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Physical affair: Shontayne Hape
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Teams
- England
- Samoa
Also see
- Minute-by-minute: How the English avoided being red-faced at HQ
England survived an early second-half scare to record a 26-13 victory over a spirited Samoan outfit at Twickenham.
Martin Johnson's side were trailing 6-8 in the 42nd minute after Sale full-back Paul Williams had caught the Red Rose napping. But from there, the home side clicked into gear as scores from Matt Banahan and Tom Croft won it.
It was not a thing of beauty though and this week there were no wonder tries at HQ.
Yet against a steel-like Samoan defence Johnson's side did what they had to do.
They won, professionally and clinically. When we remember how difficult victories came just twelve months ago that is another measure of progress.
Indeed, the really encouraging thing was that England tried to continue from where they left off against Australia.
They tried to play with width and adventure. They used the pace of Ben Foden and Chris Ashton and the superb Mark Cueto, who has now gone sixteen matches without scoring a try for England in what is one of rugby's great mysteries.
Cueto again epitomised everything Johnson's team are striving to become. Quick to run, swift to see the gap. Daring.
The problem was that whereas against Australia everything came off in a match which was near perfect technically, against Samoa too often they were sloppy and imprecise in their passing and kicking.
Give Samoa credit. They had lost by only 10 points to Ireland last weekend. They were no pushovers. In fact, they play a brand of rugby which is as physical as it is entertaining.
It is full of quick thinking and enterprising handling and it rocked England, especially in the early exchanges.
Where last weekend England had carved great holes in Australia's defence almost from the first whistle this time they met men in blue who have added organisation to their undoubted flair.
Men who frustrated their progress with crushing tackles, especially London Irish centre Seilala Mapusua. It is easy in such circumstances to try too hard and England were guilty of that in the first half.
Toby Flood, so imperious against Australia, threw too many long, looping passes which struggled to reach their destination.
Foden failed to get the ball down in the corner when it appeared he must score and Ashton burst through and over the whitewash only to be recalled for a forward pass.
The action, however, was never fluent, unless we count one almighty slugging match mid-way through the half which saw more punches thrown than Audley Harrison has managed in an entire career.
Partly, the erratic nature of the skirmish was down to the domination of England's scrummage.
Samoa, who had performed so creditably against Ireland's pack, could not cope with England's front row of Andrew Sheridan, David Wilson and Dylan Hartley. There was too much weight, too much technique coming their way and time and again they buckled.
It did not make for pretty viewing, even if England did spurn penalty after penalty in favour of another push-fest.
The stats board, however, told the story. In that first half Samoa made 77 tackles against 17 from England. Total domination from England, just the execution was lacking.
It meant the teams went in with England leading 6-3, courtesy of two tries from Flood and one from Samoa full-back Paul Williams.
England could hardly have started the second half in worse fashion, sluggishly allowing Williams to cruise over for the first touchdown after 40 seconds.
It was the first try of Williams' career and the first by Samoa at Twickenham. And they deserved it.
The Twickenham faithful might have been a little worried at that point, although there was no hint of panic down on the pitch.
If anything that is the virtue of Johnson's side. They have belief in their character as well as their ability.
And they produced the try of the match when Shontayne Hape made the break, fed Ashton and there was Banahan to secure the touchdown. Croft added another to give the scoreline a flattering look.
It was a long way from perfect, especially as Gavin Williams crossed for a late try for Samoa. But it was a reasonably comfortable victory. One which provides another brick in Johnson's rebuilding programme.
Man-of-the-match: Despite being on the losing team, we had to go for Samoa full-back Paul Williams, who contributed a try and a penalty. Extremely effective in attack and painfully solid in defence. Spot on, as was an in-form Mark Cueto on the left wing for England.
Moment-of-the-match: 'Moments' ... Andrew Sheridan's rampaging runs through the heart of the Samoan defence. His comeback to international rugby following injury has been a swift one, but my has it been impressive.
Villain-of-the-match: Answers on a postcard. Little really to speak of.
The scorers:
For England:
Tries: Banahan, Croft
Con: Flood 2
Pen: Flood 3
For Samoa:
Tries: P Williams, G Williams
Pen: P Williams
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter (c), 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 James Haskell, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Dan Cole, 18 Dave Attwood, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Danny Care, 21 Charlie Hodgson, 22 Delon Armitage.
Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 David Lemi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapasua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Kahn Fotualii, 8 George Stowers, 7 Manaia Salavea, 6 Ofisa Treviranus, 5 Filipo Levi, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (c), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Joe Tekori, 19 Afa Aiono, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Jamie Helleur, 22 Gavin Williams.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Alan Lewis (Ireland), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Comments
Ramage says...
Boy oh Boy what a lot of heat all srated by a statement that NZ poaches Samoans. Those AllBlacks of Samoan heritage as far as I know are NZers butof Samoan heritage just as I am a NZer of Scottish heritage. Does that mean that id I were good enough to play International Rugby I would have to play Rugby for Scotland. Hell I like Scotland and the Scots but not that much as I am a NZer through and through. Also if NZers of Samoan heritage wisg to play for Samoa rather than NZ that is their choice and democratic right and good luck to them. What I hate is these untruthal accusations that NZ poaches these players as most have been born in NZ many have been in NZ since young children. By the way Scud 16 Jerome Kaino went to Primary School at Kelvin Road in Papakura so has been in NZ earlier than the 12-13 year old you talk about.
Posted 08:49 23rd November 2010
capedcrusader says...
WOW anyone fancy posting on the actual game that this article refers too... Yet again another where race hits such a big nerve that planet rugby users lose all foresight of the actual article and some true colours appear. How bout trading email addresses & putting your irrelevant views to each other in private. Didn't see the game but yet again appears the consistency questions sticks out like a sore thumb. Clinical I think not.
Posted 11:53 22nd November 2010
Nahpoowee says...
I don't think any ethnic group has contributed more than the next, and for each of the players you would wish to remove from the last fifty years there would be another suitable replacement. It dosen't make a person a "redneck" just because they call a Kiwi a Kiwi.
*Jandal btw :)
I don't think I come from a ethnic group thats into claiming people... yet.
Posted 08:50 22nd November 2010
Manu4Life says...
@ Nahpoowee
Ur arrogance was to be expected! No answers will satisfy your pathetic excuse of a mind! Go shave your head some more!
Posted 08:46 22nd November 2010
Nahpoowee says...
@ Manu4Life... Anyone can waste their time typing that long ramble, how about you answer the questions I asked?
Manu was a doll off play school and also a nurse on shortland street, handle that jandle before you fling it in a random direction...
Posted 08:18 22nd November 2010
Manu4Life says...
@ Nahpoowee says...
Which players that played for the AB's in the last half centry do we take out?
You egg! Take out any player with Island blood running thru their veins. Your as ignorant as any other redneck who claims Nz born Islands as purely your own (kiwi)! The world today is littered with people of mixed races who are proud of all their cultures! Ask Muliana if he considers himself more kiwi then Samoa and I'd doubt he'd mention one over another. Ask Nonu why he covers himself in samoan tribal tattoos and hed without doubt claim it as an expression of his cultural roots. When you can accept the Nz alone cannot stake sole claim to the Island brothers who have represented the AB's then you will finally be able to acknowledge the massive contribution the pacific Islands have given to Nz! The NZRU does very little to help improve the game in the pacific, if anything they hinder its development by discouraging eligible Islanders to play for their countries of origin. If your an Island player playing S14, chances are that your either coming off the bench; being paid a quarter of the salary Nz players are receive; or you are currently trying to negotiate a European contract coz your team is already searching for a viable replacement. NZ is our closest neighbour with even more Samoans living there then Samoa itself and yet we have more eligible players for us plying their trade in Europe which is a kazillion miles n 3-4 transit flights away!
Posted 00:50 22nd November 2010
bennybrewsta says...
personal opinion
I am samoan, I bleed white and blue (figure of speech) i consider myself a patriot of Samoan Rugby and support no other teams other than Auckland and North Harbour in Provincial rugby .
From the previous comments regarding the topic of who's poaching who's players...
My question is why does the NZIRB have contracts to not allow Players of Pacific Island Origins to make a choice. What is so appealing about the AB'S jersey. Is it Money,a Car the infamous powerade ads lol. What is it? What happen to loyalty or to honoring the birthplace where the origins of our culture gave birth to the people we are today. To the Brothers in Blue and White, who go to battle for us and lift that coat of Arms shield we hold dear to our hearts.(referring to the old Manu Samoa jersey)You make every Samoan proud,from that Young Boy doing that siva tau before the game or Older generation reading the Samoan Observer with a small grin on his face. In the end its a talent we have been blessed with and we should remember where that comes from and honor him in prayer.
Anyways to conclude this: NZ give the boys a choice to choose, Samoa keep rippin up those northern Hemisphere Teams, with practice comes perfection. And you are on the right path in being back in the top where you belong.
Posted 22:51 21st November 2010
Nahpoowee says...
Using islandpowers country of origin theory it would seem that almost every Maori alive today is eligible to play for (and should be playing for) the Lions.
Which players that played for the AB's in the last half centry do we take out?
Those that moved here when they were toddlers?
Those that were born here?
Those that have a parent thats a New Zealander?
Or Those that have a parent or parents that moved here when they were toddlers? or those that have a parent that was born here? or those parents that have a parent that is a New Zealander?
A lot of people that live in south Auckland will be laughing at your Otara pub comment.... tis hardly that hard cuz.
Posted 20:44 21st November 2010
dylster says...
yeah im over all these 'poaching' BS comments.
I get pist when the Northern Hemisphere supporters call the ABs poachers for having Islanders in their team. They dont realise how many Islanders are in NZ and how much a part of NZ culture they are.
Hope the Samoans cause some more scares / upsets...
Posted 19:45 21st November 2010
IslandPower says...
I called him a racist because I find what he said that half the samoan team is poached from NZ thats BS. I have no problem with samoan players playing for New Zealand because thats their country of birth or adopted country good on them and thats not poaching. So now its wrong for samoans born out of samoa or who have lived a long time in another country and who have participated in that countries rugby comps to play for samoa?(esp if they are eligable via the IRB rules)Because some whinging palagi red neck has a problem with it? Issac boss played for ireland cause he had an Irish grandmother? is that poaching? In my eyes its not. Tell mr jmangod to go down to the local pub in otara or anywhere in south auckland get a loud speaker and say that over half the samoan team is poached then you will see an over reaction.
Posted 13:14 21st November 2010
IslandPower says...
wazsere I dont know..... I kinda doubt fiji or samoa could knock south africa out of the world cup....... even with the horrible way they have been playing lately, they are missing quite a few first choice players though, their coach seems to be a muppet. But samoa and maybe fiji dont have the best record vs south africa...... wales though....... yeah i think its very likely that either fiji or samoa could knock the welsh out. which is a pity as the welsh are prob one of the only NH teams I enjoy to watch. But this pool should be awesome and super exciting.
Posted 13:00 21st November 2010
IslandPower says...
Jmanwhatever sounds like he does not like the fact that samoans who where born out of samoa playing for samoa or even the ones who where born in samoa but spent a large part of their lives in NZ. Like its somehow wrong for them to go and play for Samoa if they choose to? WTF!!!!! If a samoan wants to play for samoa thats all good, as long as they have not already played for another country. Samoa is not poaching New Zealand players....... if not why dont we have some palagi's maori's, ect ect who are in no way not part samoan playing for us huh? Maybe if only we could offer them the opportunity to come and play in one of the best domestic and international club rugby competitions in the world we could lure some over? lolz and yeah we need to get some talent scouts over to New Zealand to scout all the secondary schools and offer them scholarships to come over to samoa and play schoolboy rugby over here.......
Posted 12:54 21st November 2010
Manu4Life says...
Too many red necks rambling nonsense in here! Once you lean to accept that NZ rugby's single and most significant advantage over every other rugby nation in the world is the availability of islanders and players of islander origin to choose from! You've obviously got the richest and most talented pool of players to choose from! To suggest that Samoa develop its own local league to choose from is to arrogantly disregard insufficient resources and player pools to choose from! You red necks are so blinded by your arrogance that you don't realise the barriers pacific rugby constantly has to put up with in order to put a decent team on the field! You claim that Nz born Samoans are purely kiwi when they play for the AB's and acknowledge absolutely jack as to their heritage. Would you enjoy the same success if every AB team in last half century was vacant of any player of Islander origin? I'd dare to imagine how different your AB history would be without any island players! Yes some have been schooled and developed in the Nz system but you still ignore the contribution the samoan and players of pacific heritage has given to Nz. Why we continue to call Nz our second home i don't know? You don't have to be born in Samoa to be Samoan you morons!
Typical rednecks; love to call em kiwis when they contribute to Nz rugby and then turn around and cal them islanders when they are jobless and struggling to earn a livingl
Get over yourselves and accept that without pacific island players Nz rugby would be nowhere near the status they currently hold!
Posted 10:34 21st November 2010
Trinats says...
KiwiLad:
Just helping out the retard.
Off the top of my head Jerome Kaino, Muliaina, Toeava, Rokocoko (maybe fiji) Sivivatu (fiji) and Ben Franks from Melbourne (Australia that is !!)
And McCaw, he was not born in NZ, he was made by god !!
Cooperman, although unfortunately born in NZ, is an Australian Citizen (as he came over as a young boy) and has an Australian passport.
Posted 09:43 21st November 2010
ronazenjack says...
BREAKING NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Manu Samoa World Cup Team 2011
inc ex AB Samoans that haven't played for over 2+ years for AB's
+ ex 1-Test Only Samoan AB's - (pending IRB eligibility decision to allow them to switch)
...Players marked * = Starting 15
PROPS
John Shwalger *
Anthony Perenise *
Sakaria Taulafo
Census Johnstone
HOOKERS
Mahonri Shwalger *
Ti'i Paulo
LOCKS
Ross Filipo *
Filipo Levi *
Brad Mika
Daniel Leo
Joe Tekori
Kane Thompson
FLANKERS
Jerry Collins *
Chris Masoe *
Onosai Auva'a
Joe Tekori
NO 8
Nick Williams *
Peter Saili
George Stowers
HALFBACKS
Kahn Fotuali'i *
Junior Polu
FIRST FIVE
Tasesa Lavea
Tusi Pisi
Christian Lealiifano *
CENTRES
Seilala Mapusua *
Casey Laulala *
Eliota Sapolu
Elvis Sevealii
WINGS
Sailosi Tagicakibau *
David Smith
Lelia Masaga *
David Lemi
Alesana Tuilagi
FULLBACK
Paul Williams *
Orene Ai'i
Sosene Anesi
Posted 08:20 21st November 2010
dylster says...
@ IslandPower
wtf??
hows jmanngod's comment racist?? how many kiwis DO play rugby for samoa?
this is from another poster:
"Tasesa Lavea - Taihape NZ
Kahn Fotuali'i - Auckland NZ
Junior Polu - Auckland NZ
Jaimie Helleur - Auckland NZ
Seilala Mapasua - Auckland NZ
Gavin Williams - Auckland NZ
Paul Williams - Auckland NZ
Cencus Johnston - Auckland NZ
Filipo Levi - Huntly NZ
Kane Thompson - Wellington NZ
Josh Tatupu - Christchurch NZ
Daniel Leo - Dunedin NZ
Joe Tekori - Auckland NZ
Sakaria Taulafo - Nelson NZ"
so his comment is perfectly valid...your obviously the racist...you call him a white b"stard and a redneck?? man talk about an overreaction.
get a life mate. and before you called me racist i have heaps of Samoan, Fijian, Tokealauan, Maori and White mates and maori family.
Posted 07:58 21st November 2010
Nahpoowee says...
lol @ IslandPower,
Nicely overdone... thats worth 30+
Posted 07:56 21st November 2010
KiwiLad says...
Ben7 name a samoan not born in NZ playing for the Abs..
and then get back to me with more updated info on who the retard is..
Posted 03:57 21st November 2010
jb1215 says...
Ben-Name them!
Posted 03:49 21st November 2010
5Lock4ward says...
Just b/c their happens to be players of Samoan heritage on the AB's doesn't man their poached. Their families raised them in New Zealand and it's at NZ schools where they learn the game. If Samoa had such a great domestic structure they'd have more than enough players to make their own team competitive.
Posted 03:09 21st November 2010