Pacific Rugby Cup

[twenty seven]

Gone for the season apparently. I think Felsman got injured and will be out for a month or so.

Thats got to be an absolute bugger. Gone for the season before it even kicks off.

 

[ripper868]

Thats got to be an absolute bugger. Gone for the season before it even kicks off.

Another one on at Ballymore tonight, 6pm vs Samoa - May or may not attend depending on if this weather fairs up a bit, will likely be a bit of a scrap on a wet deck.

Qld to run through Undefeated, haven't seen a team list but have heard Rota Setu of Sunnybank has got a call up?

 

[twenty seven]

Another one on at Ballymore tonight, 6pm vs Samoa - May or may not attend depending on if this weather fairs up a bit, will likely be a bit of a scrap on a wet deck.

Qld to run through Undefeated, haven't seen a team list but have heard Rota Setu of Sunnybank has got a call up?

Would like to go but have previous engagement. Few lads out as they have gone to U20's camp or injured. Imagine there will be few replacements.

 

[Scott Allen]

Final score tonight Samoa A 24 QLD A 8 - score probably not a true reflection of the dominance of Samoa A - at times it was like boys v men. QLD A guys kept coming but Samoa A turned on the power when needed.

 

[qwerty51]

Very disappointing result for the Tahs as well. Went down 6 tries to 2 I think.

The backline defence was just pathetic at times, the Fijians were very slick in their backline play and completely bamboozled the Tahs with the ball. Fijian 10 was a very good player. They easily won the physical battle.

Every game I saw the Islanders had players with massive boots, their goal kicking was better and their punt kicking was stronger and more precise.Why is kicking not taken seriously enough here..

 

[tranquility]

It is such an afterthought in development isn't it?

 

[Redsfan]

I think kicking is just seen as a skill that can be taught to anyone. That the only thing it requires is a bit of practice until you're good enough, without worrying about being great.

 

[LoneStar]

To the guys who saw Samoa play, who were the standouts for them?

I know a lot of the guys in the team. It's quite a young team and some of the players have never been outside of Samoa before.

 

[ripper868]

Couldn't tell you the names sorry mate. The #7 was exceptional and pulled off the biggest hit I have seen in a long time on the QLD A fullback, The Goalkicking winger had a massive boot on him, narrowly missing a couple of penalties from 50m+. The whole team was strong, a few discipline issues (4 sinbins) but no great obvious weaknesses.

 

[Scott Allen]

Agree on the number 7. Number 8 was also very good. All the Samoan players were good - understand they are all based in Samoa - is that right Lone Star?

 

[qwerty51]

Of the Samoans I saw when they played the Tahs, one of the locks, the taller one was very good.

 

[LoneStar]

Thanks guys. I don't know the 7 personally but I do know the lock(Maselino Paulino), the #8(Misioka Timoteo) and the goalkicker(Titi Esau).

Esau has made a couple of near 60m goals, with one over 60m's in the past. He has a soccer background.

Paulino is probably the tallest Samoan lock that I've seen, standing at 2.15m's - he's also one of the most athletic locks I've seen too.

Agree on the number 7. Number 8 was also very good. All the Samoan players were good - understand they are all based in Samoa - is that right Lone Star?

Indeed. All of them are based in Samoa.

 

[twenty seven]

215cm's is over seven foot. If he is athletic and that height - wow. He would be the tallest man in rugby.
South African player is 213cm's
Welsh lock is 212 cm's
Thats TALL

 

[qwerty51]

Yep no5 was him. I think LoneStar is exaggerating a little, he was the tallest on the field but he wasn't that tall.

 

[LoneStar]

My bad, he's actually 205cm's.

 

[twenty seven]

Still tall...

 

[SuperGrover]

Fiji Warriors lead the Pacific Rugby Cup

With five of the nine IRB Pacific Rugby Cup Rounds completed the Fiji Warriors have emerged as the team to beat after impressive form in Australia and New Zealand. The Warriors have won four of their five matches so far and head into their sixth match on Saturday against a Chiefs Development side in Te Kuiti, New Zealand, full of confidence.

Funded by the IRB, this player development competition pits the very best up and coming locally-based talent from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga against the next generation of Super Rugby stars in Australia and New Zealand. Now in its second year of this new format the inaugural tournament was won by the Warriors who edged out Samoa A, and the same two look set to fight it out for the 2012 title.

This year, the Warriors lost their very first match of the Cup in a hard fought battle at Ballymore in Brisbane against a Queensland A side 24-36 but have recovered to record four straight victories. Two further wins in Australia over the Brumby Runners and Junior Waratahs was followed by two victories in New Zealand against Crusader Knights and Blues Development.

The Round 5 victory over Blues Development was particularly impressive given winning in Auckland is never easy and the fact that the Warriors struggled in New Zealand last year. The Blues fielded All Black prop Tony Woodcock who was returning from injury but the form of the Warriors, and their rivals Samoa A, is an encouraging sign that the IRB strategic investment programme is on track and leading to greater consistency and competitiveness.

Warriors coach Inoke Male stated after his side’s win against Blues Development, “I’m delighted how far we’ve progressed in this tournament and I’m particularly pleased with the way the team has responded after the opening round loss to Queensland. The fact the players we have are all born, bred and raised within Fiji reflects the increasing standard of rugby in the island and the Pacific Rugby Cup tournament is an excellent competition in terms of developing our local players to meet the standards required to step up into top international rugby.”

He added, “Judging by results we’ve probably got our toughest match this Saturday against the Chiefs Development who put an incredible 71 points past previously unbeaten Samoa A. However there’s no doubt we’re up to it. We’ve arguably got the best defensive game of any team in this competition and coupled with our natural attacking instincts I think we could be in for a real cracker against the Chiefs.”

Samoa A was impressive in Australia winning all of their matches against Brumby Runners, Junior Waratahs and Queensland A. However, it found the opposition much tougher in New Zealand. Samoa A lost its opening match at Pukekohe 17-71 against a Chiefs Development XV, but showed better from in Dunedin before being edged out 39-27 by the Highlanders Development team.

Tonga A has yet to record a win but has still been very competitive and was not helped by its third round match against the Brumby Runners in Griffith being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

The IRB is committed to the development of Rugby throughout the Pacific Islands in order to increase competitiveness and in 2012 is investing over NZ$7 million in direct financial assistance to the Pacific Islands across four main areas: High Performance, development, competitions and administration. This is all possible because of the commercial revenues raised by Rugby World Cup.

Critically the investment includes a commitment to ensure that the Pacific Islands have the appropriate competition models that meet their high performance needs. The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup has continually evolved to achieve just that and leads nicely into the Pacific Nations Cup which this year takes place in Japan in June.

The High Performance investment has allowed the IRB to establish full-time Academies in Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, with the latter having a state-of-the-art High Performance Centre. These Academies provide a daily training environment for elite and potentially elite players, match officials and coaches to obtain scholarships and train in world-class facilities under word-class coaches who are employed full-time.

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2061517.html

 

[SuperGrover]

Fiji Warriors seal Kiwi clean sweep

Fiji Warriors completed a hat-trick of victories on the New Zealand leg of the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup by claiming the scalp of the Chiefs Development XV.

There were some nervous moments for the Fijians before they emerged 35-34 winners to consolidate their place at the top of the table, with the Highlanders and Hurricanes Development joining them as sixth round winners.

Since losing their opening PRC encounter, against Queensland A, Fiji Warriors have racked up five wins on the trot – and, importantly, on the road, giving the holders valuable points for the Pacific Islands leg in October.

With the Chiefs coming off a resounding Round 5 win over Samoa A, the game had all the ingredients for a thriller – and so it proved. The setting was perfect, too – the Waitete club in Te Kuiti, the home of All Black great Sir Colin Meads, who was at the match.

It was the Chiefs A who made the early running, racing to a 12-point lead in as many minutes through winger Ahsee Tuala - fly half Baden Kerr converting from the sideline - and openside flanker Rory Grice.

Fiji Warriors responded with a try to winger Ratu Alipate Ratini, fly half Jonetani Ralulu converting.

Two more tries followed in quick succession for prop Isireli Temo - rewarded for his support after a 60-metre attack - and full back Simeli Koniferedi and Ralulu’s extras put Fiji into a 21-12 lead.

The momentum swung back as a try by Chiefs captain and scrum-half Jamie Nutbrown – converted by Kerr – brought them within two points but a converted try by lock Maikeli Naromaitoga sent Fiji Warriors into half time 28-19 up.

With a Kerr penalty after the break putting the Chiefs back within a score at 28-22, Ratini’s second try – and Ralulu’s conversion – gave Fiji a crucial 35-22 buffer going into the last quarter.

The Chiefs came storming back with a try to Dominique Waqaniborutu, a Fijian 2011 Rugby World Cup squad member, but the failed conversion attempt proved crucial. Chiefs centre Doug Edwards crossed at the death, which Kerr converted on the final whistle.

Highlanders outclass Tonga A
Four tries from right wing Marshall Suckling helped the Highlanders Development XV to a 62-8 victory over Tonga A in Dunedin on Monday.

The first half gave little indication of the scoring that was to follow, the Highlanders notching a try from full back Kurt Baker just before the break to go in 13-3 ahead. The other points came from the boot of fly half Hayden Parker.

Tonga, with one first-half penalty from fly-half Mataiasi Aholelei on the board, began the try-scoring after the break when winger Mohetau Kolotau pulled the score back to 13-8 but thereafter it was all the Highlanders.

The home side opened up to finish with eight tries, which were all converted by Parker and, when he went off, Peter Breen.

Aside from Suckling’s quartet, the other second-half tries were shared by scrum-half Brad Weber, his replacement Johnny Legg and winger Matt Faddes.

Hurricanes defeat Samoa A
In the last match of the round, and thus completing the New Zealand leg of the PRC, the Hurricanes Development XV overturned a half-time deficit to beat Samoa A 29-16 at Porirua Park on Monday evening.

The kicking of Titi Jr Esau and a try by centre Meki Magele put Tonga 16-12 ahead at the break, though the Highlanders had crossed for two tries through winger Parataiso Silafai-Leaana and fly half James Marshall.

The second half belonged to the Hurricanes as they racked up 17 unanswered points, with two tries to prop Tristan Moran and one for replacement back rower Dan Turner, Marshall adding two conversions during the match.

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2061523.html#fiji+warriors+seal+kiwi+clean+sweep

 

[qwerty51]

Looks like our "A" sides aren't that far behind the Kiwi ones.

 

[SuperGrover]

Looks like our "A" sides aren't that far behind the Kiwi ones.

It certainly looks that way. Although I don't know enough about the Kiwi players in the tier below Super Rugby.

For example, perhaps someone comment on the strength/potential of the Hurricanes development side that recently defeated the Samoan 'A' team:

Hurricanes Development XV
1. Tristan Moran
2. David Hall Replaced by Rob Foreman, 55th minute
3. Whetu Henry Replaced by Arden David-Perrott, 49th minute
4. Fraser Stone
5. Mark Reddish Replaced by Dan Turner, 41st minute
6. Dean Brunsdon Replaced by Greg Lealofi, 65th minute
7. Karl Lowe Replaced by Kaipati Gaualofa, 41st minute
8. Mike Coman
9. Frae Wilson Replaced by Kayne Hammington, 65th minutr
10. James Marshall
11. Parataiso Silafai-Leaana
12. Mike Lealava’a
13. Jayden Hayward (c)
14. Gillies Kaka Replaced by Star Timu, 52nd minute
15. Richard Buckman

Reserves
16. Rob Foreman
17. Arden David-Perrot
18. Dan Turner
19. Kaipati Gaualofa
20. Greg Lealofi
21. Kayne Hammington
22. Star Timu