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

[Darwin]

Not the expansive game that I had hoped for, but in the end a pretty comprehensive victory for Samoa. They controlled the game well with their kicking, but at times I think they kicked a bit too much. Having Tusi Pisi was huge for Samoa - he controlled the game well, kicked most of his goals (including a drop goal), and made a try saving tackle of Nalaga. Most importantly, he wasn't Lavea, hence he wasn't getting penalized every time he entered a ruck, nor making mistakes with the ball in hand. I thought Tuifua was probably the pick of the Samoan forwards at 6. Paul Williams got the official Man of the match award, and certainly deserved it. He had a huge game - he was brilliant under the high ball, solid in defense, and looked like breaking the line whenever he got the ball.

There were a few positives for Fiji. Koyamaibiole looked good with ball in hand, but he is very slow around the park. Talei was probably the pick of the forwards, breaking a lot of tackles with ball in hand. The back three of Fiji looked dangerous whenever they got the ball, but didn't really get enough clean ball to cause too many problems. I was particularly impressed with Murimurivalu, who I haven't seen a lot of.

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

if george pisi would have just passed the ball to sailosi instead of trying to step that would have been a try. Why the hell did he try and step for he just had to draw and pass?? arghh!

 

[hitman51]

if george pisi would have just passed the ball to sailosi instead of trying to step that would have been a try. Why the hell did he try and step for he just had to draw and pass?? arghh!

Mate did we watch the same game? cause the only person that stuffed up tries that day was Sailosi. That break down the sideline all he had to do was give it to Mapusua, but he tried to be a hero an stuffed up, that on top of his misd try in the first half and the countless times he lost the ball when taking it up. Where was this break Pisi?

 

[Siva Tau]

Definitely some selfish play from our boys, in theory I think we legitimately should have scored 3-4 more. That said often when there is so much at stake the rugby suffers and I think this was the case.

 

[Muzzy]

Dissapointed by the game, attempted to stay up for the whole thing but, as I posted earlier, there were just too many errors and the game was a stop start affair. Samoa just had that ltle extra class that told in the end.

Little's selection was one of nostalgia, he was poor. Kicked too far for his chasers to get too, something that he did when playing for us last season.

yup, and most of his kicks didn't go out, most just went straight to Williams, in contrast Tusi's kicking caught Goneva out several times in the first half. Fiji really need to put Seremaia Bai at first five. A big problem Fiji's had for the last couple years is they play like individuals, all the teams at this world cup have been sending their forwards in pods to gain metre's or break the line, all Fiji do is give it to Koyamaibole or Talei and expect them to do it by themselves. I hope they put Bai at first five and start Lovobalavu and Vulivuli in the centers for the Wales game, that was also be the same combo they had against Wales last year.

 

[kovana]

The Manu dropped far too many balls.

Need to work on the handling. However, i loved how they changed tactics.

Also noticed the Fijians were quite good at Lineouts.

Well here is hoping we Samoans can take it up a few more levels for the game against the Saffas.

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

Mate did we watch the same game? cause the only person that stuffed up tries that day was Sailosi. That break down the sideline all he had to do was give it to Mapusua, but he tried to be a hero an stuffed up, that on top of his misd try in the first half and the countless times he lost the ball when taking it up. Where was this break Pisi?

Ah it was from the paul williams break, he passed to george pisi, pisi tried to step and lost his footing then gave it to sailosi but by that time he had delayed up play and gave nalaga a chance to make a play at sailosi. It was only a about half a second to a second that he delayed play but that's a lot if time in rugby.

Agree on the point that sailosi should have passed to mapusua though.

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

yup, and most of his kicks didn't go out, most just went straight to Williams, in contrast Tusi's kicking caught Goneva out several times in the first half. Fiji really need to put Seremaia Bai at first five. A big problem Fiji's had for the last couple years is they play like individuals, all the teams at this world cup have been sending their forwards in pods to gain metre's or break the line, all Fiji do is give it to Koyamaibole or Talei and expect them to do it by themselves. I hope they put Bai at first five and start Lovobalavu and Vulivuli in the centers for the Wales game, that was also be the same combo they had against Wales last year.

yeah agree with that 100%. Fijians have some of the most naturally talented rugby players in the world. they are big, strong, fast, have great handling, good ball skills and are very well coordinated. they just need to play more as a team.