Samoa issue a cultural challenge to the Kiwis at Go Media Stadium. Photo: Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz
Pacific Championship (men) - NZ Kiwi v Toa Samoa
Kickoff: 6.05pm Sunday, 9 November
CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ
History
Toa Samoa have never beaten NZ Kiwis in six previous meetings.
That said, they have come very close a couple of times and probably should have won their last meeting three weeks ago, when they bombed at least two prime scoring opportunities in the final 10 minutes of a 24-18 defeat at Go Media Stadium.
In 2014, New Zealand needed a late try from centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall to scrape past 14-12 at Whangārei, en route to claiming a Four Nations crown.
There have been some big margins along the way.
In the 2023 Pacific Championships, the Kiwis inflicted a 50-0 pounding on their rivals, with wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo grabbing try doubles, and Isaako converting seven of the nine tries scored.
Historically, Samoa have been used as warm-up opponents before more meaningful fixtures against major rugby league powers, but the exodus of top players to their Pacific roots has brought new meaning to this rivalry.
Form
The Samoans really announced themselves as bona fide contenders on the world state, when they reached the final of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, losing 60-6 to England in poolplay, but turning the tables 27-26 in the semis, before losing 30-10 to Australia in the final.
Like Tonga before them, their programme has undoubtedly benefited from the decision by NRL stars to pledge allegiance to their heritage, rather than New Zealand or Australia.
Strangely, Samoa's 34-6 win over Tonga two weeks ago was their first win since that World Cup semi-final three years ago.
They were out of their depth against the Kiwis and Kangaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championships, and then lost two tests on their England tour last year.
New Zealand also looked better against Tonga last weekend than they did against Samoa in their tournament opener.
Keano Kini in full flight against Tonga. Photo: Photosport
After inflicting a record defeat on Australia in the 2023 final, the Kiwis were understrength last year, under new coach Stacey Jones, losing to Australia and Tonga, and having to defend their place in the top flight against Papua New Guinea.
Some of the youngsters blooded in that campaign have continued to develop, particularly centre/winger Casey McLean and fullback Keano Kini in the backs, and Naufahu Whyte in the forwards.
They have certainly been better this year under Jones' continued stewardship and should go into the final as favourites on the basis of their earlier win.
Teams
Kiwis: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 5. Casey McLean, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. James Fisher-Harris (captain), 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Isaiah Papali'i, 13. Joseph Tapine
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison
Reserves: 18. Scott Sorenson, 19. Zach Dockar-Clay, 20. Josiah Karapani
Jones has named the same line-up that took the field against Tonga last week, although that wasn't the one he originally named.
Before kick-off, he lost Mulitalo and reserve forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona to injury, and had to reshuffle his backline, moving McLean to the wing, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to centre and bringing Kini into fullback.
Kiwis half Kieran Foran in action against Tonga during the Pacific Championships. Photo: Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz
That configuration performed well, so it stays intact.
Veteran half Kieran Foran, 35, will make his final appearance for his country, 16 years after debuting as a teenager, after already retiring from the NRL at the end of last season.
Brisbane Broncos forward Xavier Willison made his Kiwis debut last week against Tonga and will again come off the bench.
Isaako, Erin Clark, Moses Leota and Isaiah Papali'i have all turned out for Samoa previously, while several others are eligible.
Player to watch
The injury that brought Keano Kini into last week's starting line-up may have saved the Kiwis' Pacific Championship hopes. Not that Nicoll-Klokstad deserves to be dropped and thankfully he is versatile enough to find a place in the centres, but Kini provides the x-factor that may make a difference, as the big Samoan forwards tire.
Samoa: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Brian To'o, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Deine Mariner, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Jarome Luai (captain), 8. Francis Molo, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Jaydn Su'A, 12. Simi Sasagi, 13. Junior Paulo
Interchange: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 15. Benaiah Ioelu, 16. Terrell May, 17. Josh Papalii
Reserves: 18. Ata Mariota, 19. Ativalu Lisati, 20. Clayton Faulalo, 21. Lyhkan King-Togia
The only change from the team that beat Tonga sees Su'A replace second-rower Jeremiah Nanai, who suffered a shoulder injury in that encounter.
Coach Ben Gardiner originally named Tevaga and Papalii to start at hooker and prop for that game, but switched them back to the bench before kick-off, replaced by Ioelu and Molo. Tevaga has again been named to start at dummy half, but Papalii remains on the interchange.
Tuivasa-Sheck has previously captained the Kiwis, before switching international allegiances. Taulagi, Haas and Papali'i have all represented Australia, while several others have played State of Origin for NSW or Queensland.
Player to watch
Front-rower Payne Haas is a force of nature and one of the main reasons Brisbane Broncos took out the NRL premiership this season. The last meeting between these two teams was his Samoan debut and the Kiwis will need to neutralise him to win the forward battle.
Payne Haas in action for Toa Samoa against the Kiwis. Photo: Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz
Venue
When the Pacific Championship draw was announced, New Zealand was allocated two blockbuster games against Samoa and Tonga in Auckland, but the final was strangely scheduled for Sydney.
With the Kangaroos currently touring England, Australia would be unrepresented in the men's showcase and, given the three teams in contention, it seemed weird that the decider shouldn't also be held in the city with the world's largest Polynesian population.
Brisbane hosted the Samoa v Tonga clash, with about 45,000 cramming into Suncorp Stadium. Given the patronage, commentators wondered aloud if the NRL had undersold the competition final by staging it at a venue with only 30,000 capacity.
"CommBank Stadium is one of those stadiums where you're right on top of it and the sound doesn't get released anywhere, it just bounces off the walls," former NZ and Samoa international, and now Kiwis selector, Monty Betham told RNZ's Midday Report. "The atmosphere will be unbelievable - you'll be able to hear it at home."
What will happen
Both teams took a step up in their respective games against Tonga, with Samoa (28) enjoying a better points difference than the Kiwis (24).
The winners will be the team that finds another gear and adjusts better from their previous meeting.
The speed of Kini and McLean in the open field could prove the difference in a Kiwis victory.
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