Spirited adolescent

DESPITE being given a hard lesson in the world of‘big boy’ rugby, the Western Samoans showed that in their current form they could take on any team in the world and have a fair chance of winning.

At Eden Park on July 31, the islanders went down 35-13 to ruthless All Blacks efficiency in the first Test played between the two countries. In the final match of their New Zealand tour Manu Samoa, or “warriors of Samoa”, put in maximum effort in the bruising encounter but a lack of discipline gave away points.

The awesome boot of Grant Fox landed seven penalty goals and two conversions to notch 25 points and punish the Samoans for the many infringements. Manu Samoa also kicked away a lot of possession which the All Blacks capitalised on. The All Blacks dominated the tight and loose forward play, had a lot more control in the rucks and mauls and repeatedly pushed the Samoan scrum back.

But despite some weaknesses in critical areas, Manu Samoa has shown during its New Zealand tour that it will be a force to reckon with in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. Also, the team met an All Black side that is taking on that awesome look again, having just won a series against the British Lions and crushed Australia in July.

Manu Samoa captain Peter Fatialofa said his side did its best and the team would be back next year. Fatialofa, like many other members of the Western Samoan side, is based in Auckland.

The Western Samoans’ Kiwi tour has been criticised for having too many soft games which did not really allow the

Manu Samoa takes on devastating form after a bruising but educational tour of New Zealand

islanders’ strength to be gauged properly.

Against lowly Poverty Bay for example, Manu Samoa was held to seven tries by a team at the bottom of New Zealand’s second division. The Samoans won 53-6 in an unconvincing performance in a game full of errors and penalties which reappeared during the Test.

When Manu Samoa came up against the strong New Zealand XV side its first real opposition it went down 37-13. Despite leading 8-6 at the break

the Samoans had no answer to the New Zealand XV’s rolling mauls in the second half.

But all criticism aside the warriors of Samoa are undoubtedly the best side in the Pacific outside of Australia and New Zealand leaving the two other powers of Pacific rugby, Fiji and Tonga, with a lot of catching up to do. During its recent tour it displayed a brilliant brand of broken play which got it to the quarter-final of the 1991 World Cup as it left a number of hapless New Zealand teams in its wake. This included a record 128-0 win over Marlborough.

So while Manu Samoa described by one sports writer as “world rugby’s spirited adolescent” has a lot of work to do before it threatens the “adult” teams, it had better not be taken lightly I in 1995.

At the 1991 World Cup they appeared from nowhere to grab the attention of the rugby world by defeating Wales and Argentina to qualify for the quarter finals. These magnificent wins had the spotlight focussed on the Samoans off the field as the British press ran stories on Western Samoa the country and maps showing where it was, Manu Samoa had

emerged as a major rugby power.

Manu Samoa: riding a crest of confidence after the New Zealand tour.