The Kiwis are back – and what a way to do it.
This will be remembered as one of the best New Zealand victories of the last decade, as they prevailed over a classy Samoan outfit 36-14 in Sydney to take their second Pacific Championships title.
This is a great new rivalry in international league, after two epic matches in the space of three weeks put the tournament on the map and completely overshadowed the Kangaroos’ tour of England.
Sunday was another brilliant contest, worthy of a decider, with the final scoreline not really reflecting just how close it was.
The Kiwis had trailed 12-0 after 30 minutes but turned things around as their interchange forwards – especially Naufahu Whyte and Erin Clark – changed the mood of the match.
New Zealand were almost perfect in the second half, gradually grinding their opponents into the ground, as they scored five unanswered tries.
There were heroes aplenty for the Kiwis – from the inspirational Keano Kini at the back to everyone in the pack, who fronted up to their highly-rated opponents.
Playmaker Dylan Brown was again superb with the ball on a string, while 35-year-old Kieran Foran got the farewell he deserved as the oldest man to represent New Zealand in his 34th test.
Samoa will wonder what might have been – as they had chances either side of halftime to extend a 14-6 lead – but they couldn’t maintain their levels. It’s redemption for Stacey Jones after a difficult first campaign in 2024, with the losses to Australia and Tonga.
This feels like a new era, with an ideal balance of youth and experience, and gives great hope for the future. Samoa charged out of the blocks, as the Kiwis were untidy.
The Pacific team missed an early opportunity with Jarome Luai getting his pass wrong to Brian To’o, but the same duo made no mistake in the 11th minute, with To’o over after Luai created space, following a Junior Paulo break.
The Kiwis had chances but couldn’t take them.
A possible Jamayne Isaako try was scratched for a forward pass, before Briton Nikora was stopped by a brilliant tackle.
Brown was denied by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck over the try line, then Casey McLean was held up by three defenders.
That proved a turning point, as Samoa snaffled an intercept on the next play, with Simi Sasagi reading Foran’s attempted long pass to sprint 60 metres.
It summed up much of the Kiwis’ first half, as they were guilty of being too lateral with their attack.
After Brown went close again, only denied by a remarkable Payne Haas effort, New Zealand finally broke through in the 32nd minute with Clark setting up the powerful Whyte to power over near the posts.
Samoa were unlucky 15 seconds before halftime – with Deine Mariner adjudged to have not grounded the ball, which looked harsh, though equally the Pacific team were fortunate to have had the opportunity, after a tough penalty against Foran for an obstruction.
The Kiwis dodged another bullet early in the second half with Chanel Harris-Tavita over, before it was called back for a Tuivasa-Sheck knock-on.
New Zealand then got momentum with Isaiah Papali’i scoring a try, created by the speed and deception of Brown.
Samoa began to get a little ragged and an Issako penalty levelled the scoreboard, before Clark improbably bulldozed through three defenders to score.
The Kiwis had the ascendancy and prime attacking sets, with McLean eventually getting across, after more off-the-cuff magic from Brown following a Fisher-Harris offload, for a 24-14 advantage.
But an outrageous kickoff reception from Jarome Luai gave Samoa hope and they were only denied by desperate defence, with Joseph Tapine prominent.
Samoa then lost two players to HIAs – after brutal collisions – before late tries to Papali’I and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad sealed the deal.
Kiwis 36 (Naufahu Whyte, Isaiah Papali’i 2, Erin Clark, Casey McLean, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad tries; Jamayne Isaako 4 cons, 2 pens)
Samoa 14 (Brian To’o, Simi Sasagi tries; Blaize Talagi 2 cons, pen)
Halftime: 6-14
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.