South Africa vs Samoa tonight

[Wobbly]

I'm looking forward to this game tonight.  Quite a lot.

Samoa have looked really good this tournament.  Having a core of experienced (professional!) players has really solidified their game.  They have thrashed Namibia, soundly beaten Fiji, and had their chances to put Wales away.

Realistically they shouldn't have enough firepower across the park to defeat South Africa.  But... they are now good enough that a boilover is a faint possibility. 

Four years ago it was 59 - 7 to South Africa.  Tonight we get to see just how far Samoa have progressed in the past four years.  I don't think they'll give away 50 points this time around.

Go Samoa!!!

[Geeves]

If they win it makes the pool exceptionally tough too see who they win.

If Samoa don't win (assuming that Italy doesn't get the Irish) then if its a tough game, I won't mind at all.  I know I shouldn't wish for injuries but....

Go Samoa.

[ruggerfan]

C'mon little Bro!

[jules]

13-5 to South Africa.

Only saw the last 15 minutes or so, looked like a great game though, shame that Samoa couldn't at least have sneaked a bonus point, that would have kept them in the cup at least until the Wales vs Fiji game was decided on Sunday.

Farewell Samoa, as usual you have punched above your weight, playing wonderful running rugby, but not without some structure and sensible game plans (unlike Fiji). Following on from the win over the Wallabies in June it really looks like the gap is closing, which is excellent.

Jules

P.S. at least all you kiwi samoans still have a team to back in the cup!

[Wobbly]

So close, yet so far...

Samoa were great.  There were some passages of play where their passing and skills were just sublime. Unfortunately South Africa were always able to hold them out on defence, or an inevitable mistake would come.

For me, Samoa have come of age.  They are genuinely a top flight rugby nation able to match it with Argentina, Wales, Scotland etc. Give them another couple of years and they will be notching wins against the All Blacks and South Africa.  They already have their Aussie scalp!

Awesome World Cup for Samoa. Well played fellas.

[Geeves]

The ref had a shocker.  Samoa were robbed. SA delierately slowed the ball down and should have been in huge trouble on the penalty count.

It was a great game and as Eobbly mentioned the handeling and support play was sublime.

[jules]

It was a great game and as Eobbly mentioned the handeling and support play was sublime.

Have you been drinking again geeves?

[ruggerfan]

 It was an awesome game, I've watched it twice!

 The ref was por at policing the breakdown (players off their feet galore) but at least he was consistant... Thought Barnes real good as assistant twice coming in with good help, 1st to stop some slapping when the game was gonna get ugly then when Samoa fluffed a kick to tell the ref the Samoan player did actually get a boot to it to turn a scrum advantage aroound.

 Schwalger let his team down, leading by example - pity his example was niggly, off the ball stuff.

 The Red Card ; this was a poor call and should have resulted in both players getting a yellow for retaliating. Williams bought it all on himself with the kind of play Cooper would be proud of! I wish Ritchie had reacted like Brousow in Brissy (without the hollywood unbecoming of a player and man).

 SA looked waaaay more professional in the first half but Samoa showed in the second that if you bash the Jarpies off their ball they totally lose composure. Although I personally blame the ref for not taking control of the game and allowing too much to go on in the rucks.


 It really was a game of two halves with the Samoans really lifting in the second once they started supporting the ball carrier properly, What a match!

[BallBoy]

That was without a doubt the worst piece of refereeing I saw so far in the cup.
He had absolutely no control on the match and did not try to establish it either. From start till 80th min there were off the ball stuff spoiling the game.

I am however proud of the way the boks conducted themselves and tried best to keep out of niggle stuff that the Samoans clearly tried as a tactic.

In years past that was how the boks played - getting them labelled as thugs of rugby. Think us "jarpies" must forever be thankful to Jake white who's first call of duty was fixing that reputation

Just imagine the boks played the game the Samoans played - I can read the headlines already.

Bad news is that Frans steyn is on way back to SA. Hope there's no more to follow.

[ruggerfan]

Yeah bad luck about Steyne we've had similar news with Carter's groin strain, real bad news for both teams. Thought your boys conducted themselves ok and as I've said really enjoyed the game.
 Smith getting a yellow was a joke, newly on the field no team warning for cynical play shoulda been a penalty only. Guess the ref thought he had to balance it up.

[Geeves]

It was a great game and as Eobbly mentioned the handeling and support play was sublime.

Have you been drinking again geeves?

Yes, yes I have but I have also lost the spell checker function!