Test Rugby Results Saturday 18 July

18.07.2009
New Zealand 22, Australia 17 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup; Tri Nations)
Samoa 73, Papua New Guinea 12 in Port Moresby (WCQ Oc. R2; 2nd leg)
Niger 5, Ghana 3 in Tsevie (CAR Develop. Trophy, North: Final)
Burkino Faso 7, Togo 5 in Tsevie (CAR Dev. Trophy, North: Playoff 3rd-4th)
Nigeria 5, Mali 0 in Tsevie (CAR Develop. Trophy, North: Playoff 5th-6th)
Benin 29, Togo ‘B’ 0 in Tsevie (CAR Dev. Trophy, North: Playoff 7th-8th)

Reviews
A good win to New Zealand over Australia started the Tri Nations series. I could help but think the atmosphere at Eden Park didn't come near the atmosphere in Pretoria for the Lions' second test against South Africa. Is the Tri Nations dying?

Samoa recorded a very predictable win in Port Moresby which sees them automatically qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In Africa, Niger won the CAR Development North Trophy for 2009.

Rugby Test: Samoa in Papua New Guinea

18.07.2009
Samoa v Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby (WCQ Oceania R2 Playoff)

Venue: Lloyd Robson Oval

Preview
Samoa gave the Papua New Guineans a mother of a hiding last weekend in Apia. The 115-7 score line was a disaster for the visitors, who, whilst not expected to win, were expected to give a good showing. Now, the locals will be in damage control mode, hoping to keep the score below the century, and hopefully below fifty. Their only hope is that Samoa could not bring their best team, the trip to PNG from Apia took forever and that the local water will bring half the Samoan team to their knees.

“The game this weekend is a very serious one for us. The Pukpuks have had a chance to review last week’s match and they would have identified areas to plug and counter the gaps we found last week. I expect they will improve as a result. They will be very hard to beat, because they will be playing in front of their home crowd, they will be playing for pride and respect and they believe they have a chance to win as they feel we are weakened by some of our players that are unavailable.”says Manu Samoa Assistant Coach, Fepulea’i Patu from Port Moresby.

And comment from PNG coach Billy Rapilla..“The boys were a little conservative in Apia but we’re now focused on their own game. It was all mental for our boys. We will need a stronger frame of mind come tomorrow,” he said. The scoreline was not indicative of how well the Pukpuks can play “but of how bad we can get when we let our concentration falter”.

Coments thanks to http://www.samoarugbyunion.ws/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=303&Itemid=1

Last weekend's game was the first played between these two Oceania nations.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Oceania Table-Samoa 4th, PNG 6th

Prediction: Well, it won't be like last week's bloodbath but I expect the Samoans, even if most are local players, will just have too much power for the locals. The young Samoans will be looking ahead to further opportunities in the Samoan team for 2010, and then the World Cup in 2011, and even for club contracts overseas. For them there is a lot to play for.
Samoa to win by 50.

Teams

Samoa
15. Titi Esau
14. Mikaele Pesamino
13. Gavin Williams (c)
12. Eliota Fuimaono – Sapolu
11. Esera Lauina
10. Lolo Lui
9. Uale Mai
8. Semo Sititi
7. Ofisa Treviranus
6. Afa Aiono
5. Simaika Mikaele
4. Nifo Nifo
3. Fosi Palaamo
2. Andrew Williams
1. Ernest Skelton

Reserves
16. Heroshi Tea
17. Roy-Siu Tolufale
18. Logovi’i Mulipola
19. Notise Tauafao
20. Alatasi Tupou
21. Pesamino Alauni
22. Meki Magele

Head Coach: Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua

http://www.samoarugbyunion.ws/index.php%20...%203&Itemid=1

The probable Pukpuks
Westley Thomas
Kapua Kapua
Adam Hill
Willie Rikis
Aaron Miai
Alex Haija
Ray Vagi
Yaisuo Giheno
Lawrence Acanufa
Edwin Noki
David Eri
Ray Romalus
Chris Hogi
Roland Namo
Jack Maraha
Amean, Meria
Charlie Maips
Philip Suapo
Frank Genia
Gina Ponda
Richard Mark

Head Coach: Billy Rapilla

http://www.thenational.com.pg/071709/sport1.php

Test Rugby This Weekend 18 July

18.07.2009
Australia v New Zealand in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup; Tri Nations)
Papua New Guinea v Samoa in Port Moresby (WCQ Oceania R2; 2nd leg)
Niger v Ghana in Tsevie (CAR Develop. Trophy, North: Final)
Togo v Burkino Faso in Tsevie (CAR Develop. Trp, North: Playoff 3rd-4th)
Mali v Nigeria in Tsevie (CAR Develop. Trophy, North: Playoff 5th-6th)
Benin v Togo ‘B’ in Tsevie (CAR Develop. Trophy, North: Playoff 7th-8th)

Test Match: Papua New Guinea Challenges Samoa

11.07.2009
Samoa v Papua New Guinea in Apia (WCQ Oceania R2 Final, 1st leg)

Preview
Papua New Guinea earned the right to challenge Samoa for a place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup finals with a 29-21 win over the Cook Islands in Port Moresby last weekend. PNG has never managed to get past the big three of Pacific Island rugby before and they will face a daunting task.

Samoa, fresh from their Pacific Nations Cup campaign will be too strong for their lesser experienced rivals. The Samoan team is not as strong as that that took part in the Pacific Nations Cup.

These two teams have never met before.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Oceania Table-Samoa 3rd, Papua New Guinea 6th

Prediction: Samoa by 42 points.

Teams

Manu Samoa Squad
FORWARDS
Andrew Williams
Mahonri Schwalger
Census Johnston
Fosi Palaamo
Ernest Skelton
Heroshi Tea
Daniel Leo
Filipo Levi
Semo Sititi
Jonathan Faamatuainu
Ofisa Treviranus
George Stowers
Misioka Timoteo
Simaika Mikaele

BACKS
Tauafao
Alatasi Tupou
Ki Anufe
Eliota Fuimaono
Seilala Maposua
Gavin Williams
Henry Faafili
Lolo Lui
Esera Lauina
Reupena Levasa
Uale Mai
Pesamino Alauni
Titi Esau
Mikaele Pesamino

Head Coach: Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua

http://www.samoarugbyunion.ws/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=32&Itemid=254

Not involved
Alesana Tuilagi (wing, Leicester)
Henry Tuilagi (back row, Perpignan)
Salosi Tagicakibau (wing, London Irish)
Justin Va'a (Prop, Glasgow)
Joe Tekori (2nd Row, Castres)
David Lemi (wing, Wasps)

Papua New Guinea Squad
Lawrence Acanufa
Shane Amean
Peatrie Birney
David Eri
Paul Genia
Yaisuo Giheno
Alex Haija
Adam Hill
Chris Hogi
Chris Kakah
Kapua Kapua
Desmond Korpork
Charlie Maips
Jack Maraha
Namo Mark
Richard Mark
Aaron Miai
Edwin Noki
Gina Ponda
Rikis (capt)
Ray Romalus (vc)
Philip Suapo
Westley Thomas
Ray Vagi
Head Coach: Billy Rapilla

Out injured
Emmanuel Auru
Manu Gairo Jr
http://www.samoarugbyunion.ws/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=32&Itemid=254

International Test Rugby This Weekend 11-12 July

11.07.2009
Canada v United States in Edmonton (WCQ Americas R2, Playoff 2nd leg)
Samoa v Papua New Guinea in Apia (WCQ Oceania R2, 1st leg)
Kenya v Morocco in Safi (CAR Trophy, North: Final)
Senegal v Cameroun in Safi (CAR Trophy, North; Playoff 3rd-4th)
Burkino Faso v Nigeria in Tsévié (CAR Dev.Trophy, North, Pool B)
Ghana v Chad in Tsévié (CAR Development Trophy, North, Pool B)

12.07.2009
Niger v Mali in Tsévié (CAR Development Trophy, North, Pool A)
Togo v Benin in Tsévié (CAR Development Trophy, North, Pool A)

International Test Rugby Results for 27 June

27.06.2009
South Africa 28, British and Irish Lions 25 in Pretoria (2nd test)
New Zealand 27, Italy 6 in Christchurch
Australia 22, France 6 in Sydney
Japan 21,Tonga 19 in Lautoka (Pacific Nations Cup)
Fiji 19, Samoa 14 in Lautoka (Pacific Nations Cup)
Tunisia 38, Uganda 13 in Tunis (WCQ Africa R2, SF: Africa Cup SF)-result TBC
Namibia 54, Ivory Coast 14 in Windhoek (WCQ Africa R2: Africa Cup SF)
Papua New Guinea 86, Vanuatu 12 in Port Moresby (WCQ Oceania R1, SF 1)
Cook Islands 29, Niue 7 in Pukekohe, NZ (WCQ Oceania R1, SF 2)