RWC: Russia v Samoa (Pool A)
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Probably the best side Samoa could put out but I'm a bit iffy on Vui at 6 as I would prefer Fa'asalele there instead. Happy to see Amosa at 8 but I think Ioane will go back there once Lam returns. A shame that Malolua got injured but Polataivao has always played well in Samoa colours.
Providing Samoa get away unscathed here, it could be all on against Scotland.
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@African-Monkey said in RWC: Russia v Samoa (Pool A):
Probably the best side Samoa could put out but I'm a bit iffy on Vui at 6 as I would prefer Fa'asalele there instead. Happy to see Amosa at 8 but I think Ioane will go back there once Lam returns. A shame that Malolua got injured but Polataivao has always played well in Samoa colours.
Providing Samoa get away unscathed here, it could be all on against Scotland.
I think the Lam/TJ combo works quite well.
Goes to show how few tests Samoa play as Tusi Pisi has been around for eons and only played 40 odd tests.
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@ACT-Crusader Yeah I like Amosa a lot, but Ioane is the frontrunner at 8 which I have no problems with. You could play them both, but it would leave them a bit short in the backrow, hence Vui getting selected despite the fact he lacks the physicality to be a good 6.
Yeah not ideal that Pisi continues to get picked. They clearly don't trust Fa'apale or Leuila to take the side forward and if Pisi went down, I think they'd move Nanai-Williams to 10 ahead of Alatimu.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: Russia v Samoa (Pool A):
Wow they have picked the exact same side.
I guess they don’t rate the rest of the squad?? A very short gap
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@Duluth said in RWC: Russia v Samoa (Pool A):
@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: Russia v Samoa (Pool A):
Wow they have picked the exact same side.
I guess they don’t rate the rest of the squad?? A very short gap
Or Russia has the driest powder of all...
Slowish start for both sides. A few errors
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What a touch finder by the Russian 1st 5.
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Argh, should’ve taken the 3 points. Get on the board.
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Now the Russian pack send a message at scrum time sending the Samoan pack back on skates.
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@ACT-Crusader Doesn't help when Matu'u puts in a shocking throw.
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TNW nice vision and pass.
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Pisi misses the conversion.
5-0 Samoa
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Russian backline play is stagnant to say the least. Lots of shovelling
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5-3 Samoa
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Ala'alatoa having a difficult time on the tighthead side.
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How good do the Russian 9 and 15 look?
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Russian captain and fullback nice little move and they make good field position.
Problem Russian has is they commit so many numbers to the breakdown that they don’t have enough attackers/support players out wide.
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Now 6-5 Russia
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Ouch and ouch
