Big-hitting Samoans upset Wallabies
Samoa scored one of their most famous upsets of all time when they upstaged Australia in their international in Sydney on Sunday.
Despite being reduced to 14 men for repeated infringements just before half-time, the Samoans led form start to finish to win 32-23 and literally rain on the Wallabies' party.
The win can easily compare with the World Cup victories Samoa scored over Wales (38-31 in 1999) and Argentina twice (32-26 in 1996 and 35-12 in 1991).
Then there was the famous 40-25 win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 1996 and a 1994 victory (34-9) over Wales.
On Sunday they outscored the Wallabies by four tries to two, but it was their courage on defence - with some typical big hits - that managed to disrupt a Wallaby second string.
The hosts never found their rhythm and even when they put some big names on the park in the second half they managed to breach the Samoan defence just once.
There is no doubt the team ranked second on the IRB standings, Australia, was outplayed by the big-hearted Samoans - this setback coming just a week away from the Wallabies' Tri-Nations opener with South Africa and only months before the World Cup in New Zealand.
Tenth-ranked Samoa ambushed the Australians with a 17-0 lead inside the opening half-hour and although the Wallabies pulled back to trail 17-13 minutes after half-time, that was as close as they got.
Samoa got off to a flyer when Leicester Tigers wing Alesana Tuilagi raced 80 metres to score off a turnover.
The powerful Tuilagi beat off Matt Giteau's tackle to score in the 11th minute and crowned his runaway try with an extravagant swan dive in-goal.
Tusi Pisi added the conversion to his earlier penalty goal to give the Pacific Islanders a 10-0 lead.
Australia were shell-shocked.
The Wallabies passed up a possible 12 points by electing to run the ball from four penalties in the opening 20 minutes, but Giteau was forced to take a 45-metre penalty attempt, which he missed.
The Samoans continued to pressure the home side and were rewarded when debutant scrumhalf Nick Phipps had his clearing kick charged down for fullback Paul Williams to score in the 29th minute.
Pisi's conversion gave Samoa a stunning 17-0 lead.
South African referee Marius Jonker lost patience with Samoa for repeated infringements and lock Daniel Leo was yellow carded for hands in the ruck.
The Wallabies used their superior numbers in the scrum to position wing Digby Ioane to score a converted try two minutes before half-time.
Giteau reduced the deficit to seven points with a penalty on the half-time siren for the Wallabies to trail 10-17.
The Australians edged closer just after the resumption with Giteau's second penalty, but Samoa again rocked the home side with their third try minutes later.
Samoa kept the ball alive and No.8 George Stowers sent lock Kane Thompson charging over wide out for a 22-13 lead.
The Wallabies fell further behind when Phipps and Adam Ashley-Cooper fumbled Tuilagi's kick for centre George Pisi to ground the ball over the try-line under a mass of bodies. It required the intervention of the TMO, but he confirmed the score.
Brother Tusi converted to extend the lead to 29-13 as concerned Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans sent on star backs Will Genia and Kurtley Beale as reinforcements with the game heading into the last quarter.
Tusi Pisi kept Samoa in control with a 66th-minute penalty before Giteau gave the Australians some hope with a try out wide after a kick and regather from replacement forward Scott Higginbotham.
But the hard-working Samoans held on in the rain and rejoiced wildly as the full-time siren sounded to register possibly their biggest achievement.
Man of the match: Scott Higginbotham made a real impact in the final quarter, after coming on as replacement, but the real heroes were in the Samoan team. Our award goes to Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi - who set the tone with the first try and kept it up with some monster hits.
Moment of the match: The Alesana Tuilagi try in the 12th minute - when he raced 80 metres downfield after the ball popped out at the side of a ruck, after the Wallabies failed to secure their own possession. Quick thinking and slick hands gave the ball to Alesana Tuilagi, who easily goose-stepped Matt Giteau and raced over. It set the tone for the rest of the match and gave the Samoans real belief.
Villain of the match: You would be tempted to give it to Samoan lock Daniel Leo, for his yellow card, but he was on the end of a string of offences and warnings. It was wrong, but an act of desperation. There were only heroes in this match.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Ioane, Giteau
Cons: Giteau 2
Pens: Giteau 3
For Samoa:
Tries: Tuilagi, Williams, Thompson, G Pisi
Cons: T Pisi 3
Pens: T Pisi 2
Yellow card: Daniel Leo (Samoa, 37 - repeated ruck infringements)
Teams:
Wallabies: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Adam Ashley Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson, 8 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Pekahou Cowan, 18 Dan Vickerman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Will Genia, 22 Kurtley Beale.
Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi , 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 George Stowers, 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 6 Taisina Tuifu'a, 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (captain), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Filipo Lavea Levi, 19 Manaia Salavea, 20 Brenton Helleur, 21 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, 22 James So'oialo.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
AFP and rugby365.com