Samoa
Munster back Keith Earls has been ruled out of Ireland’s opening Autumn International Test match against Samoa in Dublin due to a knee injury.
Andrew Trimble has missed out on a place in Ireland’s squad for the November games against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium. The Ulster wing fails to make Joe Schmidt’s 34-man squad which includes uncapped trio David Kearney, James Coughlan and Jack McGrath.
New Zealand’s Super Rugby coaches are pushing for a team of Pacific island players to be included in the Southern Hemisphere competition when it expands in 2016.
The team, based in Auckland, would be part of an 18-team competition under a proposal from the head coaches of New Zealand’s five existing Super Rugby teams, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The citing of Samoa fullback James So’oialo for grabbing the testicles of Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss during Saturday’s match at Loftus Versfeld was dismissed on Sunday.
The player was cited by Peter Larter (RFU) according to Law 10.4(m), committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship, for an incident which occurred in the 12th minute of the second half.
Samoa have stuck with a winning combination for the final of the four-nation tournament in South Africa where they are up against their hosts in Pretoria on Saturday.
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers will be given until Friday to prove that he has fully recovered from a sternum injury, which has kept him off the training field thus far this week.
The Springboks face Samoa in the final match of the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. The team shows three changes – all of them in the pack – from the side which beat Scotland by 30-17 in Nelspruit last weekend.
Samoa (10) 39 / 10 (3) Italy (Final Score)
Samoa and Italy did battle in the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit at 14:15 SA Time (12:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Italian coach Jacques Brunel made seven changes to his team for their second Test in the four-nations tournament, when they meet Samoa in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Stade Francais prop Sakaria Taulafo is the only change to the Samoa starting line-up to face Italy in Saturday’s test in Nelspruit, Samoa Rugby Union said on Wednesday.
The announcement of the Scotland squad to face the Springboks in the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday has been delayed due to a spate of injuries picked up by Scotland players in last Saturday’s bruising encounter against Samoa in Durban.
Scotland (9) 17 / 27 (14) Samoa (Final Score)
Scotland and Samoa did battle in the Castle Incoming Tours series in South Africa at Kings Park, Durban at 14:15 SA Time (12:15 GMT, 13:15 BST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Some very good rugby right througout the week this week… clear your schedules!
Samoan coach Stephen Betham has been left scrambling to field a fully fit team against the Lions in their challenge match at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Well there are a lot of surprises in the mid-year appointments this year, and I’m not sure how much can be read into them.
Samoa have named a very strong squad – comprising just two locally based players – for their tour of South Africa next month.
The European climax of the HSBC Sevens World Series kicked off in Scotland with Round Eight this weekend, the Glasgow Sevens at Scotstoun Stadium. The Tournament ran from Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May.
With ONE more game to go, who will take the CUP, South Africa or New Zealand?
Well, that question was answered in Green and Gold… Blitzbokke take the Glasgow title, with a win by 28 / 21.
Scott Johnson, the current head coach of the Scotland team has been appointed Director of Rugby for Scottish Rugby. The post has been described by Scottish Rugby as “absolutely integral to Scotland’s standing on the world stage in the next decade and beyond.”
Any expansion of Super Rugby in the near future is likely to leave the Pacific Islands out in the cold in favour of the United States or Canada.
SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters stated earlier this month that they are looking at United States and Canada after they were included in the Pacific Nations Cup.
The Lions have finally announced their proposed fixtures to be played in lieu of Super Rugby participation in 2013.
The fixtures include matches from the “Lions Challenge”, as well as some friendlies against Super Rugby opposition as well as a number of international, American and European club sides.
The full media release from the Lions follows:
Injuries to key players have forced four changes in the Samoa XV to take on France in a rugby union test match at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Wales (13) 19 / 26 (10) Samoa (Final Score)
Wales and Samoa did battle in the End Of Year Tours at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 21:30 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Samoa has rejigged its back division as part of six changes to the starting line-up for Friday’s international against Wales.
The customary time of the year when Southern Hemisphere International teams descend on the Northern Hemisphere is now upon us. We can look forward to four action packed weekends with twenty matches involving the various international teams (nineteen of which will be test matches).
Rob Howley has named a 35-man Wales squad to contest the 2012 Dove Men Series at the Millennium Stadium this Autumn (Northern Hemisphere) which includes just one uncapped player and the returning Jamie Roberts.
The scores from the various matches will be updated here as a live thread. All the games are live on SS1 and SS5
The IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 gets underway on Tuesday, June 5 at Nagoya’s Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, one of three venues for this year’s tournament.
Samoa play Tonga in the opening game of the double-header match day, followed by hosts Japan who start their title defence against Fiji.
The England tour of South Africa has already been given a considerable amount of ‘air time’ on this site, and no doubt will continue to feature heavily in the coverage over the coming weeks. This article provides some information on the tours down south of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
New Zealand (36) 63 / (0) 0 Samoa (Final Score)
New Zealand and Samoa did battle in the IRB Junior World Championships at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 16:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Wellington – Dumped Samoa captain Mahonri Schwalger has called for the Pacific nation’s prime minister to be replaced as chairperson of the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) and hit out at “arrogant” rugby administrators.
The Waratahs will kick off their Super Rugby 2012 preparations with the first of two trial matches against Samoa in Tamworth on Friday February 10, 2012.
A second match will take place at the Sydney Football Stadium the following week with full details due to be confirmed shortly.
Samoan centre Eliota Fuimaono 
Sapolu was ordered to appear before an RFU disicplinary panel on Friday after being hit with three charges of “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game.”
Samoan captain Mahroni Schwalger has blamed his team’s World Cup failure on a lack of professionalism and a culture of alcohol abuse in the team management.
Tuks (16) 16 / UCT (10) 26 (Final Score)
Tukkies hosted UCT at LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & SCN on TV in SA.
UCT kept the Tukkies scoreless in the second half, whilst they slowly caught up and then passed the Tukkies score, to eventually hold out under enormous pressure from Tukkies.
UCT are the Varsity Cup champions for 2011.
Ikey Tigers blow Shimlas away
FNB UCT produced a sensational first-half performance to put FNB Shimlas away 57-20 in their semifinal meeting in Cape Town, as they booked a place in the 2011 Varsity Cup Final for the third time in four years.
Tuks spoil UJ’s semifinal party
Speaking ahead of the Varsity Cup semifinals, FNB Tuks described their Last Four meeting with FNB UJ as a David v Goliath-type contest. Well, David – once again – felled Goliath as the fourth-placed Tuks beat the top-of-the-log UJ side by 25-11.
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The two Semi-finals of the Varsity Cup was played today, the 1st match at 17:00 and the 2nd match at 19:00. This was the combined match thread for discussion of the Games. The matches were broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.