Return to PacificIsland flair will get Samoa home against SA

28 September 2011

Return to Pacific Island flair will get Samoa home against South Africa

Maori Television commentators Buck Shelford and Pat Lam both say Samoa need to reignite their Pacific flare if they’re to get past South Africa on Friday and into the quarter finals.

Lam, who played in three Rugby World Cups for his native Samoa and is currently head coach of the Auckland Blues, says the great irony is that while this is the most professional Samoan side ever, the structure and nature of play that they’re encouraged to use won’t help them win.

“They need to have a go. If they do the same thing as they did against Wales and Fiji they will suffer,” says Lam. “Belief is the key and they know this is it. They need to run the ball and be unpredictable. They have been a little too conservative and structured for their own good.”

Lam says the key will be to keep South Africa moving and use quick ball to create space for their backs.

Buck Shelford joins Lam in the Maori Television commentary box for the game and agrees Samoa need to change their game plan to give themselves any chance.

“The minnow teams have become so systemised these days; they don’t play with any flare. They need to have a crack. They won’t win unless they have a go,” says the former All Blacks captain. “The link men, the loosies, need to play above themselves and in turn feed the backs who need to spark and off-load more in the tackle. If they can be more accurate and up the tempo when they need to, they have a chance. They need to pressure the South Africans and give them nothing,” Shelford says.

Both commentators say Samoa’s historic win over Australia earlier this year and the return of pivot Tusi Pisi will give them the belief they need to win.

Maori Television is the lead free-to-air broadcaster for Rugby World Cup 2011 covering all 48 games, 16 of which are live, including all the All Blacks games and all the knock-out games through to the final.

Maori Television is available on Freeview channel 5 and Sky TV channel 19. It’s also available through the old analogue network with a UHF aerial. If viewers receive Prime TV by aerial, they should be able to tune in to Maori Television. For further assistance, call the tune-in helpline 0800 MA TATOU (0800 62 82 868).

Te Reo is on Freeview channel 24 (a Freeview satellite digital receiver plus a satellite dish are required) and on Sky TV channel 59.

About Maori Television and Rugby World Cup 2011

Maori Television is the only free-to-air channel covering all 48 games and is putting forward New Zealand’s largest commentary team across the Maori Television (English broadcast) and Te Reo (te reo Maori broadcast) channels. The 27-strong expert team includes three former Rugby World Cup team captains and a combined total of more than 200 international test caps.

For the full Rugby World Cup 2011 coverage schedule visit www.maoritelevision.com

ENDS

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