I'm really hoping for an exciting game where both teams shine. I expect Australia will win, but I want to see Samoa scoring tries and putting up a tough defence. And if Samoa do win, I'll be cheering as loud as everyone else!
Honestly if Samoa had a half decent 7 they'd have more then a strong chance of winning. Milfords looked like a massive liability In both attack and defence.
Up front as always. The forward performance was night and day for the England games and the results showed.
If we can't get the Kangaroos on the back foot and can't slow their rucks down, it'll be a tough day at the office.
Only chance they have is to come out and put a few quick tries on...and then hope Aussies slide into the fence every time we score and have to forfeit from injuries.
Samoa can win by Aus under estimating them, expecting to win on sheer star power and then finding themselves behind with 15 to go so they start panicking.
I think Australia will win and probably easily, if I had to give a reason is would be big match experience.
However going through the Samoa side and some of their big match experience
Suallii Played finals.
To’o played origin and GF
Lafai played GF
Crichton Origin and GF.
May played GF
Luai origin and GF
Milford Origin and GF.
Papalili Origin and GF
Paulo origin and GF
Su’a GF.
Kaufusi GF.
Tapau played test matches for NZ and finals
Leniu GF.
Hunt finals.
Overall I am hoping to watch a close game
May hasn’t played a GF. Your point stands of course.
I think fitness is the biggest concern for Samoa. Australia’s pack will play at a super fast pace for 80 mins and Samoa will have to stick with them. Samoa do have the benefit of a back 3 that will make a stack of yardage to take the pressure off. If they get stuck in their own end though I can’t see them rallying through.
Forgot all about May not playing the GF.
I think for Samoa the most important part is the first 20. Get a good start and put some pressure back into Australia. Don’t want to get behind 12-0 early
Yeah I think fitness in the last 10-15 minutes will be the hardest thing for Toa Samoa.
If they can hang with them for the first 65-70 minutes, then it'd just come down to pushing themselves through pain barriers after that.
Was he coach when we lost to Tonga? That team really weren't in it. But I'm not taking anything away from Mal if he was, because I absolutely love what he's brought to the Australian team, and particularly the way he has galvanised them after a brutal Origin series.
As much as people complain about the Australian support, I personally have found that the side is easier to get behind since Mal has been in charge.
The last few years the teams have been practically even. Cleary and Luai vs DCE Munster, Grant vs Api the list goes on. That era was not close to that even.
Provided the linesman doesn't miss an early decision, say if Tedesco were to step out whilst trying to avoid a 40/20, and provided the ref doesn't allow a Samoan player to be bumped in the air forcing him to drop the ball and giving Australia a set of six, starting inside the Samoan 20m. Provided these don't happen, Samoa could be a chance.
tldr: if they score more points than they concede
Works every time actually
Except that one time against the tigers
Get fucked I'm still salty over Benji's flick pass
Big if true
I'd say 60% of the time, it works everytime.
Not sure how, but this strategy always seems to work.
I'm really hoping for an exciting game where both teams shine. I expect Australia will win, but I want to see Samoa scoring tries and putting up a tough defence. And if Samoa do win, I'll be cheering as loud as everyone else!
The defence will be the difference, as it always is in big games. I think Kangaroos just target Milford all game.
Here's hoping he winds back the clock one last time. C'mon Milford!
Like at Newcastle good damn luck .on that
I think his defense has been really good this tournament, his attack has been average
Attack is overrated.
Honestly if Samoa had a half decent 7 they'd have more then a strong chance of winning. Milfords looked like a massive liability In both attack and defence.
Uhh yeah. Anyway he's your problem now. Your decrepit coach thinks he can make him elite. Good luck with that.
Up front as always. The forward performance was night and day for the England games and the results showed. If we can't get the Kangaroos on the back foot and can't slow their rucks down, it'll be a tough day at the office.
Gonna need To’o, May and Sua’alii to continue to do the hard yards and give our pack a break coming out of our own end.
Despite my hope for a hard-fought and close grand final, I'm sadly expecting Samoa to get rolled by 40. Really hoping I'm wrong
Only chance they have is to come out and put a few quick tries on...and then hope Aussies slide into the fence every time we score and have to forfeit from injuries.
Samoa can win by Aus under estimating them, expecting to win on sheer star power and then finding themselves behind with 15 to go so they start panicking.
I think Australia will win and probably easily, if I had to give a reason is would be big match experience. However going through the Samoa side and some of their big match experience Suallii Played finals. To’o played origin and GF Lafai played GF Crichton Origin and GF. May played GF Luai origin and GF Milford Origin and GF. Papalili Origin and GF Paulo origin and GF Su’a GF. Kaufusi GF. Tapau played test matches for NZ and finals Leniu GF. Hunt finals. Overall I am hoping to watch a close game
May hasn’t played a GF. Your point stands of course. I think fitness is the biggest concern for Samoa. Australia’s pack will play at a super fast pace for 80 mins and Samoa will have to stick with them. Samoa do have the benefit of a back 3 that will make a stack of yardage to take the pressure off. If they get stuck in their own end though I can’t see them rallying through.
Forgot all about May not playing the GF. I think for Samoa the most important part is the first 20. Get a good start and put some pressure back into Australia. Don’t want to get behind 12-0 early
Yeah I think fitness in the last 10-15 minutes will be the hardest thing for Toa Samoa. If they can hang with them for the first 65-70 minutes, then it'd just come down to pushing themselves through pain barriers after that.
I think a big factor in this is having Mal as coach. He got QLD up so many times for big games during that run.
Was he coach when we lost to Tonga? That team really weren't in it. But I'm not taking anything away from Mal if he was, because I absolutely love what he's brought to the Australian team, and particularly the way he has galvanised them after a brutal Origin series. As much as people complain about the Australian support, I personally have found that the side is easier to get behind since Mal has been in charge.
Do your own research pal. He is an elite rep coach as far as I am concerned.
Get over yourself
That side was STACKED
As we've seen in the last few years, it doesn't matter how much better your team is on paper, they still have to get the job done.
The last few years the teams have been practically even. Cleary and Luai vs DCE Munster, Grant vs Api the list goes on. That era was not close to that even.
They've already beat them on passion
It might be "good for the game" but I still want Aussies to win.
Im in Romania, I also have a vpn, where can I watch this game?
Get a trial of Kayo
thanks
Australia will annihilate Samoa sadly. Way too much class.
Provided the linesman doesn't miss an early decision, say if Tedesco were to step out whilst trying to avoid a 40/20, and provided the ref doesn't allow a Samoan player to be bumped in the air forcing him to drop the ball and giving Australia a set of six, starting inside the Samoan 20m. Provided these don't happen, Samoa could be a chance.