samoa world cup

[Super Sub]

I disagree uce. A good #7 or a ball-pilferer equivalent (e.g Henrich Brussouw #6) is very important for a team's success.
David Pockock, Richie Mccaw, Heinrich Brussouw are the sort of players that will literally force turnovers or penalties; these players can shift the momentum of a game with that one ability; even if its only a couple of times in a game.

No one wants a reminder, but remember 2007 RWC where Tonga were on fire? Their above-par performances were due to one Nili Latu who had the ability to steal opposition ball at the ruck.

Samoa needs someone, i just hope they find one before the RWC, or devise some plan to replace this defficiency!.

It's nice to have one but it's not the be-all of openside play. You can force turnovers with good counter-rucking and it has pretty much the same affect as you would if you had a pilferer.

I'd also like to note that ever since the rule changes, McCaw's turnover numbers have gone way down and I wouldn't even class him as pilferer anymore, but that doesn't change his effectiveness in matches.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

An interesting article I found on JAMIE HELLEUR and why he chose club over country during this years RWC. Shame he made the decision but in a sense good on him for doing what he feels is right for his family and not just himself. All the best to Jamie, he will be missed but our depth in the centres still looks great.

[h=1]source http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcas...castle-falcons-over-world-cup-61634-28993748/
Jamie Helleur: Why I chose Newcastle Falcons over World Cup[/h] by Mark Smith, The Journal
NEWCASTLE Falcons new boy Jamie Helleur has revealed his agonising decision to turn down a Rugby World Cup call from a Samoa squad also containing his younger brother.

Having landed on Tyneside last week, elder sibling Jamie was basking in the Kingston Park sunshine while brother Brenton was preparing for Samoa’s World Cup warm-up against Japan in Tokyo.

“It is a shame I am not going to be with them this year, but that is a decision made more with the head than the heart,†said Jamie, the 27-year-old centre with four caps to his name after choosing to represent his ancestral homeland last year.
Ready to watch the World Cup from afar during September and October as the Aviva Premiership season gets under way, he added: “For the time being I have opted out of the international scene, and that is just a strategic move which I have really had to make.
“There is a difference sometimes between chasing a dream and making a good decision, and coming to Newcastle is a good decision. Now that I am here, I am even more sure that it was the right call to make. I talked it over with my family for a long time, and after a couple of months debating we decided that setting the family up with some security was the most important thing to do.â€
Proud nonetheless for his family connection, the former Auckland and Blues star said: “My younger brother Brenton has made the squad as a half-back, and it melts my heart to know that he will be involved.
“He is a great player who has had a rough time through injury and, if I can’t be at the World Cup myself, then it would be a fantastic honour for Brenton to be in there representing the family. I will be proud to put our Samoa jerseys side by side on display. My parents are just ecstatic that he is in the mix.â€

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[bonafidehamo]

James So'oialo is now a real challenger for fullback position.
While he hasn't got the experience and strength of Paul Williams, he has a something the Samoan team has needed for a very long time; a good goal kicker.
Just wondering if we should "put all our eggs in one basket" by using this kid based on his performance at PNC, a level lower than the RWC.
This is a much welcomed headache for the coaches as we have never had much options in this regard.

After today's performance, I would like to see the following players further tested as they were real standouts:
#8 T.Tuifua - Got over the advantage line every single time with ease. I know its the Japanese, but can the same thing be said about George Stowers or Henry Tuilagi?
#15 J.So'oialo - Excellent place kicker and needs to be tested further for his defense and ability under the high ball.
#14 S.Tagicakibau - I know he has played well before but we haven't seen enough of him and need to see his true abilities at international level.

On a different note, I watched the Crusaders Stormers semi-final where Kahn Fotuali'i played 65 minutes after Ellis left the field injured. He put in an almost flawless display and demonstrated, on top of normal scrum-half duties, excellent defense and the ability to win turnover ball. In all honesty I think he is not far behind Will Genia of Australia and James Cowan of New Zealand despite his lack of game time.
At the earliest we will be seeing Kahn playing against Tonga which is 4 days after the Super Rugby Final and the Samoa Fiji match.

This team I believe is close to the strongest we can field as far as i can see so far:

1. Sakaria Taulafo
2. Mahonri Schwalger
3. Census Johnston
4. Kane Thompson
5. Joe Tekori
6. Ray Ofisa
7. Manaia Salavea
8. George Stowers (Henry Tuilagi)
9. Kahn Fotuali'i
10. Tusi Pisi
11. Alesana Tuilagi
12. Seilala Mapusua
13. George Pisi
14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
15. Paul Williams

16. Anthony Perenise
17. Ti'i Paulo
18. Filipo Levi
19. T.Tuifua
20. Uale Mai
21. Tasesa Lavea
22. James So'oialo

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

James So'oialo is def one of our most exciting young prospects. He showed his world class boot in the game vs japan and showed he can play well defensively to. Paul Williams though is still our 1st choice starter at fullback though, as he is IMO the better ALL ROUND player at the moment. He to is a world class kicker (though his success rate isnt as high as So'oialo) and he has plenty of experiance playing top level rugby. So'oialo I feel will be our our Fullback of the future, but I think he needs to sit behind Paul Williams first, spend some time in the weight room to put on alil more muscle, mature and gain more experience. In time I feel he may overtake Paul Williams but come this years RWC Paul Williams should still be our first choice unless he goes down injured.

 

[bonafidehamo]

James So'oialo is def one of our most exciting young prospects. He showed his world class boot in the game vs japan and showed he can play well defensively to. Paul Williams though is still our 1st choice starter at fullback though, as he is IMO the better ALL ROUND player at the moment. He to is a world class kicker (though his success rate isnt as high as So'oialo) and he has plenty of experiance playing top level rugby. So'oialo I feel will be our our Fullback of the future, but I think he needs to sit behind Paul Williams first, spend some time in the weight room to put on alil more muscle, mature and gain more experience. In time I feel he may overtake Paul Williams but come this years RWC Paul Williams should still be our first choice unless he goes down injured.

Hardout uce. I would imagine they will start Paul Williams and actually play him out for the whole game, unless he has a really off day with the kicking boot which is So'oialo's cue to enter the scene.
To be fair, the team against Japan played well considering that was their first hit-out but to be frank the amount of penalties they gave away and the ease with which the Japanese broke our defensive line is a worry; but nevertheless to be expected. That performance was a step back from the EOYT but that is probably down to some of the guys like Thompson, Schwalger, Fotuali'i and a few others not being available.

I am so excited and interested about the challenger that lie ahead for the Manu. I know Fiji will be so desperate for a win after being humiliated at home by Tonga. Furthermore, Tonga, being our last game, will be an even greater challenge after the way I saw them play which is the most structured I have seen them play since 2007.

 

[Manu]

This would be my team.

1. Sakaria Taulafo
2. Ti'i Paulo
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Kane Thompson
5.
6.
7.
8.

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15.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

This would be my team.

1. Sakaria Taulafo
2. Ti'i Paulo
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Kane Thompson
5.
6.
7.
8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

sorry sole, but we'd get smoked if we played only 4 players in a team hahaha

 

[Manu]

^It sent by accident.
1. Sakaria Taulafo
2. Ti'i Paulo
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Kane Thompson
5. Daniel Leo
6. Ray Ofisa
7. Manaia Salavea
8. Henry Tuilagi/
9. Kahn Fotuali'i
10. Tusi Pisi
11. Alesana Tuilagi
12. Tasesa Lavea/Seilala Mapasua
13. George Pisi
14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
15. Paul Williams
16. Census Johnston
17. Mahonri Schwalger
18. Joe Tekori
19. George Stowers/T.Tuifua
20. Junior Polu
21. Uale Mai
22. James So'oialo/Mikaele Pesamino
I watched a couple of samoa's recent matches, Vs Japan, Fiji & Tonga. We have a solid offense base, but we lack that "flair" in our defence. We can score at will, but when it comes to our defence & technique, we need some work. To break it down. At the ruck time, were getting penalized because were diving into the ruck instead of cleaning out. I like the look of our line-out, i've heard a few criticise it but overall we'll manage. Our scrums need a bit of tweaking, when we went up against tonga, we got shove around too much. But our kicking game has improved Thank god! in Williams & So'oialo. I think lavea needs to step it up coz if pusi plays well, we'll still have a need for him maybe as 1st/5 like Conrad smith for hurricaines. Having Fotuali'i, our passing game is automatically improved, which can hopefully allow pusi to start organising some set plays. Just some of my thoughts on the current samoan team. GO MANU SAMOA!

 

[Manu Samoa]

^It sent by accident.
1. Sakaria Taulafo
2. Ti'i Paulo
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Kane Thompson
5. Daniel Leo
6. Ray Ofisa
7. Manaia Salavea
8. Henry Tuilagi/
9. Kahn Fotuali'i
10. Tusi Pisi
11. Alesana Tuilagi
12. Tasesa Lavea/Seilala Mapasua
13. George Pisi
14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
15. Paul Williams
16. Census Johnston
17. Mahonri Schwalger
18. Joe Tekori
19. George Stowers/T.Tuifua
20. Junior Polu
21. Uale Mai
22. James So'oialo/Mikaele Pesamino
I watched a couple of samoa's recent matches, Vs Japan, Fiji & Tonga. We have a solid offense base, but we lack that "flair" in our defence. We can score at will, but when it comes to our defence & technique, we need some work. To break it down. At the ruck time, were getting penalized because were diving into the ruck instead of cleaning out. I like the look of our line-out, i've heard a few criticise it but overall we'll manage. Our scrums need a bit of tweaking, when we went up against tonga, we got shove around too much. But our kicking game has improved Thank god! in Williams & So'oialo. I think lavea needs to step it up coz if pusi plays well, we'll still have a need for him maybe as 1st/5 like Conrad smith for hurricaines. Having Fotuali'i, our passing game is automatically improved, which can hopefully allow pusi to start organising some set plays. Just some of my thoughts on the current samoan team. GO MANU SAMOA!

i would rather have taiasina tuifua as #6 joe tekori at #5 jonny faamatuainu as back up to thompson and tekori, eli sapolu as back up to mapusua and pisi, i wouldnt put lavea in as a centre... mai and pesamino are out of my squad... they should just stick to sevens...

here is my squad...

1. sakaria taulafo
2.mahonri schwalger
3.anthony perenise
4.iosefa tekori
5.kane thompson
6. manaia salavea
7.taiasina tuifua/ofisa treviranus
8.henry tuilagi
9.kahn fotualii
10.tusi pisi
11.alesana tuilagi
12.seilala mapusua
13.george pisi
14.sailosi tagicakibau
15.paul williams
16.census johnston
17.tii paulo
18.jonny faamatuainu
19.ofisa treviranus
20.eliota fuimaono sapolu
21.lua vailoaloa
22.james sooialo