Scotland Summer Tour Squad

[septic 9]

EMM is never going to be good enough, right? Is he even the best option purely to win this game? I guess he’s got a moderate bit of experience now at least.

Probably the option from who we have out there, although its a toss up between him and Richardson. The latter coming on should add some dynamism, EMM would still plod a bit. But EMM is a decent scrummager, should manage Seuili comfortably, especial with the useless Samoa TH getting a pasting for collapsing; he should get away with much less of that now he ain't in a Leinster shirt

[Lizard]

Samoa squad:
15 Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Duncan Paia’aua, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Tomasi Alosio, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Jonah Mau’u, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Pita Anae Ah-Sue, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Kaynan Siteine-Tua, 18 Marco Fepulea’i, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Niko Jones, 21 Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 22 Connor Tupai, 23 Rodney Iona.

Some interesting points - Samoa debutant Jacob Umaga has a cap for the land of his birth, England, where is father Mike, also capped for Samoa, played professionally. Mike’s brother and Jacob’s uncle is some bloke called Tana. The Umaga-Jensen twins, All Black Peter and NZU20 Thomas are Jacob’s cousins.

Niko Jones is the son of the legendary All Black Sir Michael Jones (also capped for Western Samoa, as it was).

[Cameo]

Samoa squad:
15 Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Duncan Paia’aua, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Tomasi Alosio, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Jonah Mau’u, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Pita Anae Ah-Sue, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Kaynan Siteine-Tua, 18 Marco Fepulea’i, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Niko Jones, 21 Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 22 Connor Tupai, 23 Rodney Iona.

Some interesting points - Samoa debutant Jacob Umaga has a cap for the land of his birth, England, where is father Mike, also capped for Samoa, played professionally. Mike’s brother and Jacob’s uncle is some bloke called Tana. The Umaga-Jensen twins, All Black Peter and NZU20 Thomas are Jacob’s cousins.

Niko Jones is the son of the legendary All Black Sir Michael Jones (also capped for Western Samoa, as it was).

I am not familiar with all of this team, but from those I do know, I think it is fair to say they are not in the class of Fiji.

[septic 9]

Samoa squad:
15 Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Duncan Paia’aua, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Tomasi Alosio, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Jonah Mau’u, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Pita Anae Ah-Sue, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Kaynan Siteine-Tua, 18 Marco Fepulea’i, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Niko Jones, 21 Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 22 Connor Tupai, 23 Rodney Iona.

Some interesting points - Samoa debutant Jacob Umaga has a cap for the land of his birth, England, where is father Mike, also capped for Samoa, played professionally. Mike’s brother and Jacob’s uncle is some bloke called Tana. The Umaga-Jensen twins, All Black Peter and NZU20 Thomas are Jacob’s cousins.

Niko Jones is the son of the legendary All Black Sir Michael Jones (also capped for Western Samoa, as it was).

another interesting point - I saw that team published as well - is that Samoa would apparently take us on a player short, Not just any player. Blindside and captain. Theo McFarlane. who is quite good. In fact can be very very good. Won't be surprised if he helps Ashman muck up lineouts again

[Lizard]

I’m at Eden Park. They aren’t even pretending this is a neutral venue. Fair turn out of Scots supporters though - pipe band outside.

[Lizard]

Samoa trying a bit hard with their limited possession.

Scotland had the hottest anthem singer.

[Cameo]

Samoa trying a bit hard with their limited possession.

Scotland had the hottest anthem singer.

Tthey decided to confuse the crowd by playing a whole verse as an intro though. Even the players were laughing.

[Cameo]

Comfortable first half. Bit of a change getting a penalty every scrum!

[septic 9]

Comfortable first half. Bit of a change getting a penalty every scrum!

funny how ex-Leinster TH gets pinged so often in this shirt

[Lizard]

Scotland are proficient.

Samoa are technically deficient and tactically naive.

[Lizard]

I’m sitting behind the posts Scotland are attacking this half. Samoa are playing very narrowly on attack and defence. Scotland just post a man out wide and a try is inevitable.

[septic 9]

I’m sitting behind the posts Scotland are attacking this half. Samoa are playing very narrowly on attack and defence. Scotland just post a man out wide and a try is inevitable.

Samoa's defence was poor. I would say their defensive system, but that would give them too much credit

Scotland took foot off gas after HT, tried to play too much instead of play in Samoa half, force errors

Still a win b about my expected margin. That is proud Samoan team but not really a good one

[Cameo]

I’m sitting behind the posts Scotland are attacking this half. Samoa are playing very narrowly on attack and defence. Scotland just post a man out wide and a try is inevitable.

Samoa's defence was poor. I would say their defensive system, but that would give them too much credit

Scotland took foot off gas after HT, tried to play too much instead of play in Samoa half, force errors

Still a win b about my expected margin. That is proud Samoan team but not really a good one

That is all fair. Probably a good game to get some peopke into the system, but not one that told us that much.

Fergus Burke can defend, definitely learnt that over the last week or two.

[BaldiePete]

I’m sitting behind the posts Scotland are attacking this half. Samoa are playing very narrowly on attack and defence. Scotland just post a man out wide and a try is inevitable.

Samoa's defence was poor. I would say their defensive system, but that would give them too much credit

Scotland took foot off gas after HT, tried to play too much instead of play in Samoa half, force errors

Still a win b about my expected margin. That is proud Samoan team but not really a good one

That is all fair. Probably a good game to get some peopke into the system, but not one that told us that much.

Fergus Burke can defend, definitely learnt that over the last week or two.

His place kicking isn’t so good though. I don’t think he’s the regular kicker at Saracens?

[Lizard]

Samoa squad:
15 Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Duncan Paia’aua, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Tomasi Alosio, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Jonah Mau’u, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Pita Anae Ah-Sue, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Kaynan Siteine-Tua, 18 Marco Fepulea’i, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Niko Jones, 21 Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 22 Connor Tupai, 23 Rodney Iona.

Some interesting points - Samoa debutant Jacob Umaga has a cap for the land of his birth, England, where is father Mike, also capped for Samoa, played professionally. Mike’s brother and Jacob’s uncle is some bloke called Tana. The Umaga-Jensen twins, All Black Peter and NZU20 Thomas are Jacob’s cousins.

Niko Jones is the son of the legendary All Black Sir Michael Jones (also capped for Western Samoa, as it was).

So one of the U15s teams I was reffing this morning had Sir Michael as an assistant coach!

[Lizard]

Samoa squad:
15 Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Duncan Paia’aua, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Tomasi Alosio, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Jonah Mau’u, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Pita Anae Ah-Sue, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Kaynan Siteine-Tua, 18 Marco Fepulea’i, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Niko Jones, 21 Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 22 Connor Tupai, 23 Rodney Iona.

Some interesting points - Samoa debutant Jacob Umaga has a cap for the land of his birth, England, where is father Mike, also capped for Samoa, played professionally. Mike’s brother and Jacob’s uncle is some bloke called Tana. The Umaga-Jensen twins, All Black Peter and NZU20 Thomas are Jacob’s cousins.

Niko Jones is the son of the legendary All Black Sir Michael Jones (also capped for Western Samoa, as it was).

So one of the U15s teams I was reffing this morning had Sir Michael as an assistant coach!