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
Ramage says...
Manu Samoa 32 Headless Chickens in yellow jersies 23 who would have picked this. The Wallabies were clueless lacked any passion and were outmuscled and humiliated. Just goes to show you have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. How embarassing, how humiliating this was the biggest upset in World Rugby for many years and one Australia and Dingo Deans will remember for many a long year. Respect is what Samoa was looking for and the Arrogant Deans coached Aussies did not give that respect no matter what they said after the game. Deans, O'Neill, the team, the woeful Fox commentators and the Aussie press were all dismissive of the Samoans and paid the ultimate price. Im sure Deans will turn this around but he has a lot of egg to wipe off his face beforehand.
Posted 10:57 17th July 2011
Jediboy says...
Well done Samoa.
Posted 10:48 17th July 2011
zumazap says...
Where is TrinUts?
Posted 10:37 17th July 2011
rugbylover11 says...
it will be an exciting world cup,,there should be more upsets in the pool games,,great win samoa
Posted 10:11 17th July 2011
leinster_goy says...
OW NOW KEARNSEY
Posted 10:00 17th July 2011
rakavi187 says...
@ JayStarr ........... mentioning the words "Currie Cup" along with "Entertaining attacking play" is something I really need to watch to believe.
Posted 09:53 17th July 2011
safehands says...
Well said JayStarr........can't disagree with a single point there. Congrats to a brilliant effort from the Samoans. When will Aussies learn to keep quiet and realise that S15 is not test rugby.
Posted 09:51 17th July 2011
rugbyfun says...
Nice one Samoa, not a full strength Aussie side but not a poor one either. SA and Samoa to top world cup pool D?
Posted 09:18 17th July 2011
trappa says...
well done Samoa. They look like a quality side. Australia looked like it was made up of players from the Tahs, Brumbies and Force...oh hang on it was. Only Aussies that had a go were McGabe, Digby. Sharp and Moore. Elsom, Kepu, Hodgeson, Timani and Alexander...woeful. Im not a Giteau fan but he went ok and Beale certainly added some spark when he came on.
Posted 09:15 17th July 2011
rugbylover11 says...
South Africa will win the WC again. They will have a good workout in the pool games against Samoa, Fiji and Wales. After that pool's games, the world cup is mainly over hehehehe!!!
Posted 09:09 17th July 2011
hybrid187 says...
I love you Samoa. Good for you !
Posted 08:53 17th July 2011
Kappelange says...
Like Ive said to some arrogant Aussies over the last couple of weeks, Australian rugby isnt on the up, Reds rugby is on the up. The Reds were good but look at how bad the other 4 teams were this year. It would have been okay if it was the bulls for SA or saders for NZ, but the Reds dont have the backbone of the Wallaby squad in their team, like those two have for their nations.
Posted 08:39 17th July 2011
Smash40 says...
Awesome work Samoa!
Posted 08:19 17th July 2011
hayj05 says...
"But that could almost be forgiven. The fact that the Wallabies were kicking their penalties for the corners at the start of the game can not. That was just unbelievably arrogant... and I'm glad Samoa made them pay for it"
Yea you make a great point there Jaystarr, you just knew that was going to fire up Samoa, especially after they held them out.
And The Samoan game resembled the Boks of 09. Accurate kicking, disrupting the breakdown & intimidation & it's a great choice because they've got the big physical players to create the pressure.
The confidence that will give Samoa for the WC is priceless, the Welsh fans must be getting nervous.
Posted 08:14 17th July 2011
rakavi187 says...
BRILLIANT!!!! well done to the Samoans.....
Posted 08:13 17th July 2011
kevin_field says...
in all due fairness to australia, when Genia Higginbotham and Beale came on, Wallabies really notched up a gear
Posted 08:03 17th July 2011
ABlack says...
Other than Pocock& Cooper Q there arent really any other players aussie can add to the 22 for this game. So its not like this was even a "B" squad it was actually most of the A team plus 4-6 reserves that started this game.
Posted 07:59 17th July 2011
StunTheMullet says...
Congratulations Samoa!
My my... Dingo's contract extension is looking good!
Posted 07:55 17th July 2011
codebreaker says...
Well done Samoa , not an Aussie fan !.
Posted 07:51 17th July 2011
JayStarr says...
(PS: If anybody wants to see more good rugby... WATCH THE CURRIE CUP! I watched the Province vs. Griquas and Blue Bulls vs. Sharks games yesterday - after that Super 15 the attacking play was like manna from heaven! Really entertaining games...)
Posted 07:51 17th July 2011