England vs Samoa - 26/11/05  -  Investec Challenge Twickenham 

The last time England played Samoa was in the Rugby World Cup just over two years on 26/10/03 at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne

 Result 35 - 22

Samoa on that day gave England the fright of their lives, plus we had the emergence of  ' The Lugergate Affair',  England were accused of cheating for 34seconds by having 16men on the pitch - England were fined £10,000 pounds and Nigel Reddin given a 3 match touchline ban for altercation with Steve Walsh IRB Referee and Touch Judge on the day ( no change for Steve Walsh then as he has been banned again for something similar)!  

Oh Happy Days eh?   No Siree, I remember writing the following at the time:-

"Samoa were fantastic, they tackled ferociously with hearts like lions and defended superbly!  Although England won the match Samoa were the best team on the day, they outplayed England over and over again!  They hassled England to the last, their players falling down with cramp but still playing on to the end".

Now fast forward two years, we won the Rugby World Cup but in my opinion we have stood still, in fact we have gone backwards and are only now starting to look like we are beginning to prepare for the next world cup.   We now have a 'New Look England', the old guard have gone and England are setting out on a new adventure. 

Why remind you all of this I hear you ask?  - Simple really, England the then No.1 team in the world were almost beaten that day by the Samoans.

This coming Saturday many pundits think England are going to put many points passed Samoa - Well I for one don't, I hope I am wrong but I have this uneasy feeling.  England have had an excellent result against Australia and came so close last week to the All Blacks who are currently  No.1 team in the world.   And yet, why do I feel uneasy, maybe it is women's intuition or just the knowledge that Samoa always produces world class rugby talent.    I do hope that England remember that game two years ago and give Samoa the utmost respect because I have a feeling we are truly going to need to play at our best to win this game.

So we look forward to the wonderful Samoans visiting Twickenham this weekend and I hope the crowd treat them with respect also and do not get sucked into that awful 'Mexican Wave'  in my opinion it is disrespectful to both teams.   Fans pay good money to watch a match from £45.00 up over and then they proceed to jump up and down like lunatics every two minutes when play is in progress.  Don't get me wrong I don't mind the Mexican wave but in the right place and at the right time but that is NOT at Twickenham during a match.  - I shall now step down from my soapbox, until the next time!

England: J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tindall (Gloucester), T Voyce (Wasps); C Hodgson (Sale), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), S Thompson (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath); S Borthwick (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester); P Sanderson (Worcester), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, Captain).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), P Freshwater (Perpignan), S Shaw (Wasps), J Forrester (Gloucester), M Dawson (Wasps), O Barkley (Bath), T Varndell (Leicester).

Manu Samoa: 15 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 14 Lome Fa'atau, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tanner Vili, 9 Steven So'oialo, 8 Daniel Farani, 7 Leo Lafaiali'i, 6 Semo Sititi (Captain), 5 Pelu Taele-Pavihi, 4 Daniel Leo, 3 Cencus Johnston, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Justin Va’a.

Replacements: 16 Loleni Tafunai, 17 Kas Lealamanua, 18 Paul Tupai, 19 Jonathan Faamatuainu, 20 Garrick Cowley, 21 Anitele'a Tuilagi, 22 Lolo Lui.

and so to our famous battle cry..............

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1

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