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Luckless Samoa Denied At The Death (Four Nations)

England and Samoa were the unlucky teams in a pair of nail-biting finishes rarely seen in International Rugby League.

Both sides outplayed their highly fancied opponents and deserved upset wins only to be cruelly denied in the last moments.

New Zealand v Samoa

Shaun Kenny-Dowall’s late try was enough to sink a passionate Samoan effort in the Whangarei sun on Saturday afternoon.  In a game often lacking in quality, but featuring plenty of aggression, the complacent Kiwis were rocked by a powerful Samoan forward pack and riot running / fearsome haircut centre Joey Leilua.

Samoa were the better starters and took a surprise but deserved lead from a Tautau Moga breakaway try.  Moga had been suspended from the first week of games because of a nightclub incident, and his touchline dash may have mimicked his actions avoiding police of the fateful night in question.

The Samoans, who were paying $3 just to lead at any stage, played huge Bronco’s forward Josh McGuire at hooker for the opening stanza, and controlled played nicely through the usually erratic Ben Roberts.  New Zealand on the other hand showed none of their week one Four Nations form; they were untidy, and lacked imagination and spark in the attacking third.

The win for the Kiwi’s was less about their escape, but more about what Samoa achieved.  There is much to admire about the side that in one game have done plenty for the global game.  They have easily made the biggest impact of any of the fourth teams to play in the Four Nations.

New Zealand have not played well in either game so consider England a chance next week.

England v Australia

A finger nail was all that separated the sides on Sunday night in Melbourne.  A fiercely debated TMO decision that went against the English has made their qualifying path to the final much tougher.  The try / no try call came in the dying stages and saw winger Ryan Hall half force the ball and half smack it over the dead ball line while chasing a Liam Farrell grubber.  It probably wasn’t a try in my view, but it was a fortuitous Four Nations escape for the mediocre Aussies.

England dominated the first half; playing with width and enterprise they tired the Australian team who went into the break behind and risking a place in the Four Nations final.  Daryl Clark again ignited the English attack, leading to tries for Kallum Watkins and Ryan Hall.  Unfortunately for the sunburn susceptible English they went into their shell in the second stanza and were left exposed to a quicker ruck initiated by debutant Ben Hunt.

Discipline also let England down as referee Cameron Smith Gerard Sutton penalised heavily as the game’s momentum shifted.  In other highlights: Cameron Smith was man of the match, Ben Hunt was terrific and must play against Samoa, Greg Inglis scores tries for fun, and Sam Tomkins has a questionable new thigh tattoo.

Expect Aussie to put 40 on Samoa next week when the Four Nations picks its finalists.

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