Australia A have taken the lead in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup after a lucky 20-15 win over Manu Samoa in a torridly physical match played in heavy conditions at a rain-sodden Apia Park.
Both teams scored two tries apiece, but it was a 60 metre intercept to union convert Timana Tahu against the run of play which made the difference. The game was described as a bashfest with a lot of one out running which suited the physical Samoans who surprised the more favoured Aussies fielding at least 17 players with Wallaby experience.
The same weather greeted the second place New Zealand Maori when they arrived in Lautoka for their match against the World Cup quarterfinalists Fiji. They emerged with an 11-7 win, a try apiece, with the flair of both sides stifled by the conditions.
Tonga’s Ikale Tahi were stunned 35-13 by Japan in Sendai in easily the round’s most entertaining game. It showed Japan would be a formidable force for the remainder of the competition.
Australia A edge past brave Samoa in Apia
Australia A maintained their winning start to the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, but only just as they overcame the conditions and a committed Samoa side 20-15 in front of a crowd of 15,500 in Apia on Saturday.
A strong second string Australian side containing Rugby World Cup 2007 squad members Mark Gerrard and Morgan Turinui led 10-3 at the break and seemed to be in control of the match before Samoa came back in the second half to ensure a thrilling climax.
In wet and humid conditions in the Samoan capital, the Australians made light work of the opening exchanges with wing Timana Tahu crossing for the opening try of the match after 10 minutes, while Gerrard’s conversion and two penalties to a Neli Sasulu three pointer left the visitors in complete control of the match.
However, the Samoans started the second half in determined fashion and started to stamp their mark on the match with characteristic hard running and strong forward play.
The pressure was enough to catch the Australians cold, and after just three minutes the home side hit back with a well-worked try through hooker Loleni Tafunai to close the gap to just two points.
The score remained in the balance until the 68th minute when Turinui cut through the Samoan defence to break the deadlock. Replacement Matt Carraro’s conversion eased the pressure on last year’s runners-up as the score opened up a nine-point lead.
A Carraro penalty stretched Australia A’s lead to 20-8, which is how the score remained until the final moments of a pulsating match. Australia A appeared to have the game in the bag, but the Samoans were not finished and launched a series of attacks on the Australian line.
With the pressure mounting, the Samoans came close on several occasions before replacement hooker Muliufi Salanoa crashed over for a try. Sevens star Uale Male added the conversion, much to the delight of the home support, to reduce the arrears to five to set up a tense climax.
With time up on the clock, Samoa chased the winning score, but the Australians held firm for the victory.
Match details:
Australia A: 1. Pekahou Cowan 2. Sean Hardman 3. Salesi Ma'afu 4. Al Cambell 5. Peter Kimlin 6. Poutasi Luafutu 7. Mathew Hodgson 8. Julian Salvi 9. Patrick Phibbs 10. Daniel Halangahu 11. Mark Gerrard 12. Tyrone Smith 13. Morgan Turinui (Captain) 14. Timana Tahu 15. Sam Norton-Knight.
Replacements: 16. John Ulugia 17. Guy Shepherdson 18. Van Humphries 19. Leroy Houston 20. Josh Holmes 21. Scott Daruda 22. Matt Carraro.
Samoa: 1. Heroshi Tea 2. Loleni Tafunai 3. Census Johnston 4. Filipo Levi (Captain) 5. Jack Slade 6. Daniel Leo 7. Semo Sititi 8. George Stowers 9. Notise Tauafao 10. Eliota Sapolu-Fuimono 11. David Lemi 12. Anitelea Tuilagi 13. Henry Fa'afili
14. Esera Lauina 15. Neli Sasulu.
Replacements: 16. Muliufi Salanoa 17. James Johnston 18. Bell Sasulu 19. Johnthan Fa'amatuainu 20. Uale Mai 21. Paletuatoa Toelupe 22. Gasolo Salima.
Australia 20
Tries: Timana Tahu, Morgan Turinui
Conversions: Mark Gerrard, Matt Carraro
Penalties: Mark Gerrard, Matt Carraro
Samoa 15
Tries: Muliufi Salanoa, Loleni Tafunai
Conversions: Uale Mai
Penalty: Neli Sasulu
Japan stun Tonga in Sendai
Japan stunned Tonga in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, beating the islanders 35-13 at Sendai City's Yurtec Stadium for their first victory in the tournament.
John Kirwan's side enjoyed a strong warm-up to the event against the Classic All Blacks and impressed on the first match day against Australia A. This victory, however, finally gives the former All Black tangible proof of the huge advances being made with the Cherry Blossoms since he took over.
The Japanese pack, impressive against Australia A a week ago, fronted up well to the muscular Tongans and showed sharp discipline and tactical nous early on to lay the foundations for what was to prove a comfortable victory.
Pierre Hola's penalties twice gave the Tongans an early lead but the Japanese hit back on each occasion through James Arlidge, who added two more late in the half for a 12-6 half time lead.
Arlidge punished some Tongan indiscipline at the start of the second half before the Japanese cut loose, flanker Takashi Kikutani's try giving them a deserved 20-6 lead.
On 50 minutes Tonga hit back through their number 8 Lotu Filipine and although Hola converted the try to narrow the score to 20-13 the Japanese again showed great enterprise, fitness and most of all attacking endeavour to extend their lead twice in four minutes through wing Hirotoki Onozawa and full back Shaun Webb.
With the game won at 30-13, the Japanese added a fourth try in the dying minutes through Bryce Robins to make the final score 35-13.
The Cherry Blossoms next face Fiji in Tokyo on 22 June.
Maori edge past Fiji in Lautoka
Fiji just missed out on a historic victory against New Zealand Maori - Photo: Bruce Southwick/ZoomfijiAll Black second row Jason Eaton scored a crucial second half try to clinch a 11-7 IRB Pacific Nations Cup victory for the New Zealand Maori over a plucky Fiji side in Lautoka on Saturday.
Eaton burst through the Fiji defence from a lineout midway through the second half to give the Maoris an 8-7 lead in torrential conditions as a storm turned the pitch into a quagmire and then a Callum Bruce penalty killed off any chances of Fiji’s first victory over the Maoris since 1951.
A 36th-minute try by Fiji centre Sireli Naqelevuki, following an early penalty for the Maoris from co-captain Tamati Ellison, sent the home side into half-time with a 7-3 advantage. The impressive Naqelevuki showed great skills to charge down a clearing kick from Maori half back Craig Smyllie after Fiji had pressed the New Zealanders into a long period of defence, and beat all defenders to the ball.
With conditions dictating in the second half, tries were a rarity but Eaton, who was impressive throughout , took the ball from a lineout near the line and waded through three tackles to score.
Full back Taniela Rawaqa missed a close-range penalty in the 64th minute which would have put Fiji in front, but Bruce slotted his only kick at goal minutes from full time to give the Maoris a four-point margin, leaving the home team needing a try to win.
Fiji spent the last moments of the match on the attack but were unable to break the tough Maori defence as the New Zealanders held on for their second IRB Pacific Nations Cup victory.
POINTS LADDER
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | TF | TA | BP | PTS |
| Australia A | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 36 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| NZ Maori | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Fiji | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 28 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Japan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 55 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Samoa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 54 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Tonga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 55 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
