Sweet victory: Manu Samoa
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Samoa sent a warning shot to their World Cup Pool rivals with a gutsy performance doing for the Wallabies 32-23 at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
World rugby's second-ranked team were well beaten by the islanders just a week away from their Tri-Nations opener against South Africa.
The impressive Samoans outscored the two-time world champions four tries to two for their first win over Australia in five meetings.
Alesana Tuilagi, Paul Williams, Kane Thompson and George Pisi crossed for the visitors, with fly-half Tusi Pisi adding 12 points with the boot.
The Wallabies scored a try in each half through Digby Ioane and Matt Giteau, but were always struggling after the visitors had raced 17-0 ahead.
Samoa had never before beaten a top-five ranked country - although they have beaten Wales three times, most notably at the 1991 World Cup.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Ioane, Giteau
Con: Giteau 2
Pen: Giteau 3
For Samoa:
Tries: Tuilagi, Williams, Thompson, G Pisi
Con: T Pisi 3
Pen: T Pisi 2
Australia: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Dan Vickerman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Will Genia, 22 Kurtley Beale.
Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 George Stowers, 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 6 Taisina Tuifu'a, 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (c), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Filipo Lavea Levi, 19 Manaia Salavea, 20 Brenton Helleur, 21 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, 22 James So'oialo.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Comments
sandal says...
What kind of a report was that?
Did Planet Rugby have no one watching the game?
Posted 02:46 18th July 2011
cantab7 says...
13 out of the 22 players used were in the wallabies first choice 22. No my words, but there coaches - Robbie dingo deans.
Posted 00:30 18th July 2011
runnrugby says...
@Celtictenor, I agree. Australia dont have the strength in depth they thought they did. It was highlighted by the poor performances of the other aussie franchises in Super rugby comp, three finished in the bottom four.
Posted 00:18 18th July 2011
Dwayne says...
The softest team in world rugby. All flash and no substance. You are corresct sie, the colour is yellow.
Posted 22:33 17th July 2011
StunTheMullet says...
@ pogmahon - Apology for supporting Manu Samoa? Highlighting that many of the Samoan team are NZ born or play rugby in NZ? Or for Dingo holding a New Zealand passport?
Posted 21:49 17th July 2011
GCP_JONES says...
Imagine what the so-called 2nd tier countries will achieve after another six weeks in camp together. I think Wales should be seriously worried, the signs were there last Autumn with Samoa, who despite only being together for a week gave Ireland a real scare. But in fairness to Australia,Samoa had just finished playing in the Pacific Nations.
As rugby fans(i would understand any wallabies not agreeing) we should praise this because at Test level in particular the game has become very predictable.Whats the bets Henry puts out his strongest team against Figi next week.
Posted 21:45 17th July 2011
md21c says...
As a NZer it is fantastic to watch Samoa win, but it is even better to watch Aussie lose. I especially love watching Rocky Elsom's face, it brings a really warm glow to my heart. As a NZer I do get to watch that a lot!! - But unfortunately this is no indication for the world cup. If the Aussies can field a full strength team they are going to be hard to beat. It does indicate that Aussie lacks depth - and if they have some injuries in key positions they have not a chance of getting through at the WC.
Posted 20:48 17th July 2011
fozza says...
haven't seen the gaem (yet) but I think these comments have been almost as entertaining as the game will be.
My two cents: Don't write off the wallabies that would be silly, and they're not going to make these mistakes again. However, tell me the rest of the world isn't going to be watching this game for what did and didn't work and I'll tell you you're daft!!! Let's not forget that at the last World Cup, England were touted as being a pool victim and never making it to the quarters...
Samoa, brilliant! It's not enough to say the Wallabies were poor, the Samoans needed to be great. I've seen some of the trys and there was some nice, nice rugby. Wales will not be looking forward to Samoa and Fiji!
Lastly, and no one appears to have noticed this or at least commented on it: Where was the crowd? I know union has it's challanges from other codes in Australia and it was only a warm up game but I would be shocked if Twickenham and the Millenium Stadium are not close to sold out for the forthcoming warm-ups!
In Summary, well done Samoa, please keep it up for the World cup and now thanks to Jaystarr I'm off to see if I can find any Currie Cup highlights!!!
Posted 20:35 17th July 2011
brands says...
awesome aussies choke again hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Posted 19:54 17th July 2011
bencilpa2 says...
congratz Manu Samoa
haha @JayStarr with ............................................................................ceffe
Posted 19:23 17th July 2011
NoSeriously says...
Gutted I missed this. Stoked for the Samoans. Will give them a lot of confidence going into WC.
This really opens up the pool with no certainties. The Welsh have got a habit of giving SH teams a run for their money and Samoa certainly looks up for it. Still reckon that SA will top the group though, but the Welsh might find the physicality of SA, Samoa and Fiji tough going.
Posted 18:55 17th July 2011
papachinzo says...
Reasons why these teams are getting better, the best of their players are going to Europe now instead of New Zealand, where they would eventually be recruited to play for the All Blacks(A long, long list of players)... Although something similar has started to happen now in England, with the likes of Flutey, Waldrom and other Tuilagi brother, playing England instead of their nation or origin.
I can see these Pacific teams getting a lot better in the next few years!!
and also the eastern European teams(Russia, Georgia, Romania etc...), who have really taken to Rugby over the past few years.
Posted 16:45 17th July 2011
Ramage says...
@ Trinats. Was the call against Samoa the one that the assistant intervened in the one you were talking about?. I take on board what you say but what about this summation. First I agree with you that it was a legitimate tackle but refs need to back their own judgement and I believe he thought it was ok but in his mind borderline and let it go. However when plonker Brown interevened and called it against the Samoans he actually then went into a defensive mind and started to give reasons for the penalty. In my mind thank God he did because if he asked Brown then Samoa would probably had a playerunjustly off for 10 minutes. Some assistants are just so out of touch that the more a ref backs himself and keeps some of these prima donnas like Brown out of it the better. After all Brown hardly covered himself in glory during the Super games this year.
Posted 16:19 17th July 2011
Ramage says...
Trinats why do Australians use euphemisms for the colour yellow ? Gold? Geez Trinats the world knows the colour yellow when they see it. Its the same colour that runs up Greg Chappell's back.
Posted 16:05 17th July 2011
cambiassio says...
i'm irish and smiling
Posted 16:01 17th July 2011
Daibok says...
Jibes and gloating aside, there are some serious points here:
The trinations teams have accepted a ridiculous schedule in RWC year. End of.
Wales and SA will have got more from this game than the Aussies - you play a tight controlled game against the Islanders or take the chance to be buried. Oz were buried. The Boks can do this with Steyns at 10 and 15 and a tight forward display. Wales may be able top do it with Steven Jones at 10 and a similar tight effort.
Anyway:-
Great stuff Samoa. Am really looking forward to RWC.
Posted 15:29 17th July 2011
vitieddie says...
congrats samoa - enjoyed the bone crunching tackles - highlight of the game for me
aust fielded a B team and brought on the stars too late ... they also looked rusty ... but full credit to samoa ... will always support the islanders over the tier one teams
i thought the aussie commentators were ok - not sure what diablo is talking about
Posted 15:19 17th July 2011
bloemboy says...
Isnt it the Aussie Management that went off pop complaining that the Boks are not showing them the due respect and fieling a weakened team.
Honestly it will be a different team running on the paddock next week, but it could be VERY humbling if they lose again. All of a sudden, the momentum is gone and itll be all hands on deck here so that we start bailing the boat dry.
And any talk of Prima Donna's and Fat Ladies can entertain for now, but there is plenty rugby to be played between now and RWC Final time. My prediction is still AUS v SA in the final and a first successful defence in the bag for the Boks.
Posted 15:17 17th July 2011
johnniec63 says...
Samoa had never before beaten a top-five ranked country - although they have beaten Wales three times, most notably at the 1991 World Cup.
I dont see the relevence. Wales have not been a top five ranked country for at least 25 years whats the conection in that comment? hte guy who wrote it must be english!!
Posted 15:05 17th July 2011
5Lock4ward says...
I know this was effectively a Wallabies b-side but...how dry is the ink on Mr. Deans' new contract?
Posted 15:01 17th July 2011