samoa world cup

[Sam Owen]

You could paint Lavea with the same brush in terms of consistency. Either way, our 10 options aren't the best.

No they're not the best but they're the best that we've got. Lets hope they dont get injured and are in good nick come RWC time.

 

[Super Sub]

Dont get me wrong...Lavea isnt consistant either...But moreso than Fili. I just said he was solid, while not great, when he played last year for Samoa.

Definitely solid enough, though his clearances only go about 20m's, which is a bit of a pain. I do think Fili closes games far better than he starts them and that's where I'd play him, off the bench - but the bench spots are really hotly contested.

Just on Junior Polu; I've never really liked the guy for the Manu. Whenever he plays halfback, we tend to struggle to go forward because his service is too slow; compare that to when Mai and Fotualii play halfback, we're constantly going forward and the defense starts to break up, because they play at such a quick tempo and that suits us best. We got good ball carriers but we don't get the best out of them with Polu.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Just on Junior Polu; I've never really liked the guy for the Manu. Whenever he plays halfback, we tend to struggle to go forward because his service is too slow; compare that to when Mai and Fotualii play halfback, we're constantly going forward and the defense starts to break up, because they play at such a quick tempo and that suits us best. We got good ball carriers but we don't get the best out of them with Polu.

Polu and Mai are good enough backups...but it is without question that Fotuali'i is our man at halfback. His distribution is great and his sniping skills and box kicking is good 2. The one thing I like a lot about him though is his leadership. Watching him organizing his teammates at the breakdown where he wants them and what he wants to do was evident when I saw him play Vs Ireland, Scotland and England. Sometimes Samoa lacks organization and leadership like that and I feel he brings that very well to the table.

 

[ranger]

Polu and Mai are good enough backups...but it is without question that Fotuali'i is our man at halfback. His distribution is great and his sniping skills and box kicking is good 2. The one thing I like a lot about him though is his leadership. Watching him organizing his teammates at the breakdown where he wants them and what he wants to do was evident when I saw him play Vs Ireland, Scotland and England. Sometimes Samoa lacks organization and leadership like that and I feel he brings that very well to the table.

Theres always the option of moving Fotuali'i to 10 and bringing Mai or Polu into the starting lineup if Lavea doesn't work out. Hes a great playmaker and has done very well at 10 for Hawkesbay and Tasman especially. He doesn't have a very long kicking game which is a worry but then neither does Lavea

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Mo Schwalger still playing for Samoa?

 

[Super Sub]

Polu and Mai are good enough backups...but it is without question that Fotuali'i is our man at halfback. His distribution is great and his sniping skills and box kicking is good 2. The one thing I like a lot about him though is his leadership. Watching him organizing his teammates at the breakdown where he wants them and what he wants to do was evident when I saw him play Vs Ireland, Scotland and England. Sometimes Samoa lacks organization and leadership like that and I feel he brings that very well to the table.

Rather Mai than Polu. I'd take Fagasoaia over Polu as well but he'd be lucky to go as he lacks experience, but he's got a nice game. I agree with Fotualii on his organizational skills and leadership, and that's why I think our forwards went so well last year.

Theres always the option of moving Fotuali'i to 10 and bringing Mai or Polu into the starting lineup if Lavea doesn't work out. Hes a great playmaker and has done very well at 10 for Hawkesbay and Tasman especially. He doesn't have a very long kicking game which is a worry but then neither does Lavea

That's an option but I think he gets more control of the forwards at halfback and that's where we need him most. He always plays 10 when the reserve halfback comes on, so he gets some game time there.

Mo Schwalger still playing for Samoa?

Yup.

 

[Manu Samoa]

Let me start off with the props, we have a good forward pack, but my starters would be Census Jonston and Sakaria Taulafo, replac
ents would be Anthony Perenise and Justin Vaa, its mi.d of hard to pick between the hookers because they are all good to me but if I was to start it would be Mahroni Schwalger then Tii Paulo, then Steve Fualau, Iosefa Tekori would def get the start alongside Jonny Faamatuainu then Kane Thompson & Filipo Levi, its kind of hard to pick between the number 6&7 spot but if Serge Lilo & Chris Lowry were to both make themselves available for samoa I would start the both of them but if not, I would have to go with George Stowers & Ofisa Treviranus then Alafoti Faosiliva & Manaia Salavea, my number 8 without a doubt would be the best in the world Henry Tuilagi, my number 9 would be Kahn Fotualii then Junior Poluleuligaga, number 10 would go to Uale Mai then Tasesa Lavea my wingers would be Alesana Tuilagi & Sailosi Tagicakibau then David Lemi & Mikaele Pesamino, my 2 centres would have to be Seilala Mapusua & Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono with George Pisi & Anetelea Tuilagi as replacements and last but not least my fullback without a doubt would be Paul Williams with Lolo Lui and Gavin Williams as replacements.
1.Census Jonston
2.Mahroni Schwalger
3.Sakaria Taulafo
4.Iosefa Tekori
5.Jonathan Faamatuainu
6.Serge Lilo or George Stowers
7.Chris Lowrey or Ofisa Treviranus
8.Henry Tuilagi
9.Kahn Fotualii
10.Uale Mai Or Tasesa Lavea
11.Alesana Tuilagi
12.Seilala Mapusua
13.Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu or George Pisi
14.Sailosi Tagicakibau
15.Paul Williams
Feel free to reply and let me know what you think

 

[Manu Samoa]

Mo Schwalger still playing for Samoa?

He's the current captain and he leads the siva tau now

 

[Hulk Hogan]

I'd have Stowers over Lilo any day.

 

[Sam Owen]

I know some of us Samoans get given funny names from Mum and Dad but Census Jonston???...

Ok back to the rugby..

 

[jordiev]

samoa really need a solid kicker they have talented players EVERYWHERE but i dont see a reliable kicker.... anyone know of one..?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Paul Williams is their reliable kicker, did you not watch them in the Autumn?

 

[jordiev]

ohh yeah soz :L but hes not worldclass by any standard... so idk bout theyre chances of progressing through the groupes tbh

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What makes you say that?
He's a solid goal kicker with a respectable range and a great fullback

 

[jordiev]

agreed he is an amazing player... and huis goal kickin is allright but if he goes of or gets injured.. who is gunna take over ..?

 

[ranger]

agreed he is an amazing player... and huis goal kickin is allright but if he goes of or gets injured.. who is gunna take over ..?

His brother. Fa'atonu Fili can also have his moments with the kicking tea (aswell as absolutely horrible days but what can you do).
Samoa has never been a kicking side anyway, its worked alright in the past.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

agreed he is an amazing player... and huis goal kickin is allright but if he goes of or gets injured.. who is gunna take over ..?

Paul Williams is a reliable goal kicker with a good range. His brother Gavin can get good distance off his boot aswell. Lavea, Fuimaono-Sapolu or Fili can cover goal kicking duties 2 but their range are not as good as the Williams brothers.

 

[Super Sub]

His brother. Fa'atonu Fili can also have his moments with the kicking tea (aswell as absolutely horrible days but what can you do).
Samoa has never been a kicking side anyway, its worked alright in the past.

I wouldn't say that, we've had plenty of reliable kickers in the past but ever since Va'a retired, we haven't had a high percentage kicker since. ***i Esau is probably our best kicker but he's not even in the picture of selection.

Paul Williams is a reliable goal kicker with a good range. His brother Gavin can get good distance off his boot aswell. Lavea, Fuimaono-Sapolu or Fili can cover goal kicking duties 2 but their range are not as good as the Williams brothers.

Paul's a bit of a worry, he's just a part-time kicker. When was the last time Lavea and Sapolu kicked?

Lolo is another option but he's not a starter. Gavin is in the same boat, he's not a starter either but is probably the best of the bunch.

 

[ranger]

I wouldn't say that, we've had plenty of reliable kickers in the past but ever since Va'a retired, we haven't had a high percentage kicker since. ***i Esau is probably our best kicker but he's not even in the picture of selection.


Paul's a bit of a worry, he's just a part-time kicker. When was the last time Lavea and Sapolu kicked?

Lolo is another option but he's not a starter. Gavin is in the same boat, he's not a starter either but is probably the best of the bunch.

Im not saying that Samoa has never had reliable kickers.. Its just that they have never been a kicking side, they like to score the bulk of their points over the try line as opposed to with the kicking tea.

 

[Super Sub]

Im not saying that Samoa has never had reliable kickers.. Its just that they have never been a kicking side, they like to score the bulk of their points over the try line as opposed to with the kicking tea.

It really depends on which teams we face. Against top teams, we score most of our points through the boot, whereas with teams from the Pacific Cup, we'd score most of our points through tries.