Summary
Michael Cheika was asked at half-time what he thought of the performance, and he cut a pretty contented figure. On the basis of the first 40 minutes, you’d say he had every right to.
A less than glowing second forty from Australia perhaps - a lot of replacements, a lot of tired bodies with a very heavy workload going into this game, but they did enough in the end, and the late lift to score the closing try would have pleased the Australian camp.
Most importantly, they’ve come through unscathed, the players from a tough, bruising encounter. It sets Australia up nicely for the World Cup.
Plenty of landmarks for individual players - legends of the game like Sekope Kepu and Tatafu Polota-Nau saying goodbye to the gold jersey.
Samoa for their part were hugely impressive in patches, but will need to address their lineout ahead of the World Cup.
But it’s all eyes to the future, now: Bring. On. Japan.
So - much in the entrails of that one to examine?
Full credit to Manu Samoa who really gave as good as they got in that second half. The expectation was that the Pasifika nation might fade around the 60-70 minute mark given the relative lack of international rugby they’ve played (comparative to Australia) but if anything they lifted - and but for a disappointing lineout could have really made the last 20 minutes very interesting.
It’s a slightly flat David Pocock who speaks on behalf of the Wallabies post-game. Is he just shattered or does he not rate Rod Kafer? Terse, one-line answers from the stand-in captain.
Will Genia is more effusive: “Body’s a bit sore - some tough hits out there.” “Really excited for the World Cup. The first game is important for how we want to set the tone - it’s going to be similar to this game, physical and plenty of flair”.
Full-time: Australia 34-15 Manu Samoa
And that’s all she wrote! It’s a scoreline that flatters the Wallabies in fairness, as they fight back to level the second half 12-12 after an impressive first half. They head off to Japan with no key injuries (Adam Coleman’s finger the only “watch”). Not so Samoa who will rue that potentially serious injury to halfback Scott Malolua.
Updated
Try! Australia 34-15 Manu Samoa (Toomua)
80 min: Australia run it wide as the hooter sounds. Phipps puts Banks through a hole before quick ball again creates the chance. It’s another with Samoan heritage that rubs salt in the wounds right at the death.
Foley takes his time once again with the kick, but shanks it to finish with 2/6.
Updated
78 min: Smiles on the bench for Genia and Pocock. They’ve come through big shifts tonight and many in gold will be relieved just to have come through this tough physical examination unscathed with the Japan World Cup just around the corner.
77 min: Big hit from Tupou! He’s come in for plenty and you just sensed he was ready to hand some back out, and he earns the turnover for Australia, inside their own 10m.
Terrific hands from James O’Connor to send Banks away, before Phipps is clattered in the tackle and it’s ball to ground. We’ve another break as a Samoan front-rower receives some medical attention.
75 min: They’re back under the sticks - but once again, there’s a forward pass and no try! We come back for a late tackle on Pisi. They kick for touch and go again, Samoa.
74 min: They hold their own lineout - gee it’s come under pressure tonight - but it’s forced backwards and Samoa have to work hard to try and get some forward momentum.
72 min: A debut for Rob Valetini, the rising 21-year-old talent, as Australia empty their bench completely. Another injury break but the Samoan replacement forward seems okay.
Try! Australia 29-15 Manu Samoa (Haylett-Petty)
70 min: They’re desperate for some points, Australia - they haven’t got any since the major break, and eventually, it’s Haylett-Petty who crashes over. Too strong one-on-one. Some patient phases with quick ball - a nice little burst from Polota-Nau and they rode the momentum home.
Foley slots the conversion. He took his time, and that one looked a lot better.
Updated
68 min: Haylett-Petty with a good break, but Blue bodies prevent the ball inside to a support runner. There’s a knock on, as Will Genia also leaves the pitch for the last time on Australian soil and it’s Nick Phipps he enters the fray.
66 min: Samoa on the attack - their tails are up - but would you believe it: Simmons has spoiled the lineout!
They’re literally throwing this one away, Samoa. We spoke about the memorable 2011 upset, but if they could land their set-pieces tonight, they’d be right in with a sniff of another memorable performance.
64 min: So. Time for the older heads to calm some frustrations in Australia. The veteran Polota-Nau enters the fray in his final Test match - can he help calm the front row? Since the man they call “Tongan Thor” entered the play for Australia he’s copped some absolute attention (unsurprisingly given the rivalry between those two Pasifika nations). They need to refocus, the men in gold & green.
Updated
Try! Australia 22-15 Manu Samoa (Polataivao)
62 min: HELLO. It’s a flowing backline move - some suspicion of an obstruction to take Dempsey out of the line - but they work it through the hands and it’s the replacement halfback, Polataivao, who ends up with it under the sticks!
It was a huge misfortune that saw him enter the contest, but hasn’t he made the most of his opportunity with a brace.
The kick is successful - and suddenly, we’re game on again!
60 min: Penalty against Simmons for not rolling away and Samoa look to build some momentum.
Yikes. They’ve pinched FIVE of Samoa’s thirteen lineouts, Australia. If they could iron that out, Manu Samoa, they’d really be starting to put themselves back in this game.
58 min: Luke Jones this time with the lineout steal! They pinched another one, Australia. But they don’t capitalise as a loose carry - Genia tries the clever inside ball, but this time Jones isn’t on the same wavelength and it’s ball to ground. Shame, a try begging for the fringe Wallaby.
57 min: Genia with a terrific one-minute cameo. It’s a clever dart and flicked inside ball, before on his next collect he drops it on the toe and rolls a smart kick for the corner. Can Australia pressure the Samoan lineout again?
56 min: Adam Coleman leaves the field with a suspected hand/thumb injury. Let’s hope that doesn’t have World Cup ramifications. He was collected in a huge tackle - it was halfback on second-rower, but the hunger more than made up for the size mismatch! Gregan-esque hit.
54 min: And Australia look to shuffle their front row and inject some fresh bodies. Let’s see if that will arrest the scrum superiority that Samoa have suddenly found.
Australia stung into action and back on the attack, but they’ve earned the penalty, Samoa as the Wallaby runner gets isolated and doesn’t release.
Updated
Try! Australia 22-8 Manu Samoa (Polataivao)
And finally! It’s a strong Samoan scrum, and they’ve got the forward momentum once again. Amosa peels off the back and it’s the replacement half who picks up the easiest of scampers to the line. Just desserts - especially for their scrum dominance over the last five-ten minutes.
Unsuccessful with the conversion attempt. It was a tricky one.
51 min: A great push from the Samoan pack and they win another penalty. But once again they can’t win their own attacking line out!
It’s been one area that would frustrate the Manu Samoan coaching staff - on two or three occasions they’ve done the hard work to create chances, but they’ve failed to close them out.
49 min: A well-worked lineout from Manu Samoa but they turnover possession. Australia from just inside their half, but it’s a loose carry in return from the men in gold, Kepu at fault.
It’s been, as you’d expect pretty physical out there, so a few tired bodies. Kepu leaves the pitch - not the immediate sendoff he’d have wanted on his final game on Australian soil, but he receives a tremendous send off, and applauds the crowd in turn.
47 min: Huge defence! It was Koroibete again proving the danger man as Australia looked to burst through. They swing wide and it’s Toomua who’s bundled into touch. Two Wallabies appeared to get in each others’ way and the Samoan defence was unforgiving. Great work.
45 min: They pinch the throw! Coleman with a great leap, but Uelese puts it down. Chance bombed - that’s all come from that impressive Haylett-Petty clearance kick.
Samoa go to the bench, and the men in Blue take the breather before setting down for a scrum feed. And they’ve earned a scrum penalty.
44 min: It’s a deep passing line they’re working with tonight, Samoa, and they’re ceding a lot of territory ball-in-hand. Australia looking well-organised in defence - there haven’t been a lot of line breaches tonight.
Dane Haylett-Petty with a brilliant kick from inside his half, and he rolls a ball a few metres inside the far post. Lovely stuff.
42 min: Tom Banks flies bravely into a wall of bodies in Blue from a bombed kick, but he doesn’t hang onto it. Samoa now with the field position, but Australia look to boom clear from their own line. Samoa on the attack from just inside their half.
Second half!
And we’re back underway, with Australia kicking off. They go short but Samoa are alive to the danger and eventually boom a clearing kick before Australia look to attack ball-in-hand from around halfway.
So - your impressions on that opening stanza?
More impressive than England v Italy, but not quite New Zealand v Tonga, from the Wallabies?
They’ve not been poor, Samoa, and went close to getting a try of their own, only for Michael Alaalatoa’s effort to be denied by an illegal clearout in the lead up. There could be a case to argue that they’re a little unlucky to go in by this margin - but it’s definitely been a disciplined, solid performance from Australia.
Disagree with any of that? Drop us an email or tweet to join the conversation. Let us know too who’s impressed you, and who’s stated a case to be considered a starter against Fiji in a fortnight’s time.
Updated
Half-time: Australia 22-3 Manu Samua
40 min: Nanai-Williams with a terrific try-saving tackle on Haylett-Petty. Wonderful desperation from the fullback and he prevents further damage on the scoreboard.
And there, finally, is the whistle for half-time. It’s a comfortable lead for the home side, who have in large measure been good value for their lead.
Updated
40 min: Samoa look to burst away! But there’s an infringement in the scrum in the lead up. We reset again. The fans are getting their full money’s worth of this opening “forty” minutes. What can Australia make from this set piece?
40 min: So we’re back with a scrum feed after that lengthy injury break, and the Samoan No 9 leaves the field on a motorised stretcher. Devastating.
40 min: An injury concern for the Samoan half-back. Ouch. That’s not pretty - it could be a dislocated shoulder; not the debut he’d have dreamed of, Scott Malolua. Let’s hope this doesn’t put his World Cup hopes in jeopardy. A big blow for Manu Samoa, just seconds from the break.
40 min: There’s a weight of bodies near the line - has Australia got over? We got upstairs to double check, but it’s an on-field decision of “no try” from the referees. It’s Adam Coleman looking to force over for a brace just before the break. Vision is inconclusive - so we come back for a penalty for Australia.
39 min: Clever work from Genia, but Nanai-Williams anticipates the grubber kick to the corner and sweeps across to collect ahead of the on-rushing Koroibete. He has to go into touch though and Australia set up for an attacking lineout 1m out.
37 min: There are a few Australians of Samoan heritage out there and Salakaia-Loto is just one of them. You wonder if that adds a bit of salt in the wounds when a player like that scores against the country of his parents. He was born in New Zealand and raised from an early age in Australia though, the flanker.
Try! Australia 22-3 Manu Samoa (Salakaia-Loto)
35 min: It’s quick hands from the green & gold - Pocock takes a big hit but moves the ball quickly and they swing from side to side, and the men in blue don’t have the numbers to stretch both ways. The big back rower shows huge strength out wide, and he bursts over!
And finally Foley hits one sweetly - possibly the hardest one of the night and he’s put it right over the black dot. Good to see.
Updated
33 min: Some good backline work from Australia who are back on the attack. Good hands from Koroibete who claims a wild pass, but it’s some resolute defence from Samoa, and they eventually earn the turn over.
Try! Australia 15-3 Manu Samoa (Ashley-Cooper)
30 min: Eep. That didn’t last! They’ve fumbled the restart, Samoa, and Australia have spread it wide quickly. Toomua puts it on the toe and it’s the veteran who’s helped himself to Australia’s third try of the night. It was a favourable bounce, and he says, yes please.
Ach. 0/3 from Foley. That’s hooked away as well. You don’t want to ride a bloke, but if this is an audition tonight, he’s hitting the wrong notes - at least from the boot.
Updated
Penalty! Australia 10-3 Manu Samoa
29 min: They settle for the consolation of coming back for an advantage penalty though, and finally they’re on the board, Samoa.
27 min: Nanai-Williams joins the line and almost creates the overlap, but Australia’s defensive line holds strong.
It’s Michael Alaalatoa - the brother of Wallabies front rower Allan - who dives under the posts to the delight of some in the crowd - but it’s pulled back! No try - David Pocock was taken out illegally in the lead up. What a disappointment for Manu Samoa.
25 min: Hello! Great strength from Afaesetiti Amosa who bursts out from the back of the scrum. He’s pulled down after a good 15-20m burst. And there’s a bit of niggle creeping into this one. Genia and Ed Fidow with a bit of push and shove, and it’s a penalty against Australia, and Samoa set up 22m out.
What can they fashion?
23 min: Australia look to burst down the flanks, and again it’s Koroibete who poses the danger. He runs out of real estate and flings a ball back inside, but it’s knocked on by Genia. Chance missed!
20 min: Adam Coleman handing out a bit of big-hit medicine of his own! You know what’s coming, especially in the first 20 minuted, against Pasifika rugby teams, and the big Tasmanian doesn’t fancy taking a backward step. Good to see a bit of heat out there.
18 min: Samoa with a chance to get on the board, but the penalty attempt is missed! They can’t afford to give up chances like that, the visitors.
Try! Australia 10-0 Manu Samoa (Koroibete)
15 min: Almost a two-on-one out wide for a moment, but the Wallabies wide defenders do well to snuff out the move. Foley and Genia both looking to move with ball in hand, and it’s the earlier who starts a fine move. But it’s virtuoso stuff from the former Melbourne Storm winger! Koroibete jinks one, steps inside another, evades a big tackle and skips inside. Champagne stuff from the winger, great try!
Ach. It’s a tougher chance from the boot, and he’s struck the post! Won’t do much for his confidence, Foley, but he’ll have more chances you’d imagine at this rate.
Updated
13 min: Ooph. Big hit on Genia! He’s picked up and dumped unceremoniously like a sack of spuds. But they’ve defended their line, Samoa, and they win the scrum feed after Koroibete is held up and Australia infringe.
12 min: That’s a better lineout, and the men in blue charge forward - but it’s a steal from Jack Dempsey! They kick quickly upfield, and who else - it’s Pocock - who bundles the Samoan winger into touch to win the offensive lineout!
Good opportunity here again for Australia.
10 min: Australia are playing with intent here - they seem to suspect that another quick try here could really sap the visitors’ morale. Kepu is pinged for offside though and it’s a breather for Samoa who take the chance to settle their early nerves.
Try! Australia 5-0 Manu Samoa (Coleman)
8 min: Samoa with the defensive lineout, but they’ve missed their jumpers! It’s gratefully accepted by Pocock, before Genia swings wide and it’s the big second rower lurking out wide for a gimme. He slides over near the corner flag - first blood!
Not a great start with the boot from Foley - he looks to catch the tee with his conversion attempt, and it fades left.
Updated
7 min: Toomua with a wild cutout pass, but it sails past Dane Haylett-Petty and into touch! Was their a try there if the winger had been hugging the line? Chance squandered.
5 min: They’re absolutely flying out of the line, the Samoan defenders, and they’ve forced the Wallabies back 20m or so. That’s flatter from Toomua out of the halves and Australia start to gain some metres after 10 phases.
4 min: Australia with a strong scrum, but the Samoan backs rush up and pin back the Wallabies outside backs. Advantage is played from the scrum, and Australia kick to touch, and win their line out 10m inside Samoa’s half.
3 min: Ach. They win the scrum, Samoa, but its a wobbly old pass out and the first handle goes to ground! Big early chance bombed by the visitors.
Kickoff!
1 min: And it’s Manu Samoa who get us underway! Australia receive and look to bring out from around their 22m before Foley looks to bomb towards the sideline. It’s put down and we pack down for a Samoan scrum.
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And Matt Toomua (of Samoan heritage) hands over an Indigenous Wallabies jersey to Manu captain, Jack Lam - as the men in blue line up to issue the Sipi Tau (the Samoan haka-equivalent). Spine-tingling.
A sombre prelude with a moment’s silence for Wallabies that have passed away over the past 12 months. Quite a few names, including the unforgettable Lloyd McDermott.
A welcome to country from Sydney’s west and then anthems. One of the more stirring numbers, the Manu Samoa track. An anthem banger, you could say. How could you not get up for that? And it’s sung with great gusto as you’d expect from fans and players. And there’s Australia. Belted out by Will Genia - who like Pocock is playing in his last Test on home soil.
As you can see, still a host of talent and experience on show for the Wallabies. A fair few in Manu Samoa blue in the crowd - expect them to be vocal in their support as former Australian schoolboy Jack Lam leads out Samoa - before a huge roar as David Pocock leads out the men in green & gold.
We line up for anthems, kick off not too far away.
But without ado, to teams:
Australia:
15 Tom Banks, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 David Pocock (captain), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 James Slipper.
Bench: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Luke Jones, 20 Liam Wright, 21 Rob Valetini, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 James O’Connor
Manu Samoa:
15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Belgium Tuatagaloa, 13 Alapati Leiua, 12 Reynold Lee-Lo, 11 Ed Fidow, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Scott Malolua, 8 Afaesetiti Amosa, 7 Jack Lam (captain), 6 Thomas Ioane, 5 Kane Leaupepe, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Ray Niuia, 1 Jordan Lay.
Bench: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Paul Alo-Emile, 18 Logovi’i Mulipola, 19 Josh Tyrell, 20 Seilala Lam, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 AJ Alatimu, 23 Ah See Tuala.
Some big news ahead of the night - long-term Wallabies talisman David Pocock has announced his retirement:
The 77-cap flanker dropped the news in a low-key manner during the build up to this clash, and fittingly Michael Cheika has handed Pocock the captain’s armband in his final game on Australian soil.
They’ll want to send him out a winner, the Wallabies. What a player he’s been for Australia over the years.
Hi all! Felicitations to thee and thine, from wherever you’re following our coverage today. There’s been a stack of rugby union over the weekend with plenty of nations opting for one last tune up before Japan.
One side in pretty ominous form was New Zealand (shock surprise), while England took a while to get going against Italy. While we wait for this one to get underway, here’s a more detailed look at how two of the key World Cup contenders have fared:
And here’s Robert Kitson’s report:
Preamble
Fourteen more sleeps. They sneak up quickly don’t they, World Cups?
That’s the wait until Australia opens its Pool D campaign against island nation Fiji, so perhaps a final warm up Test against the hard-hitting Manu Samoa is a pretty useful fixture. It’s the stunning new Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta that plays host, giving NSW-based home fans a chance to farewell their chargers before they head to Japan.
The 2011 shock defeat to Samoa looms over this fixture, but in reality lightning in unlikely to strike twice. The visitors had an indifferent qualifying campaign, but are coming off a win over Tonga as they prepare for their own World Cup campaign.
It’s a second-string Wallabies team, but there will still be plenty to play for as outside options press their claims, and some, like Bernard Foley earn a chance to catch Michael Cheika’s eye after becoming a forgotten man in recent time.
