[2014 EOYT] Canada vs Samoa

[canadafan]

Rumours are rife that all is not well in the Samoan camp. If half the stories are true, a good start by us could keep the match close.

 

[Beerfalo]

Here's who Samoa are sending at us tomorrow.

Samoa:
1) Zac Taulafo
2) Wayne Ole Avei
3) Census Johnston
4) Filo Paulo
5) Dan Leo
6) Maurie Fa'asavalu
7) TJ Ioane
8) Ofisa Treviranus
9) Kahn Fotuali'i
10) Michael Stanley
11) David Lemi (c)
12) Alapati Leiua
13) Rey Lee Lo
14) Alofa Alofa
15) Ahsee Tuala

Reserves: 16) Maatulimanu Leiataua, 17) Viliamu Afatia, 18) Anthony Perenise, 19) Kane Thompson, 20) Jack Lam, 21) Pele Cowley, 22) Winston Stanley, 23) Fa'atoina Autagavaia.

Still gonna be a rough go for Canada but I'm feeling just slightly better about their chances. Samoa is still the favorite though and they'll want to bounce back from the lackluster performance against Italy and build momentum for their game against England.

This was their roster I found for the game against Italy so a bunch of changes.

Samoa: 1) Sakaria Taulafo, 2) Ti'i Paulo, 3) Anthony Perenise, 4) Kane Thompson, 5) Fa'atiga Lemalu, 6) Piula Fa'asalele, 7) Jack Lam, 8) Taiasina Tuifa, 9) Kahn Fotuali'i, 10) Tusiata Pisi, 11) David Lemi(c), 12) Alapati Leiua, 13) Johnny Leota, 14) Ken Pisi, 15) Fa'atoina Autagavaia

Reserves: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Albert Toetu, 18 Viliamu Afatia, 19 Teofilo Paulo, 20 Maurie Faasavalu, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Michael Stanley, 23 Winston Stanley.

 

[canadafan]

Here's who Samoa are sending at us tomorrow.

Samoa:
1) Zac Taulafo
2) Wayne Ole Avei
3) Census Johnston
4) Filo Paulo
5) Dan Leo
6) Maurie Fa'asavalu
7) TJ Ioane
8) Ofisa Treviranus
9) Kahn Fotuali'i
10) Michael Stanley
11) David Lemi (c)
12) Alapati Leiua
13) Rey Lee Lo
14) Alofa Alofa
15) Ahsee Tuala

Reserves: 16) Maatulimanu Leiataua, 17) Viliamu Afatia, 18) Anthony Perenise, 19) Kane Thompson, 20) Jack Lam, 21) Pele Cowley, 22) Winston Stanley, 23) Fa'atoina Autagavaia.

Still gonna be a rough go for Canada but I'm feeling just slightly better about their chances. Samoa is still the favorite though and they'll want to bounce back from the lackluster performance against Italy and build momentum for their game against England.

This was their roster I found for the game against Italy so a bunch of changes.

Samoa: 1) Sakaria Taulafo, 2) Ti'i Paulo, 3) Anthony Perenise, 4) Kane Thompson, 5) Fa'atiga Lemalu, 6) Piula Fa'asalele, 7) Jack Lam, 8) Taiasina Tuifa, 9) Kahn Fotuali'i, 10) Tusiata Pisi, 11) David Lemi(c), 12) Alapati Leiua, 13) Johnny Leota, 14) Ken Pisi, 15) Fa'atoina Autagavaia

Reserves: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Albert Toetu, 18 Viliamu Afatia, 19 Teofilo Paulo, 20 Maurie Faasavalu, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Michael Stanley, 23 Winston Stanley.

Will be interesting to see if they can focus on this game and not their off field troubles or look ahead to England.

 

[Beerfalo]

I think they'll be focused. They have their off-field issues but this is still a good test for what seems like a group of guys that seem closer to Samoa 'A' instead of Manu Samoa and will be looking to leave an impression. If the Samoans do take it lightly I'll be quite disappointed.

 

[canadafan]

You do know that their players are considering boycotting next week's test, right?

 

[goodNumber10]

You do know that their players are considering boycotting next week's test, right?

It has been resolved earlier this week, with the IRB.

 

[Beerfalo]

You do know that their players are considering boycotting next week's test, right?

I had read that ya but it seems the IRB, IRPA, SRU and Samoans have sorted it out, at least for now.

https://twitter.com/gallagherbren/status/532609218525011968

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediaz...id=2073430.html#irb+statement+regarding+samoa

 

[Darwin]

I actually feel this Samoan side is probably just as strong as it was last weekend. They have a bit more size in the tight-five, and though they are bit smaller in the loose-forwards they probably have a bit more mobility in this area. Samoa aren't playing a specialist 7, but all 3 loose-forwards have experience in the 7 jersey.

The major change to the backline is Stanley starting at 10, and I suppose he is a bit of an unknown at this level. I think the midfield looks better with Lee Lo at centre, and Alofa Alofa is a very dangerous addition on the wing too....

I was a bit disappointed with Samoa's performance last weekend, but hopefully they can bounce back. I'm picking them to win by 10-15 points.

 

[psychic duck]

I think they'll be focused. They have their off-field issues but this is still a good test for what seems like a group of guys that seem closer to Samoa 'A' instead of Manu Samoa and will be looking to leave an impression. If the Samoans do take it lightly I'll be quite disappointed.

I don't think it's fair to say this is closer to Samoa 'A' Beerfalo. They've rotated it a bit yes, and could well be distracted or unhappy which possibly effected performance last weekend, but they're picking from a 30 man squad that is the best they can pick from taking account for injuries.The team still contains the likes of Fotuali'i and Leiua as well, so should be a hard test for Canada to test themselves against. Plus as Darwin mentioned as well, Alofa Alofa is a quite a dangerous finisher and good addition for them to make his debut, one to watch out for in international rugby perhaps.

 

[Beerfalo]

I'm sorry guys, I noticed all the changes and just assumed. I'm not very familiar with Pacific Islander depth and players though I know they are loaded with talent. All I know is the team will be insanely tough competition for Canada.

 

[Shaggy]

I'm interested to see how Lee Lo goes at outside centre too ... he didn't quite seem to click for the Crusaders this year in Super Rugby, but I think the Centre pairing could be quite dangerous

 

[LittleGuy]

Dissapointing that TSN haven't picked up any of the four games this fall. Guess they'd rather show the same exact thing on all five of their feeds instead LOL.

 

[canadafan]

Dissapointing that TSN haven't picked up any of the four games this fall. Guess they'd rather show the same exact thing on all five of their feeds instead LOL.

With 5 channels, they are busy as it is. Give them a break.

 

[LittleGuy]

With 5 channels, they are busy as it is. Give them a break.

Yeah that's unfair of me, that guy monitoring the exact same thing on 4-5 of the channels must be keeping him glued to the tech area.

 

[Beerfalo]

Yeah that's unfair of me, that guy monitoring the exact same thing on 4-5 of the channels must be keeping him glued to the tech area.

You're joking but TSN has different shows on each channel during the time that Samoa and Canada are playing. Hopefully in future years they show interest in out of country/continent Canada games but it's probably more cost effective to show what they have lined up and not fly a crew out to Europe to broadcast a game that a handful of people here would really care about. Especially when it's a Friday morning/afternoon here. Besides they just expanded to 5 channels, maybe they don't have the licensing for foreign games?

I do hope they get some more rugby content for their channels, especially if they could pick up the Pro 12 and start showing and promoting the CRC games to increase the domestic profile. As well as all national team games. Have Canadian rugby fans thought of making our feelings and desires known to TSN brass? Couldn't hurt to bug them for more rugby.

On a more potentially disappointing note, the IRB website seems to be down as they transition to World Rugby. Does anyone know how long these things take because I really really want to watch Samoa vs Canada tomorrow.

 

[LittleGuy]

Yeah I'm just having a bit of a **** take. The Samoa game they indeed have a variety of things on at that time(though only one is a live sports event and that's pretty low profile) but I don't think that was the case with the RFU or Namibian matches though I think the latter has more to do with the isolated locale and sending a camera down there.

They've shown matches straight off the IRB feed before, it wouldn't cost them much to show if the really wanted to. Just call in Brian Spanton and a play by play guy into the studio's in Toronto and run the commentary from there, but even so it is probably cheaper to show what they already have the rights packages for/their own pre taped original programming.

With Sportsnet bankrupting themselves on NHL rights(I just cancelled my Sportsnet World subscription last week), I have a feeling watching rugby is going to get more and more difficult in Canada, maybe this odd channel "BelNTV" that has the Aviva rights will expand it's availability and pick up more rights but that may be some way down the pipe line.

 

[LittleGuy]

Wow what a horrible goal kick!!! Should have been 3-0 Samoa there.

Edit: Looks like a decent crowd out at this one, not a sell out or anything but better than the man and his dog at Colwyn Bay.

Dreadful opening ten minutes for both teams, littered with handling errors, poor kicking, ill discipline etc.

 

[rusty_lock]

I missed the start. Any starting line up changes

 

[LittleGuy]

No changes, though Marshall had to go off for a handful of minutes for a blood sub. Canada has been atrocious so far, don't look prepared at all, Samoa haven't been much better but are probably deserved to by up 3-0 right now.

Edit: 6-0 now, Canada not breaking defensively but attack wise have done less than nothing.

 

[rusty_lock]

defense looks good
LOL

That one foray into the Samoan end was a debacle!!