What's the point of the Samoa game?

[barbarian]

I think this game is a good idea. Firstly because we need to do it for Samoa's development, and to give them (and us) valuable match practice for the World Cup. Sure it won't be a cracker of a game, or draw a huge crowd. That is why I am a fan of the ARU putting this on a Sunday arvo and making it a 'family day' with cheap ticket deals for kids. Sensible marketing, and good PR for the Wallabies.

 

[Danix]

They are also offering two game packages for the Springboks and Samoa games. If you buy a Springboks ticket you can also go to the Samoa game for an extra $10.

 

[Tangawizi]

We will play teams worse than Samoa in the RWC. And with our only other hitouts before the RWC coming against a probably 2nd string Boks team, the AB's twice and then the real Boks, this will be an important trial match for us.

But I also agree that the game was needed to fulfil contractual rights with the stadium & also generate some revenue for the ARU in what will be a poor year financially.

That said, 2013 will be a gold mine for Australian Rugby. The Lions plus Arg, Boks & Ab's. Can't wait for that.

 

[Bullrush]

I agree that's why you get him capped in a minnow game. He won't make the 22 for the 3N, so if he doesn't play against Samoa, he'll be eligible for Tonga in the RWC.

Give him a run this year so he'll be a Wallaby for life. Hence when he is a real contender he'll be available.

Also what part of Vickerman's 10 minutes of Rugby this year made you think he was at test level?

With Manu Samoa being my '2nd' team....I hate this bullshit. It ruins world rugby.

If Timani isn't good enough to be a Wallaby now then don't cap him. Let him make the decision about whether he will play for Tonga at the RWC or if he thinks he'll be good enough in the future and hence turn-down Tonga and wait.

Alternatively (and preferably) the IRB Laws need to change to allow these guys to go back and play for 2nd-tier nations if they play for 1st-tier nations but are discarded....otherwise it's a big loss for the world game.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

Seriously what's the point of this game.

let me ask you a question - what is the point of rugby in general?

 

[Ruggo]

Didn't we need to play two two games at ANZ contractually? If it was in Samoa's interests, we would be playing in Samoa or if it was in Australias interest we would be playing in a more regional area. It is a test and it must be respected.

 

[Joe Mac]

I think we should play more games agains the island nations not less. I would love to see annual matches against these guys and some other minnow nations. Potentially Australia A & NZ A entered into a competition with these guys as well as nations like Japan etc. They could play the game as a curtain raiser to the 4n's. I would definitely go and watch

 

[Crow]

The Samoa match is also an afternoon match with good family ticket prices.
It's an opportunity to present rugby as a family outing and possibly the only way I could afford to take the whole clan to a Wallabies game

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

With Manu Samoa being my '2nd' team....I hate this bullshit. It ruins world rugby.

If Timani isn't good enough to be a Wallaby now then don't cap him. Let him make the decision about whether he will play for Tonga at the RWC or if he thinks he'll be good enough in the future and hence turn-down Tonga and wait.

Alternatively (and preferably) the IRB Laws need to change to allow these guys to go back and play for 2nd-tier nations if they play for 1st-tier nations but are discarded....otherwise it's a big loss for the world game.

I agree and think it would be cynical of us to pick him if we didn't honestly think he was Wallaby material. However, a couple of things: we've not had a history of doing this in the past (I'm struggling to think of many examples) and it would be Timani's choice if he wanted to play for Australia or not. He could say no, but it might also affect his chances of playing for the Tahs. All of those things he'd have to weigh up.

 

[Epi]

Radike Samo? Could have had a lot more than 6 caps playing for Fiji (assuming he doesn't get picked in the Wallabies squad again - which he should..)

 

[mudskipper]

Timani was rapped in so much tape at last weeks match I'm not sure he is up to playing international rugby... He looked more like Steve larkham at the end of his career...

 

[Ruggo]

Radike Samo? Could have had a lot more than 6 caps playing for Fiji (assuming he doesn't get picked in the Wallabies squad again - which he should..)

Samo kind of dug his own grave by not sticking around to be fair. He would of played many more tests I think.

 

[Slim 293]

Samo kind of dug his own grave by not sticking around to be fair. He would of played many more tests I think.

Not really...

Samo's problem was that his form dropped considerably...

He was a star at the Brumbies in 2004 which led him to get a Wallaby gig...

The following year he slipped down to the bench

The year after that he struggled to even make the bench...

He's slowly worked his way back to good form, but this would definitely have to be his last shot at test glory...

 

[Slim 293]

Radike Samo? Could have had a lot more than 6 caps playing for Fiji (assuming he doesn't get picked in the Wallabies squad again - which he should..)

Samo's form in 2004 saw him deservedly rewarded with a Wallaby cap...

At the time Jones was also looking to move away from the dual openside backrow that Australia had gone with the previous year and Samo seemed like the perfect candidate for 6...

Unfortunately he didn't make the most of his opportunity, Jones went back to playing Smith and Waugh, and in the following two years Samo's form went bad...

 

[Ruggo]

So he dig his own grave so to speak but by different means?

 

[Slim 293]

So he dig his own grave so to speak but by different means?

Pretty much...

His handling especially went to shit...

He slipped down the pecking order behind Chisholm, Campbell, Wallace-Harrison and Finegan/Heenan...

This following a period where he overtook Giffen (who was the Wallaby lineout general the previous year) in the starting xv...

 

[TheNextBigThing]

With Manu Samoa being my '2nd' team....I hate this bullshit. It ruins world rugby.

With New Zealand being your '1st' team, I'd say that's a case of "people in glass houses".

For better or worse, it's the way of the world. He has the hallmarks of a future Wallaby and we should capitalize on that early.

 

[Clawhammer]

Pretty much...

His handling especially went to shit...

He slipped down the pecking order behind Chisholm, Campbell, Wallace-Harrison and Finegan/Heenan...

This following a period where he overtook Giffen (who was the Wallaby lineout general the previous year) in the starting xv...

Yeah - that whole episode was pretty strange. I seem to remember him turning down a massive deal from Newcastle to stay in Australia and he barely played another game.

 

[Slim 293]

Yeah - that whole episode was pretty strange. I seem to remember him turning down a massive deal from Newcastle to stay in Australia and he barely played another game.

There seems to be this conception amongst people that Samo was only picked so he couldn't play for Fiji, which was rubbish...

He was excellent in the Super 12 for the Brumbies (who won the final that year), and he deserved a chance...

The ARU could've easily let him go as he'd already signed on overseas but at the time it was worth pursuing...

Unfortunately Samo just faded...

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think Samo isn't a great example to support the poaching argument. He was brilliant for the Brumbies, totally earned a Wallaby spot and then couldn't sustain the form. If we're using him as an example, then I guess Willie O and Ilie Tabua are too.