Pacific Flair Missing At Cup

[ACT1NUP]

I know we're only half way through the World Cup but I found this article interesting, as might some of the other Island supporters. Hopefully the pacific sides can step it up, play to their strengths and show us what they are capable of.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/5651646/Pacific-Island-flair-missing-at-Rugby-World-Cup

 

[Shaggy]

I know we're only half way through the World Cup but I found this article interesting, as might some of the other Island supporters. Hopefully the pacific sides can step it up, play to their strengths and show us what they are capable of.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/5651646/Pacific-Island-flair-missing-at-Rugby-World-Cup

Frank Bunce could be right, but the other teams could also have figured out the best way to play against the island sides, and know how to defend against them

 

[Siva Tau]

I think in 15's its different and at top level games are tight. Playing tight will beat Fiji. If Samoa play loose they will punish us. Its all about who your up against. Pool D has been very competitive, even Namibia are good. I think on Sunday we over did the forward play in the 2nd half.

 

[DJRonStar]

If we had a better number 10 he would of controlled the back line alot better. Tasesa was indecisive and had a poor game. I know you cant point the finger at one player but he did cost Samoa 9 points and didn't really get the back line firing.

The flair is there, it's just that teams choose to play a more structured forward orientated game plan. I think we will see much more of the same from Samoa this weekend. It's about taking the right options at the right time and unfortunately that's where we lost the game against Wales.

 

[UilamOsa]

Pacific Flair meaning Tonga, Fiji & Samoa? It comes down to winning.

Just ask Ireland.

This is a tournament and winning comes at cost. For the PI's it means sacrificing the 50/50 plays for an 80/20 strategic move.

Also, the majority of the players are trained now to play distinctive styles, because the island teams are made from all over the world, it's about playing to a style that would be easiest for all to adapt too, in the shortest amount of time.


And it's Tasesa Lavea's fault.

 

[Muzzy]

All three sides have played two matches but only have two wins from those six games - both at the expense of easybeats Namibia.

What i don't like about this is that he's talking about fiji, samoa and tonga as if they're all one big team. Fiji tried to play an expansive game often trying to run it out of their own 22 from the very start which wasn't really something i liked, the entire world cup Fiji captain Deacon Manu has been saying in the media that they want to play an expansive game. Fiji did produce some great tries against Namibia. But I do think Fiji would have shown a lot more if they had faster wingers, Goneva has been great for Fiji but he doesn't have the speed of a winger and used to play at centre, if they had the likes of Delasau there would have been a lot more flair but i don't blame the european clubs for that at all, even in the 2007 world cup most of the island teams players came from european clubs and that was Fiji and Tonga's best world cups.

Also 7 of Samoa's starting line up against Wales last week, play for NZ clubs and 1 was from Samoa, does this mean New Zealand are to blame for Samoa's lack of flair? Samoa did play a tighter game against Wales, but that doesn't mean its Europe's fault, it sounds like its just a guy ****** off about Samoa's loss to Wales so he's trying to find someone to blame for it.

 

[jawmalawm24]

Pacific Flair meaning Tonga, Fiji & Samoa? It comes down to winning.

Just ask Ireland.

This is a tournament and winning comes at cost. For the PI's it means sacrificing the 50/50 plays for an 80/20 strategic move.

Also, the majority of the players are trained now to play distinctive styles, because the island teams are made from all over the world, it's about playing to a style that would be easiest for all to adapt too, in the shortest amount of time.


And it's Tasesa Lavea's fault.

Totally agree with this hahaha. Yeah we haven't seen that flair that we're use to seeing from the Island nations hopefully we'll see a bit before the tournaments over

 

[dullonien]

Opposition defenses have played a big part I think. Wales for example are determined not to get sucked into a fast open game like they did against Fiji in '07. On the weekend, Wales' defense shut out Samoas attack by preventing the ball from going past the centres. Wales employed a rush umbrella defense, and it worked very well. Tuilagi and Tagicakibau barely touched the ball out wide in space, and that was down the Wales' defense.

Wales will employ similar tactics against Fiji aswell, we'll just have to wait and see if it works.

 

[jawmalawm24]

Opposition defenses have played a big part I think. Wales for example are determined not to get sucked into a fast open game like they did against Fiji in '07. On the weekend, Wales' defense shut out Samoas attack by preventing the ball from going past the centres. Wales employed a rush umbrella defense, and it worked very well. Tuilagi and Tagicakibau barely touched the ball out wide in space, and that was down the Wales' defense.

Wales will employ similar tactics against Fiji aswell, we'll just have to wait and see if it works.

I think that's the first time I've seen Wales outmuscle Samoa. All the island nations are know for their flair and physicality but Wales gave back just as hard as they were getting, it was suprising from the Welsh and I don't think Samoa expected it and it put them off their game a bit.

 

[DJRonStar]

Tasesa Lavea!! Thats all I can say... Number 10 controls the back line and he didn't even do half a decent job. I don't think that put Samoa off there game. They would have expected the Welsh to come firing and be physical. You only just have to look at the game against the Boks where the Welsh took them on up front and Jamie Roberts punching holes through the Boks midfield.

Not to sure how the Welsh vs Fijian game will pan out but could be in for an exciting game. Interesting to read how Pool D could turn out.

http://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/should-boks-throw-the-samoa-match-1.1141107

 

[cardassian]

http://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/should-boks-throw-the-samoa-match-1.1141107

Shame the reporter gets it wrong in the case of a 3 way tie.
He reckons that Samoa would be first because they beat SA and Wales would be 3rd cos they lost to SA but fails to take into account that Wales beat Samoa.
Really it would go to points for v points against, making the games against Namibia very important.
Damn I hate it when journos write an article and get the basic facts wrong.