Disjointed and ill-disciplined Australia A were beaten 31-26 at the death by Samoa in a thrilling start to the Pacific Nations Cup tournament in Fiji.
Fraser McReight, the heir apparent to Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper, was outstanding for the Wannabies, crossing for two tries and doing a mountain of excellent defensive work, but the defeat ultimately came down to two completely avoidable try concessions in the second half.
Australia A, boasting eight players who had been capped for the Test team, began terribly against a side with eight debutants and were behind within minutes, going to the sheds at halftime down19-12.
Although they fought back to level twice in the second half with three tries including two spectacular backline efforts, they were overcome by basic mistakes – first losing control of their ball at their own scrum and then seeing Lalakai Foketi gift an intercept try on the final play.
“Discipline really hurt us in the first half,” said Aus A skipper Ryan Lonergan. “Samoa were able to capitalise on their territory. Then we built somewhat of a comeback there in the second half but unfortunately, they got that try right at the end.
Australian A vs Samoa during the World Rugby Pacific Nations match .(Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)
“They probably deserved it after our first half. Our speed around the park was quite slow. It might be the heat getting to us and that’s something we might address.”
Jason Gilmore’s Australian team looked like they had been thrown together at the last minute, with a complete lack of cohesion. The lineout was a mess as Bill Pollard struggled to find his jumpers, the centres barely saw the ball and there was an absence of structure both sides of the ball.
Three penalty concessions in the first few minutes gave Samoa an opening and hooker Seilala Lam crossed for an easy opener.
South African referee Jacob Peyper was hammering the Australians and lost patience, sending Ryan Smith to the bin moments after Samoa’s debutant winger Nigel Ah-Wong cross for the first of his two tries.
McReight nabbed his first out of nowhere, toeing the ball across the try line from 10 metres out and winning the race to the ball – he showed similar fleet of foot in the second half when the Aussies levelled at 19-all as he cased down a Tane Edmed kick through.
At that stage – 16 minutes into the second half – it looked like the Australians would tear home on momentum, but Samoa went back in front as Jonathan Taumateine scored from an Australian scrum feed on their own 22. The ball somehow popped out on the blindside and the blond-mopped scrum half, who had earlier had play held up to remove a necklace he’d worn on the field, tore off for the softest of tries.
Australia came again through Lonergan and then James Tuttle finishing off long range beauties, but the final act summed up a game where the Aussies were undone by their own hands.
Foketi had the ball in his 22 and with moments on the clock pushed a pass towards the wing. Ah-Wong stretched out a mitt and had a joyful stroll to the try line.
McReight aside, few of the Aussies showed they should have been picked in the full team to play England tonight, although Reece Hodge showed his incredible kicking range with some monster punts.
Edmed looked out of sports and struggled to bring Hamish Stewart into the game while Jock Campbell was far from perfect but had some good moments.
The Samoans, as inexperienced as the team was, clearly showed benefits of a Moana Pasifika team in the SRP competition.
Nathan
Roar Rookie
For all the talk about Fraser, can anyone really see him as an International 7? Name a loose forward his size that can not only play on the ball, but put in the defensive efforts required? Yes he might be better on the ball than a Hooper, but he doesn't have the grunt for an International coach to trust his 1 on 1 defence., when winning collisions is such an important aspect. He just seems to be another player that will be destined to be fringe for his career until he goes overseas. Or he needs to do nothing else but focus on adding 5-7kg of muscle to his frame.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
That could be one remedy SD. I don’t know much about the U/20 selection process. Did the prop selection policy prioritise set piece or general park skills? To the squad’s credit they did self-correct during the game.
SDRedsFan
Roar Rookie
The Argie U20s monstered our scrum until the young guy from the Force came on. The commentators said there was only 5kg difference in the pack weights, so it's obviously technique, which as you allude to KCOL, is something that can be coached. There's been a few tasty videos on here lately highlighting props throwing dummies and chip & chase kicks to score try's, which is great viewing, but unless they can dominate a scrum it's fools gold. Rugby Australia could do a lot worse than employing a group of former dominant props to travel around the country side and spend time coaching the coaches, schoolboy teams, etc. as well as talent spotting.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Woeful perfromance by Aust A. Hodge, Campbell and Pollard were rubbish. Lonergan and McReight were great. Samoa deserved the win :thumbup:
Grev
Roar Rookie
or maybe he's very bad
Grev
Roar Rookie
it's his line out throwing.....
Grev
Roar Rookie
And he showed why. The Samoa try after blatant obstruction was a joke. And the ball "spilled out of the scrum" in the second half was trapped by the flanker's feet. The Samoan flanker should have been penalised for breaking, as a ball trapped by the feel is NOT out of the scrum. There were some very odd penalties in that game. Peyper is awful.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: Still promoted above his ability though. Maybe there was no one else.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Agree but Fiji might be a bridge too far
Tooly
Roar Rookie
My best was easily McReight for doing what a 7 should do and the camera person who followed him Hooper like ! Hoops is losing his star status camera to Quadie tonight ! . Was this supposed to be our number 2 side ? . Who picked it ? . Who if anyone coached it ?
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
he gave away 1 penatly
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Other than the pens, I agree with you mate.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
I thought so too. Very confused and unsettled in the first half but they managed quite good defence. Penalties were the main killer as they put the Samoans within the red zone and the big bodies were unstoppable. A coupe of poor decisions will teach younger players something. When the settled the attacking game was impressive.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
We don’t have enough solid coaching, or in-game development. Which is why there is a call for a third tier. Oz A highlights the lack. We need a structure that gets pressured development, as our Junior tight 5 got during last night’s game. 1) WB level Oz As, Junior WBs 2) Trans Tasman or Trans Pacific Comp 2-3 teams only (I say Rep teams drawn from Oz Super stars) 3) Super AU or NRC of 5-8 teams. This comp plays through the TT and Test season. 4) Clubs 5) Juniors/Schools
Farthing
Guest
Absolutely. Fraser’s penalties cancel out his good work. Had them on the back foot after 30 seconds after a failed pilfer. Jock Campbell too small for the wing. Looked like a boy. Robertson was class, Edmed came good but needs to be less anonymous in the first half.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I mean junior rep picks not the wallabies
Tim J
Roar Rookie
In my bathroom Paul.. :silly:
Paul D
Roar Rookie
“ biased picks” Where?
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Thought the same thing as you and I also thought the same thing as Jameswm. Coaching is letting us down at many levels and we just don't have enough games for guys to stay match sharp through the year. NRC is crucial as is improving the development pathways.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Shows the refs & AR's have got very lazy with having TMO 's as back up. For both guys to miss Iona's kick out of the 22 was embarrassing. It was Jaco's call to shout out that the kick was taken outside, but also the AR's to watch for it as well. I thought Jaco is starting to show his age there today, maybe it was just the heat??