Rugby: New Zealand 101 Samoa 14
Welcome back!
The New Zealand All Blacks humbled Samoa running in 15 tries in a 101-14 victory over a depleted Samoan team. The All Blacks were unstoppable scoring quicker than the timeclock throughout the match, at times the All Blacks notched tries with ease.
Mils Muliaina scored three while Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui both scored two tries in the victory. The All Blacks led 47-7 at halftime but the Samoans were unable to withstand the barrage in the second half as the tries started amassing.
Samoa managed to get on the scorebard through tries to Uale Mai and Alafoti Faosiliva.
Hopefully the result will drive the New Zealand and Australian rugby boards to take a more active role in developing the talent in the Pacific Islands to allow them to play more regular international football and retain their most talented personnel instead of losing them overseas.
A good starting point would be to involve the Pacific Islands in an expanded Super 14 or through a provincial New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Pacific Islands competition.
New Zealand 101
Tries: Mils Muliaina 3, Conrad Smith 2, Richard Kahui 2, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu and Penalty Try
Goals: Dan Carter 6 conversions, Stephen Donald 7 conversions
Samoa 14
Tries: Uale Mai, Alafoti Faosiliva
Goals: Uale Mai conversion, Roger Warren conversion
Rugby Preview: New Zealand vs Samoa
New Zealand will take on Samoa tomorrow night at New Plymouth in New Zealand in what will be almost a training run for the All Blacks. Samoa who have not been able to secure the release of their big stars playing in New Zealand or Europe will struggle to be competitive but will naturally give it their all in true Samoan tradition.
New Zealand have a test strength side and will not show any mercy against their Pacific Island rivals in what is a real David and Goliath clash. The Samoan’s have built their team mostly from the major sides in Samoa and seem hardly prepared for the clash ahead of them.
Samoa’s captain Filipo Levi will have his work cut-out trying to pull together the disparate group of players with an aim to be competitive. Only the most vervent Samoan supporter would expect that Samoa could pull off the biggest upset of the decade.
The All Blacks will be without Richie McCaw who is still recovering from a rib injury that was incurred in the Springboks match in South Africa. The All Blacks will be keen for a tough hit out before the Rugby Tri-Nations decider next week and Henry will push his troops hard for a big result.
What will worry Henry most is any potential injuries that his players may incur against the tough Samoan’s. This is likely to be his only concern but the All Blacks have to be careful they do not fall into the same trap as South Africa. South Africa smashed Argentina the week before they lost the crucial match against the All Blacks 19-0 at home.
The Argentina match was supposed to prepare the Boks but in fact did the opposite and it could be perceived as having cost the Boks the match as they did not deliver the intensity required against the All Blacks. This is what Henry will worry about along with any potential injuries to his stars, particularly Dan Carter.
The Ruck and Maul Verdict: All Blacks by 64.
New Zealand
Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Anthony Tuitavake, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So’oialo, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Sione Lauaki, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava, Rudi Wulf.
Samoa
Alatasi Tupou, Reupena Levasa, Pale Toelupe, Jerry Meafou, Esera Lauina, Uale Mai, Notise Tauafao; George Stowers, Alafoti Faosiliva, Semo Sititi, Chad Slade, Filipo Levi, Heroshi Tea, Loleni Tafunai, Simon Lemalu.
Reserves: Lafoga Aoelua, Roysiu Tolufale, Maselino Paulino, Simaika Mikaele, Junior Poluleuligaga, Roger Warren, Romi Ropati.
McCaw likely to sit out Samoa match
Richie McCaw is likely to miss the All Blacks clash with Samoa after he has been slow to recover from a knock to his ribs in New Zealand 19-0 victory over South Africa two weeks ago.
Such is McCaw’s importance to the All Blacks coach Graham Henry would not risk him unless absolutely fit. The key clash for the All Blacks is Australia on 13 September and McCaw is key to the All Blacks claiming the Rugby Tri-Nations series and Bledisloe Cup. The All Blacks previous loss to Australia was when McCaw was unavailable through injury and his leadership acts like a talismen to his team-mates.
New Zealand vs Samoa - Samoa name squad
New Zealand play Samoa next Wednesday 3rd September in what will be a key match for the All Blacks before they take on the Wallabies in Brisbane on 13th September. The match will be played at New Plymouth and will be a big test for the Samoan team.
Samoa were only able to secure 3 of their regular players, the rest are contracted to the European clubs and were able to be released. With the match scheduled outside of the IRB sanctioned matches. the clubs have no obiligation to release their players. This has been a constant issue for teams like Pacific Island teams and they have suffered badly in the international arena as a result.
The match is likely to be a bloodbath as the Samoan team are mostly in-experienced and will be under extreme pressure against the All Blacks.
The squad for the team is;
Loleni Tafunai, Simon Lemalu, Heroshi Tea, Lafoga Aoelua, Roysiu Tolufale, Filipo Levi, Chad Slade, Maselino Paulino, Simaika Mikaele, Semo Sititi, Alafoti Faosiliva, George Stowers, Misioka Timoteo, Notise Tauafao, Junior Polu’uliuligaga, Uale Mai, Roger Warren, Jerry Meafou, Pale Toelupe, Romi Ropati, Gasolo Salima, Esera Lauina, Reupena Levasa, Alatasi Tupou.
New Zealand Maori’s claim Pacific Nations Cup
The New Zealand Maori team claimed the Pacific Nations Cup after a 21-18 win over Australia A yesterday. Australia A almost clinched a penalty in the final minutes but a Mark Gerrard conversion attempt fell just below the crossbar. A draw would have provided Australia A with the Pacific Nations Cup as they received two more bonus points through the earlier four rounds. The New Zealand Maori’s clinched victory just prior with a try to Thomas Waldrom just three minutes from the final siren.
In other games Samoa defeated Japan 37-31 in Apia and Tonga claimed their first victory of the tournament with a 27-16 win over Fiji in Nuku’alofa.
The New Zealand Maori finished on 21 pts, Australia A 20 pts, Samoa 10 pts, Fiji 10 pts, Japan 7 pts and Tonga 5 pts.
Pacific Nations Cup Round 4
Round 4 of the Pacific Nations Cup took place on the weekend with only two teams remaining unbeaten after the weekend the Australia A side and the New Zealand Maori’s.
Australia A triumphed easily over the Fijian side 50-13 in Brisbane. Australia had too much experience and firepower for the Fijians. Samoa were too good for Tonga winning 20-15 and the New Zealand Maori blasted Japan off the park 65-22. The Cup will be decided with the blockbuster match between Australia A and New Zealand Maori on the 6th July in Sydney.
Pacific Nations Cup Round 3
The third round of the Pacific Nations Cup was played on the weekend with Australia A smashing Tonga 90-7. Fiji defeating Japan 24-12 in Tokyo and the New Zealand Maori’s trimphing 17-6 over Samoa.
Australia A were dynamic with Stephen Hoiles scoring 4 and Drew Mitchell 3 tries respectively in a 14 try effort by the team against a lacklustre Tongan side. All eyes were on Timana Tahu who delivered a solid performance at inside centre to push his claims for a spot on the Wallabies bench. Fiji came from behind to beat Japan 24-12 in Tokyo. Fiji were down 9-3 at half time but dug deep to score three converted tries in the second half to beat a tenacious Japan. In the other encounter the New Zealand Maori’s ground out a hard fought win 17-6 over a spirited Samoan team.
Australia A and New Zealand Maori’s are the only undefeated team while Fiji with two and Japan with one win represent the other teams who have registered victory.
IRB World Rankings
The International Rugby Board (IRB) announced the latest rankings of all Rugby playing nations on 16 June 2008.
The only movement within the top 10 from last week is Scotland moving up one place after their surprise victory against Argentina and Fiji dropping back one spot as a result of the Scottish win. Among other major top 20 nations Samoa has moved from 13th to 12th spot and Japan from 16th to 15th after recent performances in the Pacific Nations Cup.
The top 10 are;
South Africa
New Zealand
Argentina
Australia
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Fiji
A full list can be viewed at the Official IRB Rugby site.
Pacific Nations Cup Roundup
The second round of the Pacific Nations Cup was held over the weekend. Japan were far too strong for Tonga winning 35-13. The New Zealand Maori held off Fiji to win 11-7 and Australia A beat Samoa 20-15.
The Australian A side beat Samoa in Apia in terrible conditions. Samoa came hard at Australia A in the second half and they were lucky to hang on for the win. Samoa as expected came out hard and pummelled the Australian A side, both sides scored two tries a piece. The difference in the end was the boot of Mark Gerrard.
Japan meanwhile lead 12-6 at halftime against Tonga after they sustained heavy pressure in the first 20 minutes. Japan blew Tonga away in the second half scoring four tries in what was a convincing 35-13 victory.
Australia A and the New Zealand Maori’s remain the only two unbeaten teams after two rounds. Fiji and Japan both have one win and one loss and Samoa and Tonga are yet to register a winner.