Australia
34
Match Complete
Samoa
15
| M. Toomua |  | 80 | ||
| B. Foley |  | 71 | ||
| D. Haylett-Petty | | 70 | ||
| 61 | | T. Pisi | ||
| 60 | | D. Polataivao | ||
| 52 | | D. Polataivao | ||
| B. Foley | | 36 | ||
| L. Salakaia-Loto | | 34 | ||
| A. Ashley-Cooper | | 29 | ||
| 28 |  | T. Pisi | ||
| M. Koroibete | | 15 | ||
| A. Coleman | | 7 |
| 6 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match result:
Australia have scored six tries to two in beating Samoa 34-15 in Sydney in the Wallabies’ last Test before the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Final score
Wallabies 34
Samoa 15
Match preview:
In their final hit-out before the September 20 commencement of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, the Wallabies will descend upon Bankwest Stadium in Sydney for the first time ever, taking on Manu Samoa in a rematch eight years in the making. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:35pm (AEST).
Eight years ago, in their final fixture before the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Wallabies had their pants pulled down by Manu Samoa, losing by 32-23 at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium in one of the biggest upsets in Test rugby history.
On that day, the Wallabies were out-muscled, out-desired, and ultimately out-played by a Samoan side punching well above their weight. Wallabies’ fans will recall with great sorrow the sight of Alesana streaking down the left touchline, goose-stepping past Matt Giteau in cover to score the first try of the game against the run of play.
Debutant winger Rod Davies still has Tuilagi’s shoulder imprint in his ribs to prove that he was involved in that game too.
Despite being caught off guard in the embarrassing loss, Wallabies’ coach Michael Cheika has named a largely second-string side to face Samoa, resting the likes of Samu Kerevi, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Rory Arnold, Christian Lealiifano, Isi Naisarani, Izack Rodda, Tolu Latu, Folau Fainga’a and skipper Michael Hooper.
Prop Allan Ala’alatoa has also unfortunately been rested, missing out on the chance to play against his brother Michael in what would have been a fascinating battle.
In Hooper’s absence, the Wallabies will be skippered by David Pocock, who will also wear Hooper’s number 7 jersey.
Several non-World Cup players have also been named in the side. Tom Banks will line up at fullback, after missing out on the final cut for the World Cup squad despite a stellar season with the Brumbies this year.
Tatafu Polota-Nau, Luke Lones, Liam Wright, Nick Phipps and Rob Valetini (on debut) are the other non-World Cup players. They were all named on the bench.
Prediction
The Wallabies certainly go into this one as favourites. Given what happened eight years ago I find it hard to believe that complacency will be an issue for them.
Still, you never know with the Wallabies. One week they’re putting their biggest ever score on the All Blacks in Sydney, the next they’re getting absolutely towelled up at Eden Park.
The fact that this is a second-string side makes this game even harder to predict. Many of these players are making their first appearance since Super Rugby ended. Others like David Pocock have been out for even longer.
The Wallabies should win this. But if the Wallabies did everything that they should do, the world would be a vastly different place.
Wallabies by 14.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:35pm (AEST).
Where: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
When: 7:35pm
TV: Channel 10, Fox Sports
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Wallabies (15-1)
Tom Banks, Dane Haylett-Petty, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt To’omua, Marika Koroibete, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Jack Dempsey, David Pocock (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Jordan Uelese, James Slipper
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Luke Jones, Liam Wright, Rob Valetini, Nick Phipps, James O’Connor
Samoa (15-1)
Tim Nanai-Williams, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Alapati Leiua, Ray Lee-Lo, Ed Fidow, Tusi Pisi, Scott Malolua, Afaesetiti Amosa, Jack Lam, TJ Ioane, Kane Leaupepe, Filo Paulo, Michael Alaalatoa, Ray Niuia, Jordan Lay
Reserves: Motu Matu’u, Paul Alo-Emile, Logovi’I Mulipola, Josh Tyrell, Seilala Lam, Dwayne Polataivao, AJ Alatimu, Ahsee Tuala
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Agree Kurtley must come off the bench as his unpredictable play maybe the thing we need to win from behind in a big game. Going into a RWC with only one fast winger is folly, bordering on stupidity.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
True he won't play again. Not true that he doesn't deserve to. And you've missed my point. He was THE drawcard for kids. Ask them to name any other player and most of them can't. Without him, they're not interested in going. Check the Waratahs crowds since he was dumped. And Saturday's crowd.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Mate I am in complete agreeance with you. Just pointing out that he didn't play fullback. We need someone strong under high balls but I still think kurtley has to play some part in the game from 15 as a sub. I've said it before but speights absence still makes no sense to me with no clear rival for the other wing
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Exactly Bourkos: He was often at the back taking the ball and his kicking was better than Banks who I thought did little to prove the selectors wrong. We need a reliable FB for this world cup as we seem to have leaks in the D. We also need a FB who can kick to touch reliably and kick to grass (when needed) more often than most. I understand he is not popular on the roar but it's and opinion site and I have always felt he was our best full back and a far lesser winger than Speight for instance.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Ken - part way with you on this. Coming back from injury and has a lot of upside as opposed to Simmons who has only shown us his backside and it has rarely been seen in a breakdown.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Yeah, with said weak scrummaging hooker.
Nova
Roar Rookie
And they got destroyed in the scrums at Eden Park....so ummm
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
Let it go. He's never playing again and nor does he deserve to
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
We were watching different games. Samoa did next to nothing all night.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Would think that's fairly obvious. I live in western Sydney. There's only one player the kids talk about, and he ain't there anymore. Neither are the kids.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Maybe it just means that their second string options are better than ours? Latu isn’t in our top two scrummaging hookers, neither is Kepu at prop.
westown
Guest
I don't think it's understandable when your top opposition are capable of maintaining their scrum performance with their second-string hookers, locks, props, etc. and a mixture of different combinations in their pack.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Did anyone else notice how deep the attack was with Foley and the width of the attack? I feel that it is back to square one with Foley with the unnecessary drifting and the lack of space for the wingers. CLL tends to sharpen the attack through the centre much more.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
DHP played wing?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Harry. Depth will win this cup.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Coleman is off his early promise. He is lucky to be on the plane
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I think that it is fairly understandable that a scrum should deteriorate hugely when it loses its best scrummaging lock (Arnold) and a strong scrummaging hooker who scrums with the two props is replaced with a significantly weaker scrummaging hooker who has no experience with those props.
westown
Guest
The scrum shouldn't deteriorate to that degree, how it performs at it's worse is as important as how it performs at it's best, the RWC will be a squad effort over a grueling schedule. The consistency of the scrum from match to match is something the Wallabies have struggled with for some time.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Corne: Haven't seen much of JOC kicking, he ended his last time in Aus as a very averaqe kicker. Agree with Fionn White is the backup kicker. It has become imperative that CLL stays fit as the backups are not at his level. Foley's kicking can and has lost us very important games.
QED
Roar Rookie
Banks had a bad game. Looked like someone succumbing to the pressure of last chance saloon. Still showed he has the pace and step. Which our other outside backs are lacking. On Genia. I get that he plays his best rugby when he runs. But does he ever passed directly off the deck without taking those two steps ? The rest of the back line lose crucial seconds. If only we could have used the game to take good look at a younger up and comer that has showed promise . But no we drop Powell and give Phipps a farewell match. Yes nice no look pass there at the end. But maybe Powell could have throw a better pass. Or gone himself and stepped two people and scored under the sticks ? But we will never know will we.