RWC: Fiji - Samoa (25-09-2011, 15:30)

[Siva Tau]

Eden Park, Auckland (25-09-2011, 15:30)

​

Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZL)
Touch Judge: George Clancy (IRE)
Touch Judge: Stuart Terheege (ENG)
TV match official: Graham Hughes (ENG)

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Fiji [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Samoa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Kini Murimurivalu [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Paul Williams [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Vereniki Goneva [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Sailosi Tagicakibau [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Gaby Lovobalavu [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] George Pisi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Seremaia Bai [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Seilala Mapusua [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Naipolioni Nalaga [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Alesana Tuilagi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Nicky Little [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] Tusi Pisi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Nemia Kenatale [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Kahn Fotuali'i [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sisa Koyamaibole [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] George Stowers [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Mala Ravulo [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Maurie Faasavalu [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Netani Edward Talei [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Taiasina Tuifua [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Leone Nakarawa [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Kane Thompson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Seko Kalou [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Daniel Leo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Deacon Manu [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Census Johnston [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sunia Koto [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Mahonri Schwalger [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Campese Ma'afu [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Sakaria Taulafo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Talemaitoga Dautu Tuapati [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Ti'i Paulo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Setefano Somoca [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Anthony Perenise [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Rupeni Nasiga [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Filipo Lavea Levi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Akapusi Qera [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Manaia Salavea [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Vitori Tomu Buatava [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Jeremy Sua [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Albert Vulivuli [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Waisea Sedre Luveniyali [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] James Sooialo [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[UilamOsa]

No. Lavea needs to jump on the trains and do a full Auckland circuit - by the time he completes 1 the world cup will be over.

He gave away at least 9 points. Good on him for making the Manu, but he's not deserving of anymore test caps.


Move Fotualii to 1st Five. The Boys are too tired. They need to at least field half the team they had last week and have the rest on the bench.


And someone buy Tagicakibau a ticket on Lavea's train ride. He'll be use to it - he's a passenger during the games as well.

 

[Dizzy]

I have to agree about Lavea, I've never rated Lavea ever since I first saw him play for the Blues. He cost Samoa the game here, showed some weak tackling and doesn't really give the Samoan backs much direction. That is where Fotuali'i can change the game and Samoa can play the game the way they want to with Fotuali'i leading them.

Tagicakabau though, I think he should stay on. The only reason he didn't score that try in the beginning was because of Kane's poor pass. If it would've been a good pass, he definitely would've scored.

 

[mosa62]

9. Polu/Sua
10. Khan
11. Tuilagi
12. Mapusua
13. Pisi
14. Sailosi T
15. Paul Williams

 

[aucklander]

Jeremy Su'a came on pretty strong and made some good runs. Too bad the boys were to tired at that stage.

 

[Dizzy]

Exactly, he played much like Kahn does and having him at halfback with Kahn at first five really doesn't make much difference in the halfback role. I feel it's foolproof to put Kahn at first five because the position demands a gamebreaker and Kahn is exactly that. Look at past world cups, the main man has been the first five and we talk about them everyday, the Carters, The Coopers, The Wilkinsons, The Sextons, Samoa needs Fotuali'i there... Unless Tusi is ok of course.

 

[DJRonStar]

Yeah, I thought Jeremy Sua did well when he came on and he injected a bit of pace sharpness. Fingers crossed that Tusi Pisi will be right for Sunday. I thought Mapusua, being the leader in the backline should of communicated with Tasesa to maybe try a few chip kicks and grubbers as the Welsh defence were up fast. Alesana Tuilagi didn't get the ball till late in the first half. They need to use his powere with effect. Boys did look tired and I think 7 days rest will do them good and freshen them u for the Fiji clash.

Strongest line up against Fiji. If Pisi is not available, Kahn to first five and Jeremy Sua at halfback. Tasesa in the reserves and have Lemi and Leota in the subs as well. Kahn can move to halfback if Sua gets injured.

 

[Dizzy]

I think Mapusua did at one point go over to talk to Tasesa. I was shocked when I saw him get slightly knocked out by big Jaime Roberts, I was thinking, NOOOO! Mapusua is such a rock in the Samoan backline he can't exit the game, and like a true warrior he continued.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

agreed, lavea struggled, he got penalised for dibing in off his feet more than once. you just can't afford to be doing that. i want to see samoa give the boks a good run.

 

[Muzzy]

Team i hope plays for Fiji

Ma'afu
Koto
Manu
Waqaniburotu
Leweravu
Talei
Qera
Koyamaibole
Kenatale
Bai
Nalaga
Lovobalavu
Vulivuli
Goneva
Luveniyali

Murimurivalu
Little
Buatava
Veikoso
Nailago
Nakarawa
Ravulo

I think they should move Bai to first five, Murimurivalu hasn't been good as a fullback, i'd like to see Luveniyali play there since Fiji don't have any other good fullbacks, and Luveniyali did make some good kicks against south africa so they could use him as a fullback, but not first five, his defence was too weak. I think Fiji really need Talei and Koyamaibole to start, they'll need these big players esp after south africa out muscled Fiji on saturday, which means Waqaniburotu would move to lock. Nakarawa has been a great new player for Fiji and played well this year, but he lacked the physical presence against south africa so i'd choose Leweravu over him, but have him on the bench.

of course as a fiji supporter i really hope Lavea starts for samoa after all these years he still kicks the ball out on the full nearly every game. He even did it twice in their game against fiji earlier this year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G3l98aNqsY

 

[aucklander]

Good Luck to both teams i Hope one of the pacific nations make the quarters. This could be the first world cup where the pacific nations might not have a team in the last 8. Jeremy Su'a and Kahn Fotuali'i combination is lethal. Same backline with the only change coming at fly half Kahn Fotuali'i and maybe bringing in Alafoti Fa'osiliva as he would be a good impact player.

 

[Seaton]

Good Luck to both teams i Hope one of the pacific nations make the quarters. This could be the first world cup where the pacific nations might not have a team in the last 8. Jeremy Su'a and Kahn Fotuali'i combination is lethal. Same backline with the only change coming at fly half Kahn Fotuali'i and maybe bringing in Alafoti Fa'osiliva as he would be a good impact player.

What about 2003?

This game as always should be an absolute cracker, hoping that niether of the teams pulls away from the other (although I do think Samoa will) and it all comes down to a one score wins it game in the final few minutes.

 

[Muzzy]

none of the island teams made the quarters in 1999 or 2003, samoa and fiji made the qualifying quarter finals they had in 99 though. I hope one of the island teams make it through this year. Samoa should be the favourites on paper.

Waqaniburotu has been cited for his spear tackle in the game and facing the judicial hearing today
http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-world-cup/fiji-s-waqaniburotu-cited-dangerous-tackle-4406421

 

[Siva Tau]

I erserve the right to change my mind and I would go for Polu Fotualii halves combo vs Fiji. I hope Tusi is back for SA.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie PI match

Added the vBookie for this Pacific clash!

 

[Muzzy]

I can't understand why Fa'atonu Fili didn't get a chance to play for Samoa this year, he could have been their backup first five, is he injured or something?

 

[hitman51]

Faatonu is too inconsistent at test match level i think the management staff feel they've given him enough chances. Eliota can play at first five if they need em there hes done it before and hes been great there. Lolo lui would of been perfect back up but he didn't recover in time before the squad was picked was too much of a risk for management to pick with lack of preparation time. I hear this game is a sellout well done samoa and fiji, to sell out the new Eden park by two island teams that's a victory right there. Good luck to both teams hope samoa wins.

 

[Me 1]

Draw please That would be perfect for Wales!

 

[peks89]

GO FIJI GO!..would like to see bai at fly half and vulivuli and lovabalavu in the centres...one more thing that domoni needs to do..get delasau and caucaunibuca on a plane to NZ.

 

[cardassian]

Agree that Lavea is a liability. Hope he doesn't start as I want Samoa to win this one (Sorry Fiji but have Samoan family).
Either way should be a cracker of a game with lots of support for both teams and a desire to play physical running rugby a guarantee.