New Zealand and Samoa face off in the first match of the Pool B, and we’re covering the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the big game which.
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is a big deal for us, being huge rugby league fans and love a minnow or two, and we’ll be covering all of the games throughout.
So visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the New Zealand v Samoa game.
NEW ZEALAND v SAMOA MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
NEW ZEALAND 38 (J.Rapana (4), S. Johnson (20), B. Takairangi (46), K. Nikorima (52), I. Liu (55), R. Tuivasa-Sheck (68), N. Asofa-Solomona (72) Tries, S. Johnson 5 Goals)
SAMOA 8 (K. Maumalo (36), Jo. Paulo (80) Tries)
How Did They Win?
You could say they won through the class of Shaun Johnson, a quality play maker who created much of the action throughout.
The NZ halfback was involved in a 1-2-1-2 exchange which led to the first try of the match in the 4th minute, and at the 20th minute he was backing up at the right time to score his only try.
New Zealand had to tough it out though, as Samoa got their first try in the 36th minute and had the momentum going into the break.
Shaun Johnson was at it again after half time as his kick led to their third try just five minutes after the break through Brad Takairangi after a Kiwi teammate knocked the ball out of the Samoans hand in the in goal. Isaac Liu joined Takairangi in the debut players try club, just after Kodi Nikorima dived on a kick. By then 10-4 half time break became 26-4 with over 25 minutes to go.
The Samoans never gave up, scoring right at the end for their second. Just a shame the Kiwis had scored another two in between to run out 38-8 winners.
What did we learn?
The favourites have done the job so far after the first 4 games, and New Zealand showed enough to say that the perceived issues in the camp shouldn’t stop them from semi finals. For all the talk of defections, the Kiwis still looked good.
Samoa played with loads of intensity and heart, but just lacked that finishing quality to get over the line, as evidenced by their mere two tries on the night. They had enough ball at the right end to get closer in the first half if not ahead. But NZ had Shaun Johnson, they didn’t.
The one referee has worked in the Australia v England and PNG v Wales games, with minimal interference, but if the one ref enjoys blowing the whistle like this game it doesn’t matter if there is one, two or five. There were 17 in this game against four in the Australia v England match.
What was the Moment of the Match?
The Kiwis pushing Samoa off the ball in a scrum in the 48th minute, in great field position just after scoring. It didn’t lead to another try straight away, but why wouldn’t more teams attempt to push the other side off the scrum. Not long after Joey Leilua kicks the ball out on the full with a horrible kick, and a minute after that Kodi Nikorima scores beside the posts and the score has quickly gone from 10-4 to 20-4 and the Samoans had lost that momentum gained at then end of the first half.
Any other bits and pieces?
- There was plenty of fire in the game with a scuffle breaking out after just 11 minutes, after some very unconvincing play on their line from NZ.
- Duelling pre game rituals is always great viewing.
- Young Tonumaipea has modern rugby league’s finest moustache.
- Bad luck to Gerard Beale with his injury. No one likes to see anyone carried from field on Medi Cab.
- The pitch invader looked to have done a very fine job evaded the security. A bit weak he was fully clothed.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
5 POINTS – SHAUN JOHNSON – Back from injury, and back on top of his game. Brilliant throughout.
4 POINTS – MARTIN TAUPAU – Continued on his great form for Manly with another display full of attitude and style.
3 POINTS – NELSON ASOFA SOLOMONA – The Storm forward was a handful for the Samoans. Rewarded with a try in the end.
2 POINTS – FRANK PRITCHARD – Big minutes and big stats for the Samoan big man. Who doesn’t like Big Frank, or any Frank.
1 POINT – ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK – showed some of the form which made him such a big name signing for the NRL New Zealand side.
MATCH PREVIEW
Who: NEW ZEALAND v SAMOA
Where and When: Saturday 28th Oct
When is it on TV? LIVE Channel 7Mate @ 5pm
What’s the Story?
With the Jason Taumalolo defection to Tonga taking up some of the pre Rugby League World Cup hype, and some talk of unrest after coach David Kidwell’s stance on the trouble makers from the Anzac Test earlier in the year, you could be forgiven to think New Zealand are vulnerable in Pool B. Then you have a look at their team they have named, and admire the quality that has been selected.
There’s a number of players in the team who had disappointing 2017 NRL seasons, and this is a chance to right the wrongs of the previous 6 months. Many involved in yet another underwhelming NZ Warriors campaign.
Samoa have also been under the shadow of Tonga leading up to the start of the Rugby League World Cup, but still have a very good side, and should compete with the Kiwis for a while at least. They have won their only trial game against NSW Country Under 23’s 40-26, a feat fellow Pool B team Scotland weren’t able to do.
Who Will Win and Why?
With the big match against Tonga coming up later in the first round, the Kiwis will need to get off to a winning start in their first game and will.
The big difference between the sides is in the spine, and they will no doubt be the difference, given the forward packs looked reasonably evenly matched. The Kiwis spine consists of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kodi Nikorima, Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai. Nothing wrong with their counterparts from Samoa, but on paper that looks a strong Kiwi side.
New Zealand by 18.
Who to watch for?
Shaun Johnson
Had his 2017 season cut short by an injury, and Kiwi and Warriors fans will be hoping he pulls some of his magic out of a hat for the World Cup.
Josh Papalii
The big unit probably cost himself Australian selection due to drop off in form in 2016 compared to previous seasons and get a chance on the big stage to battle it out with the Kiwi pack.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
NEW ZEALAND
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Gerard Beale 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Martin Taupau 9. Thomas Leuluai 10. Adam Blair (c) 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Joseph Tapine 13. Simon Mannering 14. Nelson Asofa Solomona 15. Russell Packer 16. Isaac Liu 17. Danny Levi 18. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 19. Peta Hiku 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Addin Fonua-Blake
SAMOA
- Young Tonumaipea 2. Peter Mata’utia 3. Tim Lafai 4. Joey Leilua 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Joseph Paulo 7. Ben Roberts 8. Sam Lisone 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Junior Paulo 11. Josh Papalii 12. Frank Pritchard 13. Leeson Ah Mau 14. Pita Godinet 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Suaia Matagi 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Zane Musgrove 19. Ricky Leutele 20. Frank Winterstein 21. Fa’amanu Brown
