Samoa surprise performance?

Question

I am an avid Springbok fan, to the sweating palms, palpitations, the whole nine yards!! I have to say even though it was only our B team that played us last week, didnt the Tongans play with passion and guts?

Answer 1

I must admit, the minnows of this tournament, Namibia, Georgia, Portugal etc,  have all played with passion and guts and have been very entertaining!

Take the Japanese tonight, they fought all the way to get a draw and good on them!

What the IRB are thinking of by only letting  16 teams in REC 2011 is beyond me!

We need to promote the game worldwide not demote it!

Answer 2

Passion, guts and determination, a quality any top side should play with, so I agree with you there. But SA 'B' team yeah right. SA maybe had a few top players missing from the first half, but then the brought on the big guns, because they had to, and still nearly lost it. Had Tonga had another 5-10 mins on their side the score may very well have been something in favour of Tonga. The Tongans did superbly, I believe their best is yet to come. I think they would have walked away from that game knowing they can actually do it. And the proof was in the pudding when the big guns arrived and SA scored twice shortly after, most other opposition would have been intimidated and SA could have run away with it from that moment on, but I think that just made the Tongans more hungry and in the meantime gave SA a real fright and made them realise that you should never underestimate an Island team. If Tonga bring that game against England, the later wont even make the quarters.

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Answer 3

I agree with the previous comment..title supposed to be Tonga surprise Performance...well, they did come out and show something of themselves. I'm surprised, that a team with lack of resources, they managed to scare off the Boks, who have their own nutritionist and facilities. I hope Tonga can beat England. So much speculation is on them to beat us, but hopefully we can beat the so called "Champions".

Answer 4

Karla, I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that it was in fact a B team running out for South Africa with 11 changes to the regular starting line up!

Having said that, it still was a star filled team that should have thrashed the Tongans! I can't help thinking that rotating the players like that just disrupts a teams rythm.

I certainly hope the close victory for SA was due to a greatly improved Tongan side. The minnows has definately not lived up to their name this year and I have to add that it's a pleasant surprise.