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Home / Sport / Rugby / Rugby World Cup

<I>David Kirk:</I> Samoans' lack of depth cruelly exposed

11 Nov, 2003 03:50 AM4 mins to read

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COMMENT

South Africa tackled a Samoan team in their final pool match that could not repeat the intensity, accuracy and quality of their England performance.

The lack of depth, experience and world-class quality in the gallant Samoan team was badly exposed.

We should not be surprised that they were well beaten by South
Africa. The surprise was that they performed so well against England.

The inequities which see a small Pacific Island country, which produces per capita the best rugby players in the world, unable to field its best team in the World Cup have been picked over by many commentators.

I will not elaborate, except to say that while Samoan hopes for a quarter-final have died, the issue must not.

The suggestion of a combined Samoan, Tongan and Fijian team is not the answer. Samoa and Fiji, in particular, have the capacity to be world forces in their own right. Putting them together will not improve their long-term outlook.

I think the combined team would be weaker that the national teams and would actually undermine the strength of the constituent teams. Fewer players would get international exposure, not more.

The heart of the issue needs to be addressed. Until players from Samoa, Fiji or Tonga who are not selected for another country are eligible to play for the country of their birth, their parents' birth or their grandparents' birth regardless of where they live, the problem will not be solved.

South Africa played their most fluent and inventive rugby all season against Samoa. The Samoan defence gave them plenty of latitude, but the Springboks still showed an ability to run lines, time passes and finish that was a revelation.

They really are not bad at all in the backs. I don't think this will help them too much against New Zealand. As we saw against England, they cannot cope with a muscular, well- organised defence. They may try to open up the game against the All Blacks but when they are shut down they will go back into their shell.

A full year ago a new type of South African team seemed to be emerging. In their last few matches in 2002 they played open, attacking, running rugby. And then they lost their nerve and went back into their low-risk shell.

The quarter-final for the All Blacks against the Springboks will be as tough and uncompromising as the two great rivals' matches have always been. But the two teams are on different levels when it comes to organisation, preparation and talent.

The All Blacks have to be able to beat a team they have beaten twice this year already and who have already lost convincingly to England in the tournament.

The Wallabies continue to underwhelm. A lot will be said about the fire and intensity of the Irish performance and they do deserve credit, not only for their passion but also for their discipline and professionalism.

The best that can be said of Australia is that they maintained their composure, ground out the victory and can now look ahead to an easy quarter-final.

But there is not much there to worry the All Blacks.

If the match were to be played at Eden Park, as it would have been had New Zealand not lost the right to co-host the tournament, the All Blacks would be at very short odds to take out the Wallabies.

The main thing in Australia's favour now is the home crowd and the players' desperation not to be losers in their own country.

A few of the Wallabies' problems: a weak scrum, an unbalanced back-row, a one-dimensional No. 8, a geriatric centre, a weak kicker at first five-eighth, a winger who dies with the ball and a halfback struggling for form.

On the credit side, they have a very good goalkicker, a top lineout, a strong team spirit, plenty of experience and George Smith. I add up the debits and the credits and I don't come up with the Wallabies in the final.

I have long thought that the All Blacks have the toughest run to the final of any of the likely winners.

I still think this is the case, but France now have a challenge very nearly as difficult.

Ireland in the quarters and England in the semis is tough.

I am increasingly of the view that France can go all the way to the final and with the draw they now have it would definitely be in New Zealand's interest if they did.

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