International Pacific Championship

[Zaggo]

Eden Park north stand is the worst place I have ever watched a league game, too far away and the screens are crap, especially early in the day with the light on them. It was cold asf in there too.

What on earth was up with the screens? It was like watching a dodgy stream on a 90s TV. Not to mention the fact only a third of the big screen was actually showing the game!

I also thought it was disappointing there was zero outside the ground in terms of music, entertainment, dancing etc (or at least where I was).

God I hate Eden Park. It just offers absolutely nothing in terms of viewing experience, and the entire thing felt so amateur.

The Samoan fans were wonderful though, and obviously our performance was mint. Throw the chequebook at JFH, that's our next captain.

 

[sup42]

Fiji looking rusty as. If they play like this against PNG they will get a hiding.

 

[Defence]

I’m enjoying this- cookies look a lot better than last week and fiji might’ve taken them a bit lightly…

 

[Defence]

Has esan masters been playing out of position his whole career?
Looks great in the halves.

 

[sup42]

Just when I thought the Cooks were cooked....good game, great finish coming up.

 

[Beastmode]

Foz played the first 60 and set the pace, he was dynamite with Hughes and Brown.

He was a revelation @9

A mature head with tons of experience- exactly what you need in a pivot role

 

[Playdaball]

So, at the Eden Park game were there about 1500 kiwi supporters and the rest were Samoan? The same applies when they play Tonga.

 

[Beastmode]

So, at the Eden Park game weee there about 1500 kiwi supporters and the rest were Samoan? The same applies when they play Tonga.

Kiwi Samoans.

Makes sense given the name of the tournament is Pacific Championship

 

[tajhay]

Fiji very lucky to get that win. Played very poorly. Well done to the cook islanders

 

[Zaggo]

So, at the Eden Park game weee there about 1500 kiwi supporters and the rest were Samoan? The same applies when they play Tonga.

I actually think there were an OK number of Kiwi fans - but tended to be older and quieter.

 

[ndp26]

Has esan masters been playing out of position his whole career?
Looks great in the halves.

If he could play 30 games a year like that and you put him outside a good 7 (e.g., a Reynolds), you'd probably be pretty happy.

 

[VB89]

To be fair 6 of the 9 tries were scored by players with Samoan heritage. And the crowd celebrated every one of our tries despite being 90% samoa supporters. The atmosphere was epic.

Lol when they booked Solomona scoring. I thought he was tapping his Kiwis emblem but saw on the replay he was showing his Samoan tattoo...only to be receiving boos lol.

 

[Noitall]

Lol when they booked Solomona scoring. I thought he was tapping his Kiwis emblem but saw on the replay he was showing his Samoan tattoo...only to be receiving boos lol.

Think he and Haas will defect, perhaps RTS too. They have a good pack already though and Fa’alogo will get better in the fullback role, they need halves.

 

[Damo]

Think he and Haas will defect, perhaps RTS too. They have a good pack already though and Fa’alogo will get better in the fullback role, they need halves.

Volkman and Luai would do well together imo

 

[Noitall]

Didn’t see Tonga vs England but have read in different places that AFB had a great game. I think he’s the best prop in the game at the moment.

 

[Noitall]

Volkman and Luai would do well together imo

Volkman should have started with Asi five eighth I reckon. Crichton one of the best centres going around and playing him five eighth is a failure like the roosters found out with Manu. Most effective thing I remember about Asi’s kicking game when he played for the Warriors was a Matt Burton like bomb.

 

[Damo]

Volkman should have started with Asi five eighth I reckon. Crichton one of the best centres going around and playing him five eighth is a failure like the roosters found out with Manu. Most effective thing I remember about Asi’s kicking game when he played for the Warriors was a Matt Burton like bomb.

I'm just a "couch coach" but surely a lineup like this is 100x better than what was put out. I understand To'o was out for the Kiwis game but this lineup makes a lot more sense for the Australia game.

1. Fa'alogo
2. Marzhew
3. Tuilagi
4. Crichton
5. To'o
6. Asi
7. Volkman

Forward pack takes care of itself really.

 

[Playdaball]

Think he and Haas will defect, perhaps RTS too. They have a good pack already though and Fa’alogo will get better in the fullback role, they need halves.

RTS could slot into #6 for Toa Samoa.

 

[Noitall]

RTS could slot into #6 for Toa Samoa.

Hopefully he becomes one of those centres mentioned like Crichton and Manu where they’d be silly not to play him there.

 

[WA Warrior]

I’m very concerned with the Toa coach.
Selection wise I think he totally dropped the ball.
Gave him the benefit of the doubt in game 1 playing Critta at 6 but it didn’t work. Instead of correcting it he doubled down.
Volkman and Asi should’ve been the halves in both games, it was obvious.