he should be in the squad or not, simply on ability). I'm not getting on my high horse, somer, simply saying that you can't justify, as Spiro often implicitly does, situations like Henry Speight by saying 'well look at the poms'.
Old Bugger
Guest
nos You got it....what's so difficult for NH sides to add a Pacifika test onto an SH tour to either Fiji, Samoa or Tonga?? Admittedly, player availability may present its hurdles but if the NH tour is within the June - July window, then these tests will be sanctioned by WR. Ra I think that's unfair....SA, AU and NZ have accommodated games/tours for all our Pacifika neighbours but it really isn't as simple, as you may believe. The efforts of our neighbours to attract their players back for such tours is affected by WR's test window of opportunity and the NH clubs agreement to release players. AU and NZ have large Pacifika population's within their borders to support all such tours but I think it would be most unfortunate if tours were arranged only for some bureaucratic interference to deny the release of the best players, to make these respective national tours. IMO, any increase in the quantity, quality and schedule of any Pacifika nation's tours throughout Sanzar's 3 major partnering countries will be subject to agreements with and between WR, NH clubs and the respective Pacifika rugby boards, first and foremost. Otherwise, the tours without the top players, will not only fail to attract the public support they deserve but more importantly, will probably fail to attract matches against the Sanzar national sides, which is the original intention of such tours. Things are not as easy as they seem and with respect to all participants, they need the stars and planets to align, before commitments are given.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
O.b i certainly don't disagree with that. However for practical, logistic and geographical reasons its much easier for nz and oz. I think the 6N should look after Georgia, romania etc first. But hey, a france tour of Polynesia including mid week games in new Caledonia, wallis and futuna and tahiti would be awesome. I wish they had done that last time they toured oz. Imo big teams should have a one off test at a 2nd tier team before every big tour: nz and oz in the p.i vefore the RC, the 6N in other euro countries or north africa before the nov tour.
somer
Guest
Birdy, you're being disingenuous with regards to poaching claims. Whether it's the national union or club unions initially targeting foreign talent the result remains the same. Ultimately players who have virtually no personal or developmental links with a union are turning out that union for largely monetary and opportunistic reasons. The distinction you make isn't moralistic, it's purely logistical, why actively recruit overseas when your monetary advantage draws those players straight to your back door. But hey, because it's through the back door then its all ok.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Birdy NH players wouldn't "Kill" for Hooper's schedule. Your comparing his comments made halfway through his season with what they play in a whole season and saying "Oh well up here we play x games. Toughen up Michael". You may play 30 games a season. But players miss club games for internationals, so they don't then play internationals. In the SH the club season is shorter but you play every club (Super Rugby) game and international because they are not scheduled concurrently. As I noted, last year Hooper played 32 games. This year will be potentially a light year with up to 28 games still.
ben
Guest
Problem tigranes was australias whites only immigration policy practiced up to the late 1970s.
Harry
Guest
Agreed , NZ have the sponsorship and Tow now to be able to promote the game as NZ is a true rugby nation so monetary gains are secondary to what the bigger picture is for them.
Harry
Guest
Thought the Samoa Game was great hit out for half of the starting Abs side , no real serious injuries which was my biggest worry and a change of scenery for the boys. I think RWC 2015 is shaping as a fascinating Cup lot more teams are now competitive and a damp October Is gonna even the playing field , Its going to be a case of a number of things all coming together at the one time for a particular team. As for England they are a threat at home but as NZ found out in 2011 playing at home comes with its own pressures and how England cope with that will be interesting they will be in a fishbowl ?and sometimes as a result you implode. As for the all blacks I don't really think playing up north is such a mystery to them anymore so I don't see them being too fazed but the old adage is there are no guarantees with A Rugby World Cup. Bring It on
jemainok
Guest
Were they playing the crusader lateral game, go wide without doing alot of the hard work. I personally hope that was Andy Ellis last game.
Birdy
Guest
Some of the games he plays are intense, TM, some not. Just like some NH club games are not intense (although almost all are very physical in terms of collisions, set pieces etc), but if you're playing in the playoffs of either the French or English league and, particularly, the latter stages of the European Cup they are sometimes test match intensity. You confuse the ball pinging about with 'intensity'. The Tahs match against the Cheetahs had the ball in play a lot - intense it wasn't. To say that what Hooper does in SR is more 'demanding' physically than playing a 10 month NH season plus internationals as well is, frankly, nonsense. I'll also say this quietly, a lot of the Tahs players didn't look particularly fit to me when they were put under pressure.
Tigranes
Guest
Wardas wasn't there a revolution against New Zealand ruling samoa in the early 20th century...imagine if Australia had taken control of samoa and all those young men of Samoan heritage were playing for the wallabies.