samoa world cup

[jordiev]

i have limited knowledge on samoa tbh... but i REALLY enjoy watchin them play so i was wonderin .. opinions from better informed people as to their most likeyl starting 15 come the wrold cup...
i was thinking ..
#1 Johnston
#2 Schwalger or paulo
#3 Leleimalefaga
#4 leo
#5 levi
#6 tekori..?
#7 stowers
#8 H tuilagi (if he still plays for the national team)

#9 Fotuali'i
#10 lavea
#11 A tuilagi
#12 gavin williams
#13 mapasua
#14 Tagicakibau
#15 paul williams
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND ABOUT SAMOAS CHANCES AT THE WC

 

[Darwin]

Hard to know what their starting lineup will be, as they only ever really get their best team together during RWC year. Fortunately they have had a number of NZ-based players which have recently declared their allegiance to Samoa, which will give them a stronger team. However, they have a pretty hard pool in the RWC though including South Africa, Wales, Fiji (and Namibia) - I think they could realistically get anywhere between 2nd and 4th.

I don't follow much NH rugby ,so it's hard to follow the form of many of the NH players. I won't try to put together an entire 15, just comment on a few positions...

Props: Don't know much about Leleimalefaga; Perenise, Taulafo, Johnstone, and Lemalu were the 4 main props used on Samoa's end of year tour. I'd probably go with Johnston and Perenise, but both Lemalu and Taulafo are quality players (and there are probably others that I'm forgetting).
Locks: Kane Thomson is another option at lock, along with Joe Tekori (though he may be favoured at 6 or 8)
Loosies: Ofisa Treviranus will possibly start at 6 (or 7), with Manaia Salave'a an option at 7 (I see George Stowers more of an option at 6 or 8).
Halfback: Junior Polu is a good backup to Fotuali'i, indeed I would be happy with him starting and Fotuali'i at 10.
First-five: I hope they don't have to resort to Lavea - I just don't think he controls the game well enough for them. They would be better with Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu or Fa'atonu Fili (not that he's really that much better at controlling a game), or maybe even Uale Mai or Lolo Lui..
Mid-field: I'd imagine George Pisi will start at centre (outside Mapasua).
Wings/Fullback: David Lemi will certainly be another good option on the wing.

 

[Sam Owen]

First of all we need to come 2nd in our pool and we have some real threats in Fiji, Wales and then (the game I call 'mission impossible') South Africa. If we do come 2nd and we go to the quarter finals then we get Australia or Ireland, so understanderbly it doesnt get any easier. If we do get to the quarters Im hoping we get Ireland, I say that with all respect to the Irish rugby team but I just feel that we have a better chance of beating the Irish than we do against the Wallies.

If we can get to the semi-finals that in itself is a success for the Manu. I think we can get to the semis, our chances are slim but possible. In terms of us winning it (RWC), I doubt it but we do have a very good side to be positive about. I say aim to get to the Semis the rest after that is a bonus.

 

[nickdnz]

With all due respect to Samoa, I'd be suprised if they made it past pool play, as almost all of thier matches will be difficult (but possible except against SA). Fiji have arguably been a tougher team to beat than Samoa for the last few years, and their style of play allows for some of those tricky 50/50 things to come off and create an upset. Samoa beat Wales in 1999 to make the QF, but I'm not sure how they would go about doing it now. On the positives however - They have a halfback who showed last year that he can run a game and create oppertunities, they've always had a dangerous back three, and Paul Williams has performed well above my expectations. If there was a weakness however, I'd still say it comes from the loose forwards and fly halves. The loose forwards look like they probably won't be able to win their share of possession against some of the better drilled packs, and both Lavea and Fili both tend to try and do stupid things in a match, rather than play what is acutally infront of them (especially Fili).

 

[jordiev]

isnt david smith of western force eligble aswell...?
as i said im not a mojor buff on samoan rugby but i really enjoy watchin them and i agree completely levea is terrible... is henry tuilagi still playin for teh national team...?
theyre backs are exciting and there loose forwards are alright in my opinion witht eh likes of stowers tuilagi etc... and will be very brutal :L

 

[jordiev]

okkkkkkkkkkkk after a rethink i think id probs go with
#1 Johnston
#2 Schwalger or paulo
#3 Leleimalefaga
#4 tekori
#5 thomson
#6 Treviranus
#7 Salave'a
#8 H tuilagi (if he still plays for the national team)

#9 Fotuali'i
#10 i would say Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu but hes more a centre to be honest so i woudl personally go wtih lui or mia
#11 A tuilagi
#12 pisi
#13 mapasua
#14 Tagicakibau
#15 paul williams

THANKS darwin for reminding me of some of there decent players

 

[jordiev]

idk tbh i preffer samoa to fiji idk why and are a very hard team to beat.. but against each other.. i think it will come down to who has hte better players who has the better teamwork and who wants it more

 

[Darwin]

isnt david smith of western force eligble aswell...?
as i said im not a mojor buff on samoan rugby but i really enjoy watchin them and i agree completely levea is terrible... is henry tuilagi still playin for teh national team...?
theyre backs are exciting and there loose forwards are alright in my opinion witht eh likes of stowers tuilagi etc... and will be very brutal :L

I think David Smith has played Sevens for New Zealand, so won't be eligible for Samoa.
I don't think Henry Tuilagi has played for the national team since the last RWC (I could be wrong EDIT: I am wrong, he's played 4 games for Samoa since the last RWC), but I assume he will be in contention for this years squad (assuming he is still playing at a good level... he must be 35ish now...). Yeah the loose-forwards are certainly brutal, they just lack someone in the McCaw/Pocock mould to really compete at ruck time... Now I think about it, I actually think the Hurricanes Serge Lilo has also declared his allegiance to Samoa, so may be the starting 7..

 

[jordiev]

ohhhh even better
ermm yeahh hes still playin .. still high level considered one of the best #8 in france i think
yeah he will be 35 by the time of the wc but thill amazing to watch imo
dayumm their wongs woulda been amazing if the had david smith tangibakinhou (forgot how to spell it) A tuilagi and lemi :L ohh well still pretty goof tbh
ohh is pesamino still playing 15's if so is he any good...?

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Samoa <3 I'd put Henry Tuilagi at 6 and Stowers at 8 tbh.

 

[jordiev]

agreed samoa <3
hrmmm yeahhh idk theyre all prety good but yeahh thinking bout ti possible tuilagi 6 stowers 8

 

[Darwin]

Pesamino was never that good at 15's when he was in NZ - played almost exclusively for Auckland B, only got a few caps for the top Auckland side if I remember correctly. I think he is signed to play for the Sale Sharks, but hasn't played due to Visa issues...

 

[jordiev]

yeahhh it fell through wiht sale... hes playin in samoa now i think ... idk but yeahh wings are a good place for samoa specially wiht paul wiilliams showing hes very capable of covering there for sale at the moment

 

[SpanishBob]

The main problem is they never play together. Is more like a samoan All Star team than a national team, in terms of continuity I mean.

They have the players to be a top team, no doubt. With more help from the IRB they could be great.

Anyway are strong enough to contend for a 1/4 final spot. Actually I thinnk they'll do it. Wales is an awful team right now and I see Samoa stronger than Fiji.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Isn't Paul Williams playing anymore for Samoa?
Anyway, I fidn Samoa a very unpredictable team so everything is possible. They do bring some hard rugby.

 

[Darwin]

The main problem is they never play together. Is more like a samoan All Star team than a national team, in terms of continuity I mean.

They have the players to be a top team, no doubt. With more help from the IRB they could be great.

Anyway are strong enough to contend for a 1/4 final spot. Actually I thinnk they'll do it. Wales is an awful team right now and I see Samoa stronger than Fiji.

I agree that is generally the case. However Samoa did manage to get the majority of their probably RWC team playing together though last years Pacific Nations Cup and the end-of-year tour. By the end of this tour they had started to develop some good combinations - if they can continue to get the top players building combinations I can see them being quite a formidable team come RWC time.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Isn't Paul Williams playing anymore for Samoa?

Yeah, he is
He's been named in the teams above :huh:

 

[Sam Owen]

With all due respect to Samoa, I'd be suprised if they made it past pool play

You're gonna be suprised then...

as almost all of thier matches will be difficult (but possible except against SA).

No doubt, its a tough road but as long as we dont get too many injuries the tough road is good I believe.

I think David Smith has played Sevens for New Zealand, so won't be eligible for Samoa.

Dissapointing and maybe a bad signing for David as I know he wanted to become an All Black but the Blacks were never really looking at him. Credit for him backing himself as an AB but if he had that time again Im sure he wouldnt have signed himself out of a Manu Samoa jersey.

I don't think Henry Tuilagi has played for the national team since the last RWC

ermm yeahh hes still playin .. still high level considered one of the best #8 in france i think

Thats good news to hear Henry is still playing well and is up there in his position.

The main problem is they never play together. Is more like a samoan All Star team than a national team, in terms of continuity I mean.

They have the players to be a top team, no doubt. With more help from the IRB they could be great.

I agree that is generally the case. However Samoa did manage to get the majority of their probably RWC team playing together though last years Pacific Nations Cup and the end-of-year tour. By the end of this tour they had started to develop some good combinations - if they can continue to get the top players building combinations I can see them being quite a formidable team come RWC time.

Yeah I agree with yous both Bob and Darwin. One of our major problems was putting together a team of strangers to work as a team in a short space of time and us and the Fijians were givin some good games to get that done last year and that was great.

No doubt Bob that we could be better if we could have our Samoan players that have represented another country but wish to play for us, play for us. I understand they had a vote on this issue and only a few countries were in favour of this (including NZ) but the rest were against it for whatever reason (fear if you ask me lol).

Its good that NZRFU was on our side, after all that us smaller island nations have given to their rugby team they tried to give something back.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I apologize, looked over it.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I was about to bring up Pesamino. I'd hate to be the one who has to chose between him, Tuilangi, Tagicakibau and Lemi for the wing slots. They could be really dangerous to play against froma Welsh point of view.