The finals of the Rugby League World Cup have arrived, with Australia facing an inconsistent Samoa in Darwin. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:30pm (AEDT).
The weather could make this one of the toughest games of the tournaments. Current forecasts for the Northern Territory capital have temperatures as high as 33 degrees, with thunderstorms and nearly 90 per cent humidity.
If there are conditions less suited to rugby league, I’m yet to hear about them.
The Kangaroos will look to jump out to an early lead so they can take their stars off at the end of the game.
It may not be what Mal Meninga wants to do, given Australia’s problems have been in attack. They have let in just two tries across three games, but have been hampered by errors, despite the scores they ran up against France and Lebanon in their last two matches.
Picking a different 17 each week to give everyone a run hasn’t helped their cause, but they seemingly have their best side on the park from here on out. The only change from the opening match against England is that of the injured Jake Trbojevic missing out for Josh McGuire.
Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Michael Morgan and Cameron Smith will lead Australia around the park, but it’s the forward battle where this game will be won and lost.
Samoa have struggled given expectations coming into the tournament. It was always going to be a difficult run in what became known as the group of death, but a 14-all draw with a Scotland side missing Danny Brough last week simply wasn’t good enough.
Their halves, Ben Roberts and Jerome Luai, must find a way to step up if they are to get over the line. Jazz Tevaga and Young Tonumaipea round out a relatively weak spine, and it’s shown during their group games.
Even with a strong forward pack, consisting of Josh Papalii, Frank Pritchard, Leeson Ah Mau and Junior Paulo, they have been bullied throughout their games and the same will happen here if they don’t change their approach.
Prediction
Australia should win, but it may not be as dominant as people think. The weather won’t be conducive to high scoring footy and the Kangaroos will be trying to preserve themselves for a semi-final against New Zealand.
Australia by 20.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first quarter-final at the Rugby League World Cup from 8:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Kane
Guest
Can't go past NZ for biggest failure.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Samoa were incredibly disappointing in this World Cup. Just seemed to be going through the motions. No ticker. Even their version of the haka was limp last night. But the Aussies were clinical in punishing them. Billy Slater has been outstanding in support of Cronk and Smith. Morgan was great at 5/8. These blokes have such an appetite for the contest. In fact the attitude of the whole Aussie team has been tremendous. It would be easy to cruise through a contest like this but they were ruthless. And a special mention to Josh Dugan. I've been critical of his selections in the past but he has been a terrific contributor to the team in this World Cup.
Fred
Guest
Samoa’s not even close to 4th best. Nice to see you post the same comment under different names by the way. What a joke!
Fred
Guest
Samoa's not even close to 4th best.
Big Daddy
Guest
Samoa probably biggest failure of cup. But you don't have to look very far. The coach has to take most of the blame. How this guy got a gig coaching amazes me. With the talent he had available big disappointment. Also he was NSW assistant . Another jobs for the boys.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
"I can think of at least half a dozen players with a far greater claim before Slater even gets a look in." Who?
Realist1975
Guest
Got to respectfully disagree. The Samoan team is 3rd class at best and they were always going to struggle at this tournament. No to be disrespectful but a mid tier QLD team would beat them. I know Fiji and PNG would account for them. Look at the names playing for Samoa compared to previous world cups. Their best players in the forwards are now just to old. How old is Pritchard now? Papalii looked overweight and disinterested. Centre Leutele playing on the wing! Centres have played reasonably well for Nrl teams and that's it. They also have one of the worst spines in history. People were saying yep they will be competitive for say 20 minutes but I said no way it will be a cricket score. To have any chance of a closer game they actually needed a cooler climate and wet conditions to negate a faster and more athletic team. Warm and fast track conditions equalled disaster waiting to happen. Btw i think if NZ pick their strongest team and have a close but good win against Fiji I wouldn't be surprised if they rattle Australia so I totally agree Australia is susceptible to a more disciplined team. The game last night did nothing for Australia interests. They are not near teams in the class of the 1986 or 1994 Kangaroos or 1992 when opposition teams were far stronger names wise. Yes they have future immortals but for me I didn't see the best player ever in JT nor is Inglis in that team but I do acknowledge Smth & Slater.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yes, because blowouts never occur in other sports and teams are always at their best...
Metta
Guest
Very close game hey!? What a quarter final the best team in the world smashing the 4th best. League you are just to much
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yeah, not the best few weeks for them.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Samoa simply didn't challenge Australia in anyway. There were numerous moments, certainly in the first half, where a bit of sustained pressure on Australia could have been rewarded but Samoa lacked the discipline to take advantage. It was very obvious how Australia wore out Samoa without really having to do all that much. They kicked early and forced the Samoan forwards to waste their energy on simply getting back in line. Silly mistakes by them gifted Australia good field position. I could have sworn that they even let the Samoans run at them as they conserved their energy by not rushing out of the line and tackling the Samoans fresher than usual. Clever tactics by Australia. I liked Klemmer. Just a monster at Test level. It's almost as if he runs further the more people are hanging off of him. Just insane. Anyway, I still think Australia are vulnerable to a team that is disciplined.
Hehe
Guest
Very close game 4th best team absolutely smashed. What a joke!
Jara W
Guest
Samoa turned up for the second half of their game against Tonga. Just long enough to show us all what they were capable of. But outside of that a very disappointing tournament for them.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup as Australia smashed Samoa to book their place in the semi-finals next week. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. There are two more games coming your way tomorrow. First up, from 3pm (AEDT) it'll be John Coomer to take you through Tonga and Lebanon, before Olly Matthews brings you New Zealand and Fiji at 5:30pm (AEDT). England and Papua New Guinea will finish the quarter-finals on Sunday at 4pm (AEDT) with Nick Kelland to provide the coverage of that one. Until next time, it's bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Ese'ese with a run, then another penalty as Woods holds him down trying to get to the siren. Samoa have one play to get on the board and it's a grubber, but Gagai will get there, beating Papalii to bat the ball over the sideline. Australia are through to the semi-finals with a thrashing of Samoa. They haven't conceded a point in their last 200+ miutes of football, which is simply sensational, as they were tonight. Little quiet in the second half, but their major question this week will be whether they can recover ahead of next Friday's semi-final, likely to be against the New Zealander's. They of course have to get over Fiji tomorrow though. Not a great performance from Samoa. Not a good tournament at all in fact and there is very little else to say about them. Australia 46 Samoa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Leilua with a dangerous run off the scrum, then it's Tonumaipea taking on the line over halfway. Matagi turns a ball inside for Paulo, before they spread left and it's a wonderful flick ball to Lafai who offloads from the ground to Papalii who is tackled. Chambers concedes a penalty. Australia 46 Samoa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Holmes down the right-hand side, before they come over halfway through Gillett. Chambers now taken over the sideline with 100 seconds to go. Slater will finish on the bench. Australia 46 Samoa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Time running down now. Not much left in this one as Samoa bring it out of their own end. Pritchard offloads to Papalii who is tackled about ten short of halfway before Paulo has a run. Last play and Roberts kicks long with Dugan bringing it back, linking with Holmes and then Gagai. Australia 46 Samoa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Klemmer comes steaming back from the restart, then it's Cordner and McGuire bustling Australia up to halfway. Woods goes over it, before they spread left and Cordner takes a pretty ordinary pass well. Cronk puts a bomb up on the last and Tonumaipea is tackled on his own goalline. Australia 46 Samoa 0