Almost scored: Sailosi Tagicakibau
Samoa gave their hopes of World Cup quarter-final qualification a boost on Sunday as they easily dispatched Fiji 27-7 at Eden Park in Auckland.
While they only scored two tries through scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i and number eight George Stowers, Samoa will be delighted with the win.
They were slick, powerful and had ideas that made Fiji fall well short of their rivals. The real test comes next week against South Africa though.
Sailosi Tagicakibau thought he had scored early on but for an incredible last ditch tackle from Napolioni Nalaga that kept the scores a 3-0 following Tusi Pisi's early penalty goal. Samoa were most definitely in the ascendancy in the opening minutes as they enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure, possession and territory.
From that near miss from the London Irish wing, Samoa won a scrum penalty which Pisi converted from under the uprights. Fiji could not buy any ball as a statistic of 95 per cent territory in the first ten minutes said it all in Auckland, and when Pisi slotted a neat drop-goal, the lead was up to nine.
Gradually though, the ailing Fijians did manage to get something of a grip on procedings but were by no means turning the screw against their rivals, who held all the aces right up until the half-time whistle in a performance that was better than the 12-0 score suggested.
Pisi stroked over a fourth penalty early in the second-half before Fiji had their best passage of play with a rolling attack through the forwards, which was eventually ended by a turnover.
Tuilagi then knocked Tagicakibau backwards with a ferocious hit as the big collisions kept coming, but a huge tackle by Fiji's Sisa Koyamaibole on Pisi could not prevent Samoa's first try as the always threatening Crusader Fotuali'i darted over from the ruck.
Fiji's forwards came rumbling back and they were rewarded with a try when flanker Netani Talei went over after receiving the ball on the right for their only score of the day on the hour.
But Samoa found an immediate riposte when number eight Stowers powered over on the left. Hopes of a Fiji revival were hit when hooker Sunia Koto went off injured and they were denied a last-gasp consolation by a video replay.
Samoa now have the chance of reaching their first quarter-finals in sixteen years when they play South Africa on Friday, while Fiji face the Welsh next Sunday in Hamilton.
Man of the match: Tusi Pisi gave an intelligent showing at fly-half but the workrate and power of George Stowers sees him take this one. Paul Williams deserves a mention.
Moment of the match: Napolioni Nalaga's try-saving tackle on Sailosi Tagicakibau. Had the Samoans got the seven points at that point in the first half then things could have looked a whole lot worse for the Fijians. Kahn Fotuali'i's score was also a major moment.
Villain of the match: Huge respect between the two teams meant little aggro.
The scorers:
For Fiji:
Try: Talei
Con: Luveniyali
For Samoa:
Tries: Fotuali'i, Stowers
Con: Williams
Pen: Pisi 4
Drop: Pisi
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Gaby Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Mala Ravulo, 6 Netani Edward Talei, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Seko Kalou, 3 Deacon Manu (captain), 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Talemaitoga Dautu Tuapati, 17 Setefano Somoca, 18 Rupeni Nasiga, 19 Akapusi Qera, 20 Vitori Tomu Buatava, 21 Albert James Vulivuli, 22 Waisea Sedre Luveniyali.
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 Faasavalu, 6 Taiasina Tuifua, 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Daniel Leo, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (captain), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 Filipo Lavea Levi, 19 Manaia Salavea, 20 Jeremy Sua, 21 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, 22 James Sooialo.
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Comments
rugbylover11 says...
@powerplay
Yes, the superiority mentality has to go. I played under that scottish coach I mentioned before when I first arrived, and I tell you, his attitude was really off. You know the quiet k but critical, indifferent and arrogant kind of personality. Some people really believe, that only they can play the game the way it should be played.
I recall the stories of the christian missionaries when they first arrived in the south sea islands with their so called good news. They made the women down there wore long dresses in the heat and men had to shave their heads according to the British standard of the time. While many people believe in their Jesus, what really happened was a cultural transformation. Up to now, the samoans, fijians, tahitians, tongans and the rest in the villages still believe that a man can't be holy and have long hair hanging down his shoulders at the same time. Is the same expectation on church ladies, long dress is a sign of being close to the man upstairs.
It seems like our rugby has caught up to that missionary thinking of the past. One is not playing rugby unless he is playing like a Tier 1 nation hehehehe!!!! The problem is, the islanders had done switch passes, under arm passes, overhead short kicks and so on with coconut husks when they first played rugby, and the overseas coaches came down and discourage them for the sake of their accepted style. They are so dumb that they can only see themselves. Cho hooooooooo!!!!
Posted 06:26 26th September 2011
rugbylover11 says...
hehehehehe@Jaystar
Ever since Sapolu went on twiter he has been going against Samoa hahaha!!!
As if rugby results depend on which team he supports hehehehe!!!
The ball was slippery during that last game Samoa vs Fiji. It was a bit wet. Samoa had to do a kicking game partly because of that reason. Yeah ABs made 3 tries out of 3 mistakes by France, it is not so in the video. Fiji made two mistakes in the 2nd half and samoa made two tries out of them. MJ of England and PdV of the Bok have both commented on their respective teams being too eager and impatient in their first half displays. Even other teams spokespersons have made the same comments about their first half perfomances in this WC. Samoa can say the same thing. Yeah, but they also made a try in the first half that wasn't allowed. I didn't see any attitude in them like, "if you can scrum better we can do it too etc". That is the usual belittling interpretation of the white man hehehehehe!!!
Samoa is doing good and will do good against the Bok provided they have their nr 10 in order. I am looking forward to them punching another heavy weight. And the only reason why I won't wish for them to KO the Bok completely is because I feel for PdV their coach. It seems that he has so many enemies among its fans. So for his sake, com'on Manu Samoa, just give the Bok a black eye, it is enough hehehehe!!!
Posted 05:47 26th September 2011
JayStarr says...
Very disappointing game. Fiji was terrible... and Samoa are obviously over-rated - they couldn't capitalise on any of the plethora of mistakes Fiji were making. If Fiji played like they did against the Springboks, they would've won. I don't know what was going on, but they had no fire, no desire... they were just flat - couldn't even catch a ball for most of the match. But still Samoa couldn't even score a try until whenever... Bad. Boring.
Not for one moment am I buying their lack of rest as an excuse - both of them are in the same boat... and besides, they were playing - they didn't look tired. They were just playing badly - poor execution, poor set-pieces, poor handling, poor kicking, etc... They were playing in the Pacific Cup, not the World Cup.
Moving up to be one of the "top teams" is not a right, you have to earn it... And even though they have talked a lot, neither of these teams have done anything this World Cup to earn it. They used to have an attitude of "never-say-die"... and I supported them all the way. But now I find myself supporting teams like Canada and Japan, because they have that attitude now... while Samoa and Fiji are just talking and moaning.
I can't wait for the Boks to teach Samoa a rugby lesson too. What I loved the most about their game against Fiji was their attitude of "You want to get physical? Right, let's get physical... You want to run? Let's run" and Fiji not being able to deal with a team actually standing up to (and out-doing them) physically. It will be the same with Samoa... "You want to scrum? We scrum better. You want to kick? We kick better. You want to tackle hard? We can tackle hard too." All these people even considering that Samoa can beat the Boks will swallow their words. It ain't gonna happen... not if you know the Boks and can see what is happening with them.
Go Springboks, go Wales!
Posted 00:06 26th September 2011
rugbylover11 says...
Yes, would love to see Tabua back as coach. And then the fijians should create their own style. I am afraid this so called structured rugby is ruining their flair. One man created phase rugby which wasn't in the game up to the eighties. Why can't a fijian think up their own style that eliminates what they are not good in but serves their running game? Ofcourse it is possible. How can a team minimise scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls? How should one run to enhance such a style? Can't they not run backwards until is time to attack? Nothing is impossible if they sit down and do something about it.
A Scottish coach in my area was discouraging anything that looks like , in his terms, "an emergency pass" during training sessions with his team. He called it, "emergency shit". So impolite about it. He preferred the proper passing of the ball as the perfect rugby people I mean the scots are doing since rugby started. Even the underarm one that is now credited to SBW he didn't like. SBW came into the ABs using that kind of pass, and every european was impressed. These people didn't know, that the islanders (samoans, fijians and tongans) have been using the underarm pass ever since they started playing the game. Because SBW is an ABs and has helped the ABs win games with that pass, everyone is using it and it has become very acceptable. Why then coaches came down to the south seas discouraging something creative by introducing their own style as perfect rugby?
There is a lot about the Fijian rugby flair that should be rediscovered. If coaches are committed to enhance the fijian talents by creating something new. At the end, rugby wins.
Posted 12:51 25th September 2011
NHsaints says...
Come on Samoa...you can beat SA...if you do things will get a whole lot more interesting....
Posted 11:43 25th September 2011
ruckman says...
Samoa are a far far better side with Pisi at 10 (as with the AB's and Carter) - and they most certainly have a good chance against the Boks - its a shame about the disgraceful scheduling (ok done to death), but I'll be cheering for the Samoans next week.
Posted 11:18 25th September 2011
melkdave says...
A strange game for an all islanders affair imo.Not really the flowing backs moves you assoicate with Samoa and Fiji but quite enjoyable never the less.Samoa dominated the matchFiji just like the SA game had a ood quarter and that was it reallyfor swome reasopn they couldnt or didnt seem to be able to apply their gameplan .Wheather that was due to Samoas dominace i dont know had the edge in the scrum but not the lineout so set pieces even really .Anyway well done Samoa and good luck against the boks
Posted 09:33 25th September 2011
mana says...
well deserved win for the Manus,Fiji...get S.Domoni out and Ilivasi Tabua back in as coach and maybe there be a glimmer of hope.There was no defensive structure at all and relying too much on individual play,this is 15s not 7s guys.
Posted 07:43 25th September 2011
vaizpatu2011 says...
A bit boring...but a win is a win to the Samoans..very disappointed with the Fijians game plan...They did not have any game plan at all :(. A very weird Fijian team I may say. Talking about total domination from the Samoan team. Anyway...good luck to the Manu Samoa. With only 4 days to recover... I hope to see a good game this coming Thursday 30th.. Manu Samoa vs the MIGHTY Bokzzies!!
Posted 07:40 25th September 2011
rugbylover11 says...
Fiji should have a scrum coach.
Posted 05:45 25th September 2011