Australia 23 - 32 Samoa
Discussion
Hahahahahahahaha!
Well done Samoa!
More seriously, Wales must surely be pretty concerned about their chances on getting past the group stages at the World Cup? The Boks have to be odds on favourites for the group, and Wales currently have RWC records against Fiji and Samoa of played 3, won 0 (having lost twice to Samoa).
If this is a sign of the Samoans coming back on song, fireworks ahead?
Well done Samoa!
More seriously, Wales must surely be pretty concerned about their chances on getting past the group stages at the World Cup? The Boks have to be odds on favourites for the group, and Wales currently have RWC records against Fiji and Samoa of played 3, won 0 (having lost twice to Samoa).
If this is a sign of the Samoans coming back on song, fireworks ahead?
I love seeing any of the Pacific Island countries do well against the big boys....including England.
It's scandalous how little support these countries get from the IRB or the major Test nations. It's very conveniant for the major sides that these teams don't have the funding to retain their star names....I think I am right in saying that the All Blacks have never played any of these sides away from home which given the proximity is shocking.
It's scandalous how little support these countries get from the IRB or the major Test nations. It's very conveniant for the major sides that these teams don't have the funding to retain their star names....I think I am right in saying that the All Blacks have never played any of these sides away from home which given the proximity is shocking.
Beardy10 said:
I love seeing any of the Pacific Island countries do well against the big boys....including England.
It's scandalous how little support these countries get from the IRB or the major Test nations. It's very conveniant for the major sides that these teams don't have the funding to retain their star names....I think I am right in saying that the All Blacks have never played any of these sides away from home which given the proximity is shocking.
Given the way the All Blacks poach from the South Sea Islands, it would probably be tricky for them to actually call playing there "away"!It's scandalous how little support these countries get from the IRB or the major Test nations. It's very conveniant for the major sides that these teams don't have the funding to retain their star names....I think I am right in saying that the All Blacks have never played any of these sides away from home which given the proximity is shocking.
Ha!
It's hardly poaching, thye all move to NZ/AUS when they are little, go to school and make their way up through the ranks.
Well done to Samoa, thought their poor discipline could have cost them the game and their forwards did really well considering they are usually burnt out by the 60min mark.
It's hardly poaching, thye all move to NZ/AUS when they are little, go to school and make their way up through the ranks.
Well done to Samoa, thought their poor discipline could have cost them the game and their forwards did really well considering they are usually burnt out by the 60min mark.
mazdajason said:
Ha!
It's hardly poaching, thye all move to NZ/AUS when they are little, go to school and make their way up through the ranks.
It's just one of my pet bugbears. I think you have the nationality you're born with, and that should be the end of the story. None of this "live there for 3 years and you can take the nationality" rubbish.It's hardly poaching, thye all move to NZ/AUS when they are little, go to school and make their way up through the ranks.
mazdajason said:
Ha!
It's hardly poaching, thye all move to NZ/AUS when they are little, go to school and make their way up through the ranks.
Well done to Samoa, thought their poor discipline could have cost them the game and their forwards did really well considering they are usually burnt out by the 60min mark.
They move there because there is much more money to be made from playing Rugby in Australia or NZ than there is at home (fairly obviously) and are sponsored by the Rugby clubs for visas/immigration. They most certainly don't move there "when they're little". How easy do you think it is for a Tongan family to move to Australia when there kids are "little" ?!?! I suggest you check out Australian immigration rules and how readily they enforce it. It's hardly poaching, thye all move to NZ/AUS when they are little, go to school and make their way up through the ranks.
Well done to Samoa, thought their poor discipline could have cost them the game and their forwards did really well considering they are usually burnt out by the 60min mark.
Beardy10 said:
How easy do you think it is for a Tongan family to move to Australia when there kids are "little" ?!?! I suggest you check out Australian immigration rules and how readily they enforce it.
To say nothing of the size of the average Tongan. I'm not sure they're even little at birth!Kermit power said:
mazdajason said:
Imagine how good Samoa,Tonga, Fiji would be if they all played for the countries they originate from!
Exactly! It's a shame that they don't.Great game, loved it, always enjoy watching Australia get beaten and this game was action all the way.
Australia werent fielding their strongest side, but could show a serious lack of ddepth given that they'll no doubt need a lot of these second stringers once the WC is fully underway.
Very interested to see what is a second string Boks squad play Australia's main team, we'll see what sort of depth the Boks have.
Australia werent fielding their strongest side, but could show a serious lack of ddepth given that they'll no doubt need a lot of these second stringers once the WC is fully underway.
Very interested to see what is a second string Boks squad play Australia's main team, we'll see what sort of depth the Boks have.
Kermit power said:
mazdajason said:
Imagine how good Samoa,Tonga, Fiji would be if they all played for the countries they originate from!
Exactly! It's a shame that they don't.Beardy10 said:
They move there because there is much more money to be made from playing Rugby in Australia or NZ than there is at home (fairly obviously) and are sponsored by the Rugby clubs for visas/immigration. They most certainly don't move there "when they're little". How easy do you think it is for a Tongan family to move to Australia when there kids are "little" ?!?! I suggest you check out Australian immigration rules and how readily they enforce it.
Considering i'm from NZ I have seen this before. Went to school with a lot of islanders with one now a fringe All Black player. Most of the time the parents move to NZ/Aus have children in the country and visit the islands for hollidays. I suggest you check out the immigration rules.
The Aussie have always had relatively little strength in depth, they concentrate on quality of their elite. When that elite isnt...er...that elite, then they struggle.
The Boks on the other hand could field 3 Test teams. After a period of dullness, the Boks could be a very powerful force at the WC.
The Boks on the other hand could field 3 Test teams. After a period of dullness, the Boks could be a very powerful force at the WC.
mazdajason said:
Beardy10 said:
They move there because there is much more money to be made from playing Rugby in Australia or NZ than there is at home (fairly obviously) and are sponsored by the Rugby clubs for visas/immigration. They most certainly don't move there "when they're little". How easy do you think it is for a Tongan family to move to Australia when there kids are "little" ?!?! I suggest you check out Australian immigration rules and how readily they enforce it.
Considering i'm from NZ I have seen this before. Went to school with a lot of islanders with one now a fringe All Black player. Most of the time the parents move to NZ/Aus have children in the country and visit the islands for hollidays. I suggest you check out the immigration rules.
Lote Tuqiri - Born Fiji
Toutai Kefu - Born Tonga
Willie O - Born Tonga
Willie O famously played for the All Blacks at schoolboy level but couldn't get back in the country when visiting Australia on tour with the AB's so became Australian.
Oh and I see the All Black's are playing Fiji this week for the first time since 2005....and they haven't played Western Samoa since 1993 according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_All_Blacks_to...
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