Should Samoa have done better?

[roopy]

At the time they named their side i thought leaving out brilliant young players like Junior Sau, Mark Taufua, and half a dozen others for over the hill guys like Meli and Lauititi was a mistake.

I think results have confirmed that.

 

[marv]

I would say even with the experience in their squad they should have done better. I feel they underestimated Ireland, both Tonga and Samoa were more intent on big hits and big plays, while Ireland played more intelligent RL, they knew they would get pens against Samoa and they potted them.

If this world cup confirmed anything for me, its that Island players play dumb and they are seriously lacking organisation, which, i guess most of us with any knowlegde or RL would have had an inkling of anyway.

 

[Nz]

And here i was thinking that we could have used those players... proved me wrong.

 

[aqua_duck]

They left out some good young players who would've been keen to impress guys like Sau, Taufua, Fai, Matulino, Moors, Iosefa, and they went for the has beens instead.
Out of all the minnow nations they had the most depth to pick from but they stuffed up. Someone like Iosefa would've made a huge difference to that team.

 

[playdaball]

Samoa really under achieved - BIGTIME.

They should have rested the old boys such as Ali and given the local boys a run against France.

 

[BatiFan]

I personally think the one they did miss was Iosefa. They probably thought that Seuseu and Faiumu would share the hooking duties, but then Faiumu was injured and didnt get to play any games. They probably should have deregistered him and brought in Iosefa then. I also heard that Samoan officials asked all players to decalre their eligibility some months ago and guys like Fai and Matulino decided to see whether they would make NZ first, so they were not considered for selection for Samoa.

Somehow Samoa need to find some halves over the next 4 years. If I were Samoan officials I would be scouring through the NYC and SG Ball comps now for Samoan eligible halves and trying to employ someone like Andrew or Matthew Johns to mentor them for the next 4 years. It may seem a little out there, but the only thing Samoa lack is creativity. If they can nurture some halves they will go a lot further in 2013.

 

[Stagger eel]

They left out some good young players who would've been keen to impress guys like Sau, Taufua, Fai, Matulino, Moors, Iosefa, and they went for the has beens instead.
Out of all the minnow nations they had the most depth to pick from but they stuffed up. Someone like Iosefa would've made a huge difference to that team.

the fact that Taulima Tautai couldn't even make the cut, was mind bongling, him and Sau should be the centres and the other players you mentioned should also be in the starting line up...

 

[shinobi]

A team of underacheivers underachieves were you surprised?

 

[playdaball]

A team of underacheivers underachieves were you surprised?

Yes

 

[ali]

I personally think the one they did miss was Iosefa. They probably thought that Seuseu and Faiumu would share the hooking duties, but then Faiumu was injured and didnt get to play any games. They probably should have deregistered him and brought in Iosefa then. I also heard that Samoan officials asked all players to decalre their eligibility some months ago and guys like Fai and Matulino decided to see whether they would make NZ first, so they were not considered for selection for Samoa.

Somehow Samoa need to find some halves over the next 4 years. If I were Samoan officials I would be scouring through the NYC and SG Ball comps now for Samoan eligible halves and trying to employ someone like Andrew or Matthew Johns to mentor them for the next 4 years. It may seem a little out there, but the only thing Samoa lack is creativity. If they can nurture some halves they will go a lot further in 2013.

I agree. Against Ireland they were a team of individuals with no one to bring them together. They desperately need some quality halves. Ben Roberts is one of the worst players I've ever seen. I can't believe he is related to a great man such as Tim Cahill!

And Roopy, I don't agree that Lauiti'iti and Meli are over the hill. These guys play for the 2 biggest clubs in England, and still perform week to week. Though I will admit Meli had a massive shocker!

 

[Phillips]

Meli is bagged by his own fans..

no way he should have been in the side.

 

[Perth Red]

Samoa, France and England have all been the big under achievers imo.

Ireland, Scotland and Fiji the over achievers

 

[Brownie.Kougari]

England

And we thought France and Samoa were chokers... :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[The Tank]

IMO whilst England have been poor, France were by far and away the worst. Their "performance" against Fiji is one of the worst I've seen (all comps, all grades). Barely looked lower grade standard TBH.

 

[Brownie.Kougari]

France's for/against: -18
England's for/against: -50 :lol:
PNG's for/against: -52

Also just saw Australia's for/against: +72

 

[fobsta]

They left out some good young players who would've been keen to impress guys like Sau, Taufua, Fai, Matulino, Moors, Iosefa, and they went for the has beens instead.
Out of all the minnow nations they had the most depth to pick from but they stuffed up. Someone like Iosefa would've made a huge difference to that team.

Samoa out of tournament Written by Radio Australia Friday, 07 November 2008 10:25 Samoa is out of of the rugby league World Cup tournament after Wednesday’s
34-16 loss to Ireland.

Assistant coach, Willie Poching says they expected to make the semis. Poching, who captained
Samoa to the world cup in 2000, says they had set their mark higher than pool play.
“You know everyone had pretty high aspirations to go as far as we could in this competiiton,
we did not think we set the bar too high,” he said.
“We have made change in this team, we didn’t want to be anyone’s second choice so we said
early, you play for your country or you hang around and wait for New Zealand to pick you
but you won’t be playing for us.

“We have started something here.”
Samoa plays France, at Penrith, Sunday.

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.p...a-out-of-tournament&catid=34:sports&Itemid=54


Might explain why some of those guys being mentioned above didn't get picked for the final squad

 

[aqua_duck]

Samoa out of tournament Written by Radio Australia Friday, 07 November 2008 10:25 Samoa is out of of the rugby league World Cup tournament after Wednesday’s
34-16 loss to Ireland.

Assistant coach, Willie Poching says they expected to make the semis. Poching, who captained
Samoa to the world cup in 2000, says they had set their mark higher than pool play.
“You know everyone had pretty high aspirations to go as far as we could in this competiiton,
we did not think we set the bar too high,” he said.
“We have made change in this team, we didn’t want to be anyone’s second choice so we said
early, you play for your country or you hang around and wait for New Zealand to pick you
but you won’t be playing for us.

“We have started something here.”
Samoa plays France, at Penrith, Sunday.

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.p...a-out-of-tournament&catid=34:sports&Itemid=54


Might explain why some of those guys being mentioned above didn't get picked for the final squad

and thats why ben roberts was in the team hey? Junior Sau and was keen to play fopr samoa, no mention of NZ selection yet was snubbed for 2 has beens

 

[KiWi_BoI_15]

Where was Taulima Tautai?

 

[roopy]

Thinking about it this morning, Samoa turned on the best display of any of the minnow nations in their game yesterday.
In their pool games they looked rusty and like they had never played together, but their first 30 minutes especially against France they hardly made a mistake and scored some of the best tries of the WC, and probably of the season.
PNG and Tonga in particular had good lead up games, and Fiji had a great preparation, but you get the feeling Samoa didn't prepare properly and finally clicked when it was all too late.
I think they are the side that could have worried the top three judging by their form yesterday.
If the WC started all over again tomorrow they would blitz the other minnow sides IMO.

 

[cb4]

it was easy for them to look good against france.... they were garbage