Samoa dark horses at rwc 2011

[Sam Owen]

Sure, but they are only two men with 20 minutes from nearly 20 points down. Even with them on, you're still looking at an Australian team which is roughly fielding 7/15 of their best players during the game. It's not Samoa's best squad, but it's certainly pretty close. I'd take a majority of those players to start in the RWC team.

Yeah I know Im just saying, you missed two players thats all. If they call themselves the Australian Wallabies, look like the Australian Wallabies, chances are, they're the Australian Wallabies.

 

[nickdnz]

Yeah I know Im just saying, you missed two players thats all. If they call themselves the Australian Wallabies, look like the Australian Wallabies, chances are, they're the Australian Wallabies.

I get what you're saying as well. My point being, if a team doesn't field their best squad, then a victory against them isn't the best measuring tool to see where you are. Samoa did beat the Wallabies but it won't be the same Wallaby squad that will be at a RWC, rather a watered down version.

 

[Sam Owen]

I get what you're saying as well. My point being, if a team doesn't field their best squad, then a victory against them isn't the best measuring tool to see where you are. Samoa did beat the Wallabies but it won't be the same Wallaby squad that will be at a RWC, rather a watered down version.

Yeah I know, actually if we had to play the Wallies next week??....oh boy, I think the Wallabies would bust their changing room door down, sprint out on the field and give us the evils instead of singing their anthem. No, they wont be the same.

 

[smartcooky]

I think we shouldn't get hung up on how many first choice Wallabies were playing. If Australia had sufficient and quality depth, they ought to have been able to put Australia "A" (being players not in the first choice 22) on the park and still won.

If I were Robbie Deans, I would not be so worried about the actual losing of the match, but more about the way they lost (4 tries to 2). Samoa were able to shut down the Wallaby backline with relative ease, and only conceded their first try when they were down to 14 players. Even then, they were able to score one when they were still down to 14!!!

It is obvious that once you get deeply into the second choice players, their quality diminishes rapidly in key areas such as the tight, the back row and at 9 and 10. I cannot stress how much Benn Robinson was missed in this game, and will be missed come RWC time. He is the one and only front row forward they have who is capable of giving the Australian scrum anything like parity against the major teams, South Africa, England and New Zealand

IMO, a number of the run on side for this match will now have a red line drawn through their names with a note in the margin "not up to scratch at this level"

 

[Ickon]

i see samoa lost to tonga a week before i guess that means you think tonga are going to win the world cup

Come on mate, this is a totally different team to the one that played in the Pacific Nations as a lot of these blokes only just arrived from Europe and NZ, at the end of the day it was lack of respect for their opposition that got them undone. They had ample opportunities to stay close by taking the three points but chose to kick it out expecting to get an easy 5 pointer. Samoa was able to absorb the pressure then clear it. I have been waiting a long time for the Samoan rugby selectors to have more NewZealand, Australian and European based players in the squad, as they have come through and play in the top rugby systems and learnt the essential basics of rugby eg. Rucking, mauling, set pieces ect... It makes me even more proud having grown up and played with a few of these boys. I just hope that the bigger nations embrace this and make these boys available all of the time and especially during World Cup. This is not just a big day for Samoan rugby fans; it's a big day for all true rugby followers as this is what we really want for the smaller nations to be competitive against their bigger counterparts. All in all it was a good positive game of rugby and damn I loved the physical contact!

Ps. Alesana Tuilagi you just picked up another fan you the MAN!

 

[lewis1234]

God this is a joke. Samoa played well and deserved the victory, but labeling them a dark horse to win the World Cup is laughable, and if they did end up playing Australia in the quarter-finals, expect a 50 point deficit to the Wallabies. The team was basically Australia A with three guys (not including the bench) being regular starters. I'm not looking for excuses, Samoa were the better team, but considering Australia A's abysmal record against teams (see loss to club side last November), this is no cause of worry for me, or anyone else for that matter.

 

[Ickon]

I'm realistic about there chances of winning the World Cup, but this is exactly what they came to prove today. This is not the same Samoan team that the bigger nations have beaten up on in the past, alot of these boys have come up through the New Zealand rugby system and have the tactical mindset to be able to be competitive. To say that they would get pumped by 50 points next time they meet is just ignorant and disrespectful. You and the Wallabies obviously didn't watch there European tour last year! Today was always about RESPECT, Samoa came in thinking we're gonna beat these blokes if not shake them up, Wallabies came in thinking about there next game with South Africa.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I'm very happy for Samoa, and the lecture is clear:
1. The gap between tier 1 and tier 2 nations is narrowing down, and
2. Australia has very little depth in some key positions.

I think Samoa have just lost the surprise factor. If they played Australia again next week, there is no way they could win it. They can beat Wales and Fiji in the RWC though, I think the second place of the group is pretty much of a lottery, and South Africa may actually lose a game (I'd be impressed if they lost 2).
Quarterfinals is an ambitious but realistic goal for Samoa, I wouldn' ask the players to finish in the top 4, even less win the cup.

 

[james5000]

Rod Davies

Only a week ago Rod Davies was being considered a near certain starter for the world cup.
He was being ranked only probably behind Digby Ioane as an aussie wing and people were starting to call for James O'Conner to play 2nd 5.

I believe this game has proved he doesn't like to get physical with the big boys


Who is putting a red line through him at the world cup now?????

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Never thought he should be there, tbh
Ioane and O'Connor should be on the wings, with Mitchell in the squad if he's back to fitness (if he hadn't have been injured then you'd have a right headache trying to choose starting wings from O'Connor/Ioane/Mitchell - JOC has been cracking in a Wallabies jersey pretty much every time he's worn one, and his kicking is another point in his favour)

 

[big ginger 8]

Never thought he should be there, tbh
Ioane and O'Connor should be on the wings, with Mitchell in the squad if he's back to fitness (if he hadn't have been injured then you'd have a right headache trying to choose starting wings from O'Connor/Ioane/Mitchell - JOC has been cracking in a Wallabies jersey pretty much every time he's worn one, and his kicking is another point in his favour)

I'd have Mitchell ahead of Ioane as he has a more rounded game.

I think Samoa should make the quarters than all you need is a bit of luck. Max I'd say is the semis. Probably quarters. Wales' chances aren't looking good as their attack is even more lateral so they'll get smashed.

 

[james5000]

Yeah i definitely think public perception of him has changed after this performance, he will definitely rank outside the top 3 wings now

He was completely dominated and actually sometimes appeared scared haha (I would be too Tuilagi is a beast!!!)

 

[smartcooky]

I'd have Mitchell ahead of Ioane as he has a more rounded game.

I think Samoa should make the quarters than all you need is a bit of luck. Max I'd say is the semis. Probably quarters. Wales' chances aren't looking good as their attack is even more lateral so they'll get smashed.

I thought Mitchell was a goner from RWC with a dislocated ankle and a broken leg.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Apparently he's back running now

I think he'll almost definitely miss it, even if he overcomes the injury in time he won't have any match fitness having missed the Tri-Nations (do the SH teams have warm ups as well as 3N?)

 

[Sam Owen]

Some more news on the Manu, yay.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/wo...a-fire-world-cup-warning-with-sydney-triumph/

 

[LittleGuy]

Some more news on the Manu, yay.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/wo...a-fire-world-cup-warning-with-sydney-triumph/

Brilliant picking with your prediction Sam!!!! What a great game, I like Samoa's chances at the WC, they can move on to the quarters, Fiji and Wales should be great games and poor old Namibia should be romped. It is looking to be one of the strongest pools in RWC history.

 

[DJRonStar]

i see samoa lost to tonga a week before i guess that means you think tonga are going to win the world cup

Where did I say Tonga are going to win the world cup???? Get your facts right....

Do some research and you'll know that Samoa fielded there B team against Tonga. None of the starting 15 who played against the Wallabies started in the Tonga game 4 days earlier.

 

[aucklander]

What is up with all the excuses an the haters. I agree with you DJRonStar. A test match is a test match. The wallabies underestimated Samoa. Both teams were not at full strength. At the end of the day Samoa were a better team. This RWC Will be a thrilling one to watch, especially because it's being played in NZ it's a home RWC for the P.I Teams.

 

[Wally]

Apparently he's back running now

I think he'll almost definitely miss it, even if he overcomes the injury in time he won't have any match fitness having missed the Tri-Nations (do the SH teams have warm ups as well as 3N?)

Drew Mitchell will almost defiantly make the squad for the world cup, even if he doesn't participate in the Tri Nations. He was one of the form wingers of Super Rugby, along with Digby Ioane, before his injury. Whether he recaptures some of that form by the crunch games is up in the air.

Congratulations Manu Samoa. It was a great day for world rugby.

 

[Darwin]

Only a week ago Rod Davies was being considered a near certain starter for the world cup.
He was being ranked only probably behind Digby Ioane as an aussie wing and people were starting to call for James O'Conner to play 2nd 5.

I believe this game has proved he doesn't like to get physical with the big boys

Who is putting a red line through him at the world cup now?????

I don't think Davies had ever been considered a near certain starter - people were getting a bit excited after he scored 3 tries against the Blues, but he's always been behind Ioane, Mitchell (if fit), O'Connor, and Turner in terms of Australian wing options in my opinion. I noted Davies lack of physicality against the Blues and Crusaders, so it comes as no surprise he struggled physically against this Samoan side!

Anyways... Great result for Samoa! I was expecting it to be a close game, but I certainly didn't expect Samoa to win (and to win quite comfortably!). Samoa are certainly showing the benefit of having basically the same team together since the start of last years Pacific Nations Cup (though the mixed up their team a bit during this years PNC).