Samoa inflicts Wales' fifth straight defeat

Updated November 17, 2012 09:21:13

Six Nations grand slam champions Wales suffered a fifth straight loss when it was humbled 26-19 at home by Samoa on Saturday morning (AEDT), causing consternation in a proud rugby country with world champions New Zealand up next.

The Pacific islanders were bright from the off in the November international and Fa'atoina Autagavaia scored a try after just over a minute following a flowing drive marked by missed Wales tackles.

The hosts went in 13-10 ahead at the break, albeit against the run of play thanks to Ashley Beck's breakaway try after an interception well inside his own half.

Wales started with usual captain Sam Warburton on the bench and with Mike Phillips recalled as scrum-half but eight changes from the defeat by Argentina last weekend failed to spark the home side under interim coach Rob Howley.

The Welsh, who host the All Blacks next Saturday when coach Warren Gatland returns from British and Irish Lions' duties, clung on after the break thanks to the boot of Leigh Halfpenny.

However, an early second-half try from George Pisi and Johnny Leota's late touchdown sealed a deserved victory for the Samoans.

Wales, on a high after March's grand slam triumph, lost all three tests in Australia in June before going down to Argentina and Samoa in a stark reminder to the Six Nations sides of how far behind the southern hemisphere they have fallen.

In Warburton's absence, former skipper Ryan Jones took over the armband for a record 29th time but was far from happy.

"What could have been the greatest day of my career has turned into one of the worst," he said.

"We came second best in quite a few facets of that game. It was a game that slowly slipped away from us and we didn't have enough in the end.

"But that's not taking anything away from Samoa, who turned up with a physical edge and a gameplan that stopped us playing again."

Samoa, who also beat Wales in the 1999 World Cup when their more celebrated opponents were hosts, travels to France next Saturday seeking another scalp.

Wales fly half Rhys Priestland was also dropped to the bench but was called into action amid a raft of Wales injuries during the game, which did not help the hosts' cause.

"They got some big boys, physical boys," Priestland said when asked about Samoa.

"It's going to be tough (against New Zealand). It's the toughest match in world rugby. We've got some injuries. We've got to look in the mirror."

Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, sport, wales, samoa

First posted November 17, 2012 08:51:14

View the original article here

Disallowed try costs Sharks in defeat

Updated June 03, 2012 06:33:37

A controversial disallowed late try cost the Sharks two bonus points as they suffered a shock 38-28 defeat by the Lions on Sunday (AEST).

An assistant told referee Gareth Williamson he was satisfied that replacement back Louis Ludik had grounded the ball over the tryline four minutes from time at a chilly Ellis Park.

But the television match official thought otherwise after a lengthy spell studying replays from various angles and play-off contenders Sharks returned pointless to Durban.

Had former Lion Ludik scored, the Sharks would have received a bonus point for scoring four tries and another for losing by less than seven points in the southern hemisphere provincial championship.

Defeat after four consecutive victories during May saw the Sharks surrender sixth place (the top six teams on the final standings qualify for the knockout phase) to New Zealand outfit Wellington Hurricanes.

The teams are level on 45 points and have won eight matches each, but the Wellington franchise boast a superior points difference and each team has two matches to play.

The Lions were a revelation in the first half, playing with determination and skill that belied the fact that they had lost 11 consecutive matches since beating fellow South Africans the Cheetahs on matchday one last February.

After averaging just 1.5 tries in 12 matches, the Johannesburg franchise scored four before the break against the rattled Sharks and turned with a 32-11 advantage over a team they had never beaten in seven previous Super clashes.

A Sharks side packed with Springboks were a transformed outfit early in the second half, scoring two converted tries in quick succession to leave only seven points between the contestants with 35 minutes to go.

But the black-clad visitors could not maintain the momentum and the rest of the scoring came from penalties, with Elton Jantjies kicking two for the Lions and full-back Patrick Lambie one for the Sharks.

Sharks lock Steven Sykes was sin-binned on 29 minutes for grabbing Lions number eight and skipper Joshua Strass around the neck and home outside centre Lionel Mapoe was punished soon after for not rolling away after a tackle.

Flanks Grant Hattingh and Derick Minnie, Mapoe and right wing Deon van Rensburg scored tries for the Lions and Jantjies kicked three conversions and four penalties.

Left wing Lwazi Mvovo, outside centre JP Pietersen and right wing Odwa Ndungane crossed the tryline for the Sharks and Lambie succeeded with two conversions and three penalties.

Lions: 38 (G Hattingh, D Minnie, L Mapoe, D van Rensburg tries; E Jantjies 3 cons, 4 pens)

Sharks: 28 (L Mvovo, JP Pietersen, O Ndungane tries; P Lambie 2 cons, 3 pens)

AFP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, south-africa

First posted June 03, 2012 06:33:37

View the original article here

Rebels star cited after Highlanders defeat

Updated March 31, 2012 18:01:04

Melbourne's Cooper Vuna has become the latest Australian winger to be cited for a dangerous tackle.

Former rugby league utility Vuna lifted Highlanders winger Kade Poki, whose shoulder hit the ground first, in the 56th minute of Friday's 43-12 loss in Invercargill.

Although referee Marius Jonker penalised Vuna at the time, he did not issue the former Newcastle Knights and Warriors NRL star a card.

However, the citing commissioner deemed the tackle worthy of a red card after watching footage of the incident and the case will now be heard by SANZAR duty judicial officer Mike Heron.

Melbourne centre Lloyd Johansson also got into trouble for a lifting tackle on James Haskell earlier in the game.

But no further action was taken against Johansson following the white card referral, with the sanctions at the time deemed to be sufficient punishment.

Just under two weeks ago, Wallabies star Digby Ioane was given a five-week suspension - effectively a four-game ban with a bye - after the Reds winger pleaded guilty to lifting Sharks flanker Marcell Coetzee.

Meanwhile, Melbourne coach Damien Hill insists the Rebels are heading in the right direction despite their fourth loss in five fixtures and another deflating defeat on overseas soil.

The loss to the Highlanders was the Rebels' fifth in as many offshore games since they entered the competition last year and they have conceded at least 38 points in each of those matches.

Despite Melbourne conceding seven tries, Hill still praised his team for some of its defensive efforts.

He was looking for improvement in tackling and kicking for next Thursday's home game against the Blues though.

"Our defence needs to be more consistently low and our kicking needs to be more accurate," Hill said.

"When opportunities arise, we need to be able to take them.

"Overall they are working hard and they are moving in the right direction.

"We just need to get better at a few things."

The Rebels made a good start, leading 9-0 and 12-7, with gun backs James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale both looking sharp upon their return from injury.

O'Connor kicked four penalties from as many attempts but later tweeted he could not remember any of the Rebels' calls after being accidentally kneed in the head by Highlanders centre Tamati Ellison in the 14th minute.

The Highlanders scored two tries before half-time to go in 12-12 at the break and piled on 31 unanswered points in the second half.

With a short turnaround before the Blues' game at AAMI Park, Melbourne will have a very light week on the training track, according to Hill.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted March 31, 2012 17:05:15

View the original article here

Force defeat Rebels

Expires:Thursday, September 15, 2011 7:24

The Western Force took a nailbiting 27-24 win against the Melbourne Rebels in the last match of the 2011 Super Rugby season.

View Transcript

Tags: rugby-union, perth-6000

View the original article here