Melhor Time
Bench Player
- Joined
- May 5, 2007
- Messages
- 801
My Samoa preview was published earlier today:
http://www.rugbymania.com.br/2009/ver_noticia08.asp?codigo=4265
Suggested XV
15 Paul Williams (Sale, ENG)
14 David Lemi (London Wasps, ENG)
13 Seilala Mapusua (London Irish, ENG)
12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu (Gloucester, ENG) *
11 Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester, ENG)
10 Tasesa Lavea (Clermont, FRA)
9 Junior Poluleuligaga (Exeter, ENG)
8 Henry Tuilagi (Perpignan, FRA)
7 Manaia Salaveá (Narborne, FRA)
6 George Stowers (London Irish, ENG)
5 Filipo Levi (Newcastle, ENG)
4 Joe Tekori (Castres, FRA)
3 Census Johnson (Toulouse, FRA)
2 Mahonra Schwalger capitão (Taranaki, NZ)
1 Na´ama Leleimalefaga (Montpellier, FRA)
Reserves 16 Tià Paulo (Clermont, FRA), 17 Anthony Perenise (Hawkes Bay, NZ), 18 Kane Thompson (Dax, FRA), 19 Daniel Leo´o (Bordeaux, FRA), 20 Kahn Fotuali'i (Hawkes Bay, NZ), 21 George Pisi (Taranaki, NZ), 22 Gavin Williams (Clermont, FRA).
Additional Squad members 23 Steve Fualau (Canterbury, NZ), 24 Sakaria Taulafo (London Wasps, ENG), 25 Chris Timaloa (Queensland Reds, AUS), 26 Ofisa Trevarinus (Malie, Samoa), 27 Afa Aiono (A'ana, Samoa), 28 Uale Mai (El Salvador, Spain), 29 Brando Va'aulu (Bourgoin, FRA), 30 Henry Fa´afili (Leeds, ENG).
Key points in brief
* As always, Samoa is strong with enormous centres and in general eight monsters starting in the forwards. The scrum is heavy and difficult to defeat.
* Virtually all of the players play for top European clubs. Henry Tuilagi, for instance, is consdiered better than Sebastien Chabal as a ball carrier and defender. George Stowers is a big name for London Irish, while Joe Tekori, Census Johnson, Seilala Mapusua and Alesana Tuilagi are similar in France and England. All are excellent players but all for the same reason - size. Samoa needs to have a more diversified set of players. Tekori, Stowers e Henry Tuilagi could on paper be a superb backrow but they are all the same player. None of them serves as a fetcher. They are all 8´s. This highlights the problems Samoa face - balance and is a reflection of Samoan rugby in the pro era and the lack of progress since Rugby World Cup 1999. In my opinion Samoa only has one elite player who is known for something other than his size - Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.
* I´d like very much to have Fotunuupule Auelua playing for Samoa. He is Samoan, but born in New Zealand. He has played no representative rugby so could play for Samoa due to his parentes being Samoan. He has had a great season for Toulon playing at 12 or 8. I´d have him at 12 for Samoa with Fuimaono Sapolu playing 10.
* I did not select Manu Tuilagi from the Leicester Tigers who is the younger of the brothers who are all Samoan internationals. Manu, is Samoan born and is only 20 years old but arrived in England yat a young age and played under 14 rugby in England. He´ll be an English international and is my pick to replace Mike Tindall as England´s starting 13 after trhe World Cup.
* Samoa will win game 1 vs Namibia then havwe a good shot vs Wales but come up short due to Wales´ superior backs who, as the game progress´s, could run Samoa of its feet. Wales need its first XV, not players like Biggar, etc who played in the near loss in 2009. Game three vs Fiji could go either way but I´m picking Fiji based on Fiji´s superior backs and results between the two teams since France 2007. Game four vs South Africa could be interesting but like 2003 and 2007 it will not live up to the hype and South Africa will score another 50 point win. Thus, Samoa would be eliminated at the pools stage and will have to qualify for England 2015.
* Since France 2007 Samoa has faced Fiji three times for one win and two loses. The only ever game vs Namibia was a 40-13 win in 2003. Samoa was defeated Wales three times in history - two at World Cup´s. With Wales fielding an experimental side in 2009 lacking many first choice players Samoa ran Wales close and nearly won. Final score was 17-13 to the Dragons. Wales cannot amke the same mistake again. Samoa vs South Africa has happend in 3 World Cup´s. In 1996 RSA wont he Quarter Final 42-14, in 2003 and 2007 RSA won 60-10 and 59-7.
* Samoa is at the same level as 2007. During this time Samoa has defeated Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea and Tonga but has lost every match vs tier one opposition inc vs all 6 teams fromt he Six Nations. Samoa´s best result was sv Scotland in 2010 with a 19-16 loss on full time.
http://www.rugbymania.com.br/2009/ver_noticia08.asp?codigo=4265
Suggested XV
15 Paul Williams (Sale, ENG)
14 David Lemi (London Wasps, ENG)
13 Seilala Mapusua (London Irish, ENG)
12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu (Gloucester, ENG) *
11 Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester, ENG)
10 Tasesa Lavea (Clermont, FRA)
9 Junior Poluleuligaga (Exeter, ENG)
8 Henry Tuilagi (Perpignan, FRA)
7 Manaia Salaveá (Narborne, FRA)
6 George Stowers (London Irish, ENG)
5 Filipo Levi (Newcastle, ENG)
4 Joe Tekori (Castres, FRA)
3 Census Johnson (Toulouse, FRA)
2 Mahonra Schwalger capitão (Taranaki, NZ)
1 Na´ama Leleimalefaga (Montpellier, FRA)
Reserves 16 Tià Paulo (Clermont, FRA), 17 Anthony Perenise (Hawkes Bay, NZ), 18 Kane Thompson (Dax, FRA), 19 Daniel Leo´o (Bordeaux, FRA), 20 Kahn Fotuali'i (Hawkes Bay, NZ), 21 George Pisi (Taranaki, NZ), 22 Gavin Williams (Clermont, FRA).
Additional Squad members 23 Steve Fualau (Canterbury, NZ), 24 Sakaria Taulafo (London Wasps, ENG), 25 Chris Timaloa (Queensland Reds, AUS), 26 Ofisa Trevarinus (Malie, Samoa), 27 Afa Aiono (A'ana, Samoa), 28 Uale Mai (El Salvador, Spain), 29 Brando Va'aulu (Bourgoin, FRA), 30 Henry Fa´afili (Leeds, ENG).
Key points in brief
* As always, Samoa is strong with enormous centres and in general eight monsters starting in the forwards. The scrum is heavy and difficult to defeat.
* Virtually all of the players play for top European clubs. Henry Tuilagi, for instance, is consdiered better than Sebastien Chabal as a ball carrier and defender. George Stowers is a big name for London Irish, while Joe Tekori, Census Johnson, Seilala Mapusua and Alesana Tuilagi are similar in France and England. All are excellent players but all for the same reason - size. Samoa needs to have a more diversified set of players. Tekori, Stowers e Henry Tuilagi could on paper be a superb backrow but they are all the same player. None of them serves as a fetcher. They are all 8´s. This highlights the problems Samoa face - balance and is a reflection of Samoan rugby in the pro era and the lack of progress since Rugby World Cup 1999. In my opinion Samoa only has one elite player who is known for something other than his size - Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.
* I´d like very much to have Fotunuupule Auelua playing for Samoa. He is Samoan, but born in New Zealand. He has played no representative rugby so could play for Samoa due to his parentes being Samoan. He has had a great season for Toulon playing at 12 or 8. I´d have him at 12 for Samoa with Fuimaono Sapolu playing 10.
* I did not select Manu Tuilagi from the Leicester Tigers who is the younger of the brothers who are all Samoan internationals. Manu, is Samoan born and is only 20 years old but arrived in England yat a young age and played under 14 rugby in England. He´ll be an English international and is my pick to replace Mike Tindall as England´s starting 13 after trhe World Cup.
* Samoa will win game 1 vs Namibia then havwe a good shot vs Wales but come up short due to Wales´ superior backs who, as the game progress´s, could run Samoa of its feet. Wales need its first XV, not players like Biggar, etc who played in the near loss in 2009. Game three vs Fiji could go either way but I´m picking Fiji based on Fiji´s superior backs and results between the two teams since France 2007. Game four vs South Africa could be interesting but like 2003 and 2007 it will not live up to the hype and South Africa will score another 50 point win. Thus, Samoa would be eliminated at the pools stage and will have to qualify for England 2015.
* Since France 2007 Samoa has faced Fiji three times for one win and two loses. The only ever game vs Namibia was a 40-13 win in 2003. Samoa was defeated Wales three times in history - two at World Cup´s. With Wales fielding an experimental side in 2009 lacking many first choice players Samoa ran Wales close and nearly won. Final score was 17-13 to the Dragons. Wales cannot amke the same mistake again. Samoa vs South Africa has happend in 3 World Cup´s. In 1996 RSA wont he Quarter Final 42-14, in 2003 and 2007 RSA won 60-10 and 59-7.
* Samoa is at the same level as 2007. During this time Samoa has defeated Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea and Tonga but has lost every match vs tier one opposition inc vs all 6 teams fromt he Six Nations. Samoa´s best result was sv Scotland in 2010 with a 19-16 loss on full time.
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