Gen Blue, NSW’s team of emerging players, defeated the Samoa A side 17-14 at the TG Millner field on Friday to take its record to 2-0 in the Pacific Rugby Cup.
It was a close-run thing: Gen Blue were up 17-9 with 20 minutes to go but the visitors came back in the 4th quarter and could have snatched a draw, or even a victory, but three difficult penalty goal attempts in the last ten minutes, could not raise the flags.
First half
Both teams played at top pace and wanted to use the ball, but the wet ground made the ball slippery and bouts of drizzle did not help.
Hugh Roach was held up once over the line but the teams had trouble keeping the ball in hand long enough to keep the scoreboard ticking other than from kicks at goal.
At 25 minutes the score was even at 6-6 and it would probably have been better for the teams to play some pragmatic rugby. Kicking the ball down to the other end of the park and force mistakes seemed to be the way to go but it did not suite the nature of the players from either team.
So they kept dropping the ball, then the other team would get it and do the same.
Despite that there were some thrilling moves, and Gen Blue winger Joel Brooks had two close encounters with the Samoa goal-line—one after a fine run from 8. Jed Holloway—but was bashed into touch both times.
Both sides got close to the other team’s line but if it wasn’t the wet ball that stopped the teams getting over the line it was the rugged and well-organised defence of both sides.
At oranges both teams had slotted three penalty goals and the score was 9-9
Second half
The ball was just as wet in the second half but the teams had became accustomed to it and held the ball longer, which made for better rugby.
Gen Blue flyhalf David Horwitz moved the Gen Blue team up the field after the break but Samoa cleared well.
Soon afterwards Brooks hared up the left touchline (see photo above) for about 50 metres but he could not link up with the other winger, Cam Crawford, when he had to move inside.
That attack broke down but at 49 minutes the Samoa defence was sucked in and Horwitz moved the ball wide for Crawford to score near the corner post. The wide conversion attempt from Matt Lucas missed; so the score was 14-9 to Gen Blue with half an hour to go.
Samoa A looked down and out after Lucas kicked a penalty goal after a good break had set up field position for Gen Blue.
The home team was ahead 17-9 with 20 minutes remaining but, helped by the Samoans in the crowd, the visitors lifted and had their best period of the game.
With 13 minutes remaining they did everything right: they attracted defenders, moved the ball just in time, the passes stuck, they found the Gen Blues short out wide and winger Anitelea Tuilagi scored. The wide conversion missed but at 17-14 it was game on !!!
Despite the Gen Blues tactics in the last ten minutes of kicking the ball to the Samoa half of the field, the visitors kept returning. However they could not get close enough to force a kickable penalty goal and their three difficult attempts missed.
The final score was 17-14 to Gen Blue but there would have been no complaint had Samoa A drawn the game with one of those missed penalty goals at the end, or won it with two.
Apart from the unfortunate conditions and the willingness of the players to use the ball despite them, the biggest feature was the physicality of both sides. We’re all used to the Samoans playing a brutal style of rugby but the Gen Blues were just as tough. It is encouraging that both the senior Waratahs and the Gen Blue team are showing a joy of contact.
This fellow behind me was yahooing about the “unbelievable” hard hits and was encouraging Seilala Lam to be involved in even more of them. I turned around and it was Jacques Potgieter. He knows a thing or two about hard hits
The difference in the teams was the experience and high training levels of the Super Rugby contracted players and Extended Playing Squad. Had the visitors had that level of preparation they would have won.
The halves of 9. Matt Lucas and 10, David Horwitz made a lot of great choices and 8. Jed Holloway had some cracking moments. Lock Greg Peterson had another physical game and winger Cam Crawford, with Michael Cheika watching, demonstrated that he is ready to step up, if needed.
Some of the Waratahs’ Invited Players had good moments also: hookers Hugh Roach and Seilala Lam, winger Joel Brooks, and centre Mali Hingano, who has joined the group recently, all put their hands up for future consideration.
See report on the first Gen Blue match v. ACT A here
See below for gallery of photos of Gen Blue v. Samoa A. All photos by Lee Grant.
