Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Another look at the Samoa vs Wallaby bruisefest

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Another look at the Samoa vs Wallaby bruisefest - The Big Hits

While the Wallabies have taken a lot of flak for their surprise loss to the Samoa on the weekend, one of the reasons they looked so shell shocked out there was without a doubt the physical confrontation that the Samoans provided. Here's a closer look at some of the bigger collisions.

Pacific Island players and teams have always had the reputation of being big hitters. It's fair to say that sometimes that hard-hitting approach lands them in hot water, as we've seen with Fiji (we'll take a look at that tomorrow). Samoa's victory over Australia however was a brilliant example of channelled aggression, intimidation, and very well organised defence.

The Wallabies actually started the game well on that front, with center Pat McCabe making a massive tackle a few seconds into the match. That was pretty much where it ended for the hosts though, as after that it was all Samoa.

Alesana Tuilagi on the wing was a stand-out, as he not only scored a try, but peppered debutant Rod Davies all day long. If he wasn't running over him, he was smashing him, and he was loving every minute of it. It was quite a baptism of fire for the Reds star, who went from hero to zero within the space of a few weeks. That's what makes international sport so great though. It's a leveller.

Davies had the right attitude after the game, acknowledging that things can only get better for him. "Obviously that is not the way I pictured my debut in Tests. The only way is up from here," Davies said. "He's pretty big, he's pretty agile as well. Credit to him, he played a great game and got the points today," he added, referring to 111kg wing Tuilagi.

If you missed the match and only saw the highlights, this clip will hopefully give you some kind of indication as to how physical the approach of the Samoas was, not only in the tackle, but at the breakdown too. Yes, some of the hits are borderline, and even illegal in some cases, but the overall approach was to smash the Wallabies into submission, and they did just that.

On a side note, we'd like to offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Queensland University player Halley Appleby, who died from injuries sustained on the rugby field this past weekend. He was 21 years old, and loved by many. May he rest in peace.

You can read more about what happened (no foul play suspected), and see some of the tributes for him, by reading the story on the Courier Mail website here.

Time: 04:40

Try savers and rib breakers 12

By Anonymous, at July 19, 2011 10:16 pm
sometimes seems Samoan players want to injure Australians... for what ?)
But still good defence.

By Greg, at July 19, 2011 10:28 pm
Awesome... Terrifying Samoan tackling at its best

By Anonymous, at July 19, 2011 10:43 pm
Those Samoans had a lot of fun out there. There's no evil intent, that's just how Pacific Islanders play. Plus it's a lot of fun boshing people, especially those that think they're better than you, it's part of the game. Delighted for Australia.

By Darren, at July 19, 2011 10:46 pm
Anonymous Greg said...

sometimes seems Samoan players want to injure Australians... for what ?)
Sometimes? Run hard tackle harder. Islanders playing style.

By H20peepo, at July 19, 2011 10:55 pm
Excellent! There were a few hits that you maybe might think 'ehhh, maybe that was gratuitous' but overall just a punishing defense. It's nice to see someone like Rod Davies run all over the Super 15 crowd then get to this and just eat !@#& all day :) Big up to Samoa!

By Unknown, at July 19, 2011 10:56 pm
offt, awesome hits. There was no intention to hurt the aussies just Islander rugby at its best.

By Feg27, at July 19, 2011 11:03 pm
They finally seem to be tackling legally, and still hard as shit... I wont miss a game of this team!!

By eric, at July 19, 2011 11:05 pm
thats why i LOVE rugby

By Anonymous, at July 19, 2011 11:07 pm
Has anybody seen Tuilagi and the Predator in the same room?

By Anonymous, at July 19, 2011 11:24 pm
what happened to luke burgess? is he injured? he's much better than phipps.

And by the way, samoa, thank you very much for this game, the best i saw in a while, so physical.

ben alexander...damn... he was in for the whole game and did nothing.

also bad luck on rod davies, very bad day for him. hope they give him another chance

By Anonymous, at July 19, 2011 11:36 pm
OK so they beat a understrength team coming off the back of a long season and put in some typical crunching hits... but what I really want is the world cup to get here already so I can finally see how good everyone actually is!!

By 52moredaysofwaiting, at July 19, 2011 11:45 pm
How many times does Tuilagi come in to make a tackle? The perfect stuffed up example is at 2:42, Gerard drew Tuilagi in and it should have gone to Davies..

By gf, at July 19, 2011 11:46 pm
Some shoulder charges bt overall just committed d, really regret missing this game.

Samoa looks dangerous for the rwc. Their speed, athleticism and aggression will knock some teams off their game for sure

By Canadian content, at July 19, 2011 11:54 pm
Yeh sure the wallabies just came off a season... but what have the samoans been doing?!?? oh just playing international rugby in the pacific cup.

And so what, if anything it makes the aussies even more pathetic compared to when the aussies play the world cup, especially seeing as it will be on the back of the super 15, this game and the tri nations.

So nice way to belittle the Samoan performance you troll

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 12:03 am
Any one game that has nearly 5mins of big hits has got to be a tough match!

By SBPanda, at July 20, 2011 12:19 am
SBPanda did you even watch the whole game? Cuz i did, and it was pretty tough i can tell you.

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 1:00 am
nice to see some of those Samoan players who play over here in the EPL get some recognition in the South through a big test match against the Wallabies. Alessana Tuilagi for example, he's been doing that for years for Leicester!

By Paddy931, at July 20, 2011 1:11 am
oh and RIP Appleby, didn't know him but no one likes to hear that about a fellow player!

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 1:14 am
Beautiful to watch.

By Andre (England), at July 20, 2011 1:56 am
See the last tackle (4.15) : the timing from A.Tuilagi when he goes to the opponent is really awesome !!
He starts to go when the AUS player triggers the pass... and arrives at the same time as the ball !... nothing to do for the opponent, simply perfect !

Rhaaa... I can't wait to see pacific teams at the RWC ! (with hope that they succeed to stay below the limits, for example when they tackle without arms !)

By Elric, at July 20, 2011 1:59 am
Great stuff....Love watching this kind of physical rugby....I didn't see the game so somebody can correct me if I'm wrong but with that kind of physicality in the tackle and contact area is probably what won the game for them and neutralised the Aussies very dangerous attack

By themull, at July 20, 2011 1:59 am
Must be like England/Wales games. Samoa want to beat Australia SO bad, play out of their socks and beat an Australian team who don't get into it. See it here in the tackling. Great stuff.

By Tom, at July 20, 2011 2:51 am
I can't wait to see this team turn Wales into scrambled eggs come RWC time! That is going to be an AMAZING group to watch! Thank you for two great highlight vids, RD! Keep up the good work.

By SmellyNerfherder, at July 20, 2011 3:35 am
Partly Tom, but take nothing away from Samoa.
It really wasn't just their physicality that won them this game (they are always physical).
What really did it was their excellent organisation, particularly in defence.
They stayed organised, scrambled well, were physical, counter-rucked strongly at every opportunity and kept their composure.
Very impressive, I've never seen a more composed and well organised Samoan team. They've always had the players (when fulls trength) and ability to beat the top teams, but their structure always let them down. They seem to be tackling that issue. And when Samoans set their mind to tackling soemthing they really tackle it.

It was a wake up call for australia's back up and fringe players (and some veterans trying to come back from injury or earn a starting spot).
Elsom isn't fit, and if he wasn't captain would no doubt be benched for Higginbothom.
Gerrard probly won't get another chance in green and gold.
Rod Davies needs to go back to Super 14 and work on his physicallity (it might have been an idea not to match up one of Aus' smallest wingers with probly the world's biggest just as an aside) - Lachie Turner might have been a better option, he's very tough and hard tackling for a small bloke.
Phipps looked like a duck out of water, and Genia and Burgess are both much better options.
Gitaeu deserves to be dropped as he has been. He's jsut not the player he was a few years ago. Still has some stuff to offer in attack but seems disinterested or something. And his kicking has become terrible.
Hodgson is not big or physical enough, thank god Pocock is back.
Tileki was way out of his depth, which isn't really suprising considering he wasn't even a garunteed starter at the Waratahs this season. Shocked he started at all.
Sharpe was average, though he didn't disgrace himself. Good bench option for the WC. Horwill and Simmonds are a much better second row combo.
A couple other players can count themselves lucky too.
McCalmun is lucky Palu is injured and Deans doesn't seem to want to try Samo. Personally I'd prefer Samo.
AAC and MCcabe are lucky. AAC seems to be living off his reputation at the moment and McCabe is benefiting from Barnes' injury and Gitaeu's bad form. I'd like to see Faingaa given a chance instead of one of them. He can play outisde or inside and adds real grit in defence.
Alexander, Kepu and Moore are lucky that Robinson, Slipper and Polota-Nau are all injured or they'd probly get dropped too.

By N, at July 20, 2011 3:38 am
Bored of Australians complaining about how they have just come of a hard super 15 season. Samoa have just come from their pacific cup, plus some of the Samoans play in Europe so have gone from a long season over there to the pacific cup and then to this game. They are all professionals and should have worked out how to recover by now. Be more impressed if they just admitted they got out played by Samoa, then trying to make excuses.

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 3:56 am
Hey, I'm an Aussie and I agree.
To be honest though, there hasn't been much of that type of complaint, at least not in Australia.
Personally I have no problem admitting that Samoa outplayed Australia.
They were excellent, and are going to be a real threat at the World Cup. I honestly think they actually have a better chance than Wales of getting out of the pool.
That pool of their is looking like the pool of death.
Fiji are always strong at WCs, Wales, South Africa and Samoa. All are capable of going thru to the Quarters or further. Poor old Namibia.

By N, at July 20, 2011 3:59 am
Wow! Horrific Islanders indeed! :)

By d.e.shibaev, at July 20, 2011 6:49 am
Tuilagi is a 111kg winger...that's nearly 40kg on Gio Aplon. If I were Aplon, I'd be looking run lines in towards the center of the field instead of being one on one with the big Samoan...but Tuilagi is like a tackle-seeking missile, so no matter what, he's bound to get ya at least once.

On a side note, Timani ought to have lowered his noggin more often if he was going to have shoulders thrown at him. That damaging dome of his took out at least three players this season, two of them props. Just a thought.

By heyo, at July 20, 2011 7:08 am
(Just to clarify in case it wasn't obvious, that first part was regarding the pool stages of the coming RWC.)

By heyo, at July 20, 2011 7:09 am
probably the best video i have ever seen on this website. clean... for the most part... and hard hitting rugby

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 7:59 am
I meant that sometimes Samoans tackled Australians, instead of just intercept the ball. Just because they wanted a big hit ?!?

By Greg, at July 20, 2011 8:40 am
Aussies need to Man Up!

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 9:05 am
Greg, they wanted to physically overpower the other team and put them off their game. And it worked.

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 9:10 am
hospital passing doesn't help. interesting to see it was the samoans coming off injured though.

By Bokke_2007, at July 20, 2011 10:10 am
Great vid! Samoa power at it's best. Tuilagi, what a beast.

By ManuSamoaaaa, at July 20, 2011 10:20 am
one of the rare match where i've seen samoans tackle hard and fair.
it nearly looklikes a compilation :)

By Colombes, at July 20, 2011 10:51 am
haha the aussies looked like a buch of school girls

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 12:41 pm
Who is more powerful, Tuilagi or Lomu?
That is the question....

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 12:53 pm
Samoa looked good in this game, they can smash the aussie weaklings about easily but there's no way they will do that to the boks in the wc group stages. Feel sorry for Wales and namibia, fiji, samoa and sa ouch!! Glad ireland got a nice easy group to sail through to the quaters.

By John Hayes best prop ever, at July 20, 2011 12:54 pm
^^^ where they will no doubt be sent home...

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 1:49 pm
anon. above enjoys nibbling on penis

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 1:53 pm
To anon two above...
The only team capable of stopping ireland winning the wc is NZ and thats if the ireland scrum doesn't destroy the nz scrum. They wont meet them till the final

By John Hayes best prop ever, at July 20, 2011 2:02 pm
lol, well honestly who will they play against?

honestly Ireland wont beat Australia, not because its not possible but because they will just not turn up properly.

Australia knows whats on the line and the fact that everyone thinks they SHOULD be better than ireland so they will play their hearts out to win the games, Ireland on the other hand will not play with the same ferocity, and may actually give aus a good run for their money for the first half then the last 20 mins or so it will be try time to Australia.

Which means Ireland (if they dont get raped by USA) will be the runners up.... which means they will be facing pool D winners....which lets check...well basically it aint gonna be anyone else but SA... and therefore irish fans might as well book tickets home for the day after that match. in fact last i heard the irish management only booked the hotel up to that day!

so honestly.... whilst i may nibble the odd cock now and again, i am right as pie!

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 2:03 pm
LOL, was that typed out before or after ireland lost to france and wales in the 6N....

They'll get a bit battered by Oz, not too bad, but when they face SA in the quarters its bye bye...

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 2:05 pm
also come on dude, its 90% the same squad that was there in 2007 im not saying they are bad, but fuck, they didnt make it out of the pools only a few miles from home, now they are gonna be the other side of the world...

they'll get stuffed...

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 2:11 pm
Mapusua should be in the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie

By cheyanqui, at July 20, 2011 2:33 pm
Ireland will prbly make the quarters and will then be knocked out by SA

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 2:34 pm
England got some stick for not looking infallible when they saw off Samoa in the Autumn. On this showing, most people would have to admit that when organised and disciplined, Samoa can be up there with the toughest oppositions in world rugby.

Wish them luck in 2 months time...

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 2:36 pm
^^^

No sorry, you got it all wrong, it only counts as laughable when a NH team loses a match.

If a SH team loses to a team like Samoa then they must be tired, or must have been cheated, or it was only our weak team, or we didnt care about that match it means nothing so we didnt even try.

Please dont forget that golden rule!

Also remember England beating Australia didnt count last year because England was at home. And scotland beating SA didnt count either because it was a weak SA side and we couldnt really be bothered.

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 2:47 pm
Congratulations for being the first idiot to start that tired old argument.

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 3:22 pm
Quit trolling you NH fuck.

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 4:48 pm
Check the last two times ireland played australia and ireland smashed the same england side that smashed australia. Check the last time australia played munster!
France can beat anyone on their day including NZ and ireland were robbed against Wales.
ireland have the best scrum & tighthead in the world, best line out, best centres and probably the best coach.
ireland were robbed in the last world cup.
The only thing I can say to those cocky, arrogant aussie fans is, what's that saying?, you're only as good as your last game. Look out ireland will beat aus in the wc and it'll be a sa v aus qf, then bye bye aussies!

By John Hayes best prop ever, at July 20, 2011 5:39 pm
lol, only as good as your last game

honestly thats actually the worst saying ever...

So SA puts together a second string side that loses to scotland....

So they're not as good as scotland... well then how did they beat england in the next game?

and if you're only as good as your last game then how did ireland get better?! they had a laughable world cup in 2007 and so how do they think they can get better from that?

its a hideous saying and you irish mugs are so full of it that im going to die laughing when you guys scrape out of the pool stage only to be kicked home in the quarters!

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 5:52 pm
@ Greg...if you not from the islands keep you questions to yourself. ,,,as a pacific islander thats just how we play ,,,no bad intentions.

By ilexvunibola, at July 20, 2011 6:52 pm
ireland got a easy pool this world cup ,,,but for our pool The Mighty Boks ,The Coconut Heads from Fiji and Samoa not to mention Wales ,,not so sure about Namibia.but looking at this teams man its the pool of death ,,,whoever escapes through will be going to the quarters will lots of injuries!

By ilexvunibola, at July 20, 2011 7:01 pm
Ehhhhh...

How did nobody die during this match????!

Just gruesome stuff. Love it!

By Guy, at July 20, 2011 7:17 pm
Jeez, why is it there is always some other Irish fella (John Hayes best prop ever!!!) on here doing his best to wreck everyones head.

We've (Irish Teams) always been at our best when we weren't talking ourselves up. So lets stick to that "John Hayes" cus last RWC was a fookin disaster, all the more so after we told the world we wanted to make the semis!!

Re the clip here, some of the hits were savage. Samoa were good value for the victory and it didn't seem to me that the aussies were whingeing about it.
Would love to see the likes of Samoa get past pool stages but not fully sure they can sustain these type of performances for 4/5 games in a row..

By Bdizzle, at July 20, 2011 8:17 pm
Superb video

Its no wonder the aussies kept on dropping the ball, they were all looking up to see where the next crunching tackle was coming from

Poor Rod Davies. That was a bit of a lesson handed out by Tuilagi

By Paolo, at July 20, 2011 8:27 pm
I just watched that video again, great stuff. Typical Islander tackle style, a feast for the eyes.
But we need to compare this vid with the Fiji vs. Japan vid where the Fijian tackling was - for me - dreadful, late and intentionally dangerous. And at the end it's just awful to watch, 3 men sent off...what's the point?
In comparison i find this Samoan team really dangerous, they attacked, scored and pinned their opponents down.
Best tackle is for on Gitteau: he's stopped, lifted in the air folded in 2, then slammed down on the ground like a puppet. Must have hurt.

By Frenchy, at July 20, 2011 8:50 pm
@ Anon who said 'Australia knows whats on the line and the fact that everyone thinks they SHOULD be better than ireland so they will play their hearts out to win the games'

Didn't they think they were better than Samoa? SHOULD have beaten them and played their hearts out???

You're talking b*ll*cks mate

By juan, at July 20, 2011 9:00 pm
@John hayes..

that sort of cockiness is only building the Irish team up to be knocked down.why not just keep your mouth shut and see how they do?already the idiots on this forum have started generalising all of us Irish people because of what you're saying

"you irish mugs are so full of it that im going to die laughing when you guys scrape out of the pool stage only to be kicked home in the quarters"

By Leeners93, at July 20, 2011 9:10 pm
coming from an Irish man, John Hayes is not the best tighthead in the world, we love him but nowhere near it. Shut up mate, we'll be underdogs when we play Aus or SA, and will have to play out of our socks to beat them. we can do it, it'l be a monumental win for us if we do because we have never beaten these sides at the world cup before, the biggest stage there is. so stop your shite, support the team fair enough but respect the talent other countries possess too. saying we will hammer the australians is clearly bollocks, if we beat them it'l be hard fought and a real fight between two great sides, end of.

By PatManScoop, at July 20, 2011 9:56 pm
btw to the anon who said

"you irish mugs are so full of it that im going to die laughing when you guys scrape out of the pool stage only to be kicked home in the quarters!"

you're an awful bellend generalising like that. the lad is clearly a tool, leave the rest of us out of it, ya pleb.

By PatManScoop, at July 20, 2011 9:58 pm
Truly insane...

By rodofle, at July 20, 2011 10:08 pm
"Poor old Namibia"

upset in the making, watch this space.

By Anonymous, at July 20, 2011 10:39 pm
How to stop australia's momentum and bring the reds back down to earth, volume 1. It's humiliating being thrown around like a rag doll.

Manu might have the headlines, but Alesana proved he's still an absolute beast.

"It's not tiddlywinks" - T. Umaga

By 10stNumber10, at July 21, 2011 12:24 am
I think the referee would have to punish them more. three yellow cards and a red or two there were possible. sure with a referee from the southrn hemisphere everything is allowed,I hope it will not happen in the RWC ...

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 12:44 am
What?? Are you talking about the Saoa Aus game??
I'm an Aussie and I don't think the Samoans deserved a single card! Even the penalty against Mapusoa (Im probly spelling that wrong) for tackling Gitaeu late was harsh.
They played fairly and within the rules.
If you don't like it, maybe you should watch soccer or something.

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 1:35 am
"Who is more powerful, Tuilagi or Lomu?
That is the question...."

I am a huge fan of the two, but it was clearly Lomu. He was bigger and faster so he had more momentum when he ran. I wouldn't want to get in eithers' way though.

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 1:46 am
@juan

difference is playing the irish might mean something a little more (thats if they can actually put up a challenge) not to mention our first XV will be picked AND not to mention our backs will run rings round poor old man BOD before he fights through his fading memory only to realise his boots aren't done up!

Honestly, you'd think this was a veteran world cup with the team ireland named! whats the average age of your team? 40 years old?

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 2:17 am
Can't wait until the world cup. CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE NZ HAKA again, it seems like forever.

I hope they're all nearly as good as this one though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBCpPGNDr1U

its a powerful rendition!

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 3:29 am
Rugby Union, the new Rugby League.

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 10:14 am
Samoa showed incredible strength during that game, if they improve their scrum and lineout they can definitely be outsiders for the next world cup. If they have no injuries, their starting lineup can be impressive

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 3:50 pm
THIS IS SAMOAAAAAAA!!!!

By Anonymous, at July 21, 2011 7:20 pm
Really enjoyed Samoa's "B-Team" smashed the Aussies last weekend...

As for Samoa's "A-Team," if guys like Mealamu, Afoa, Tialata, Vito, Faumuina, Saili, SBW, Fruen, Nonu, Stanley brothers, Muliaina, etc., etc.. (there's a whole load of talent who are locked into the All Blacks system earlier on in their careers)... oh boy, whole rugby rankings will suddenly be rearranged...

Looking forward to Samoa's "B Team" to go all the way to the world cup final.

Poor Samoa. Yeah, very poor Samoa!

By Anonymous, at July 22, 2011 4:28 pm
Samoa will always field a "B-Team" of players whenever their test team takes to the field! That's the sad truth about Samoan rugby...

I suppose that's why those guys play like that - trying to prove themselves that they're just as good as those ineligible Samoan players playing for the #1 team in the world. Being labeled as "a fringe player" can create a "do-or-die" mindset and inspire a "no-holds-bar" approach to their tackling and running.

I've just read the same reaction from the supposedly "B-Team" Springboks side. And that's why Springboks will beat the Wallabies this weekend!

It's called playing without pads but with a truckload of chips of their shoulders!

By Anonymous, at July 22, 2011 4:51 pm
Samoa can and will ONLY ever field a B team. All their A team players are in NZ wearing a black rugby top...

By Anonymous, at July 22, 2011 6:37 pm
Unbelievable!

By Want more sex with your women?, at July 23, 2011 1:01 am
At the 2007 World Cup 14 of the Samoan team were actualy born in New Zealand.
5 All Blacks were born in Samoa.

So who's poaching from who?

By Anonymous, at July 23, 2011 5:01 am
This game was not gift to Rod Davies. Alessx Tuilagi wanted to destroy him at each tackle.
Horrible evening for Davies.

By Anonymous, at July 23, 2011 11:43 am
It's not a matter of poaching. It's a matter of being "Samoan!!!!!!" Those players who play for the All Blacks will always be at the end of the day, either call themselves "Samoans" or acknowledge their being "Samoan" at some point in time. Thus making them "Manu Samoa" material!!!

So it has nothing to do with poaching at all!!!! But this fact will always make Manu Samoa a "B-TEAM!" That's all that's being acknowledged here on this forum. It's a sad truth about the state of Pacific Island Teams like Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji.

The IRB can help Manu Samoa and other Pacific Island Teams by relaxing their rules on eligibility!

By the way, the poaching argument was first instigated by European Unions who suddenly realized the impact and contribution that Pacific Island players have had in NZ and Australian rugby. That poaching argument just doesn't work anymore!!!!!

By Anonymous, at July 23, 2011 6:07 pm
I agree, that was the point I was making. Players, if they are eligable can play for whatever country they want.
But far more NZ born players play for Samoa than Samoan born players play for New Zealand.

It's unfair to NZ to say they are the Samoan team.
It's kind of like saying the guys in the NZ team with Irish ancestory or Scottish ancestory are really Irish or Scottish.
They're not, because they were born in NZ.

By Anonymous, at July 23, 2011 7:11 pm
Nice to see the Samoans looking like they can achieve as a squad. You feel for their players sometimes, a bit akin to Denis Law or George Best in that they just don't play for a country that can match their ambitions/achievements at club level. For example NH fans will know that Mapasua has been the form 12 in the Prem for 2 years now and Tuilagi is arguably the best Prem winger from the last 10 years. But the other side of the coin is alot of their players are from league 2 teams in France or playing Championship level in England, and you only need one weak link in defence or in fitness to bleed points against half decent teams. But good luck to them in the WC, everyone likes a fairytale cup run.

By Michael, at July 24, 2011 12:56 am
Their starting 15 are all playing at the top level, T14, English premiership or Super 15 for the most part.

By Anonymous, at July 24, 2011 6:26 am
i wouldn't like to play against these guys

By gabriel brow, at July 25, 2011 1:36 am
I love tuilagi, and i'm an avid tigers fan, but I have to say he tends to make those big hits, or nothing at all, despite his size defence is deffinately his biggest weakness, ahead of even kicking, still though...he's fucking great to watch!

By Jonno, at July 26, 2011 1:18 am
Jonno

You are probably they only guy that mentioned Tuilagi's suspect defense!! And I totally agree with you. I like him but he can be a liability come world cup time.

I hope Samoa fixes their discipline around the ruck too!

Go Manu!!!

By Anonymous, at July 27, 2011 11:57 pm