iRB.com 18/07/09 - Manu Samoa beat the Pukpuks of Papua New Guinea 73-12 in Port Moresby on Saturday to win 188-19 on aggregate over their two play-off ties and qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Samoa becomes the second nation to progress through the global qualifying process, following Canada's qualification last weekend, and the 14th to secure its place in the tournament.

Samoa joins defending World Champions South Africa in Pool D along with Wales and Fiji. The pool line-up will be completed by the winner of Africa's qualifying final, between Tunisia and Namibia in November.

Samoa started at the Lloyd Robson stadium at a ferocious pace and wing Mikaele Pesamino crossed for the first of his three tries after just four minutes.

Andrew Williams scoring two tries in Apia will be looking for more as he starts in the second leg Qualifier.

16/07/09 - Manu Samoa is but a win away from securing a Rugby World Cup berth in 2011. Called a Rugby super power by its PNG opponent, it’s a humble situation the team finds itself hero-worshipped.  

“We need to maintain our focus and work on the momentum gained last week. If we relax just a little bit, we could end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard”, says Manu Samoa Assistant Coach, Fepulea’i Patu from Port Moresby.

“The game this weekend is a very serious one for us. The Pukpuks have had a chance to review last week’s match and they would have identified areas to plug and counter the gaps we found last week. I expect they will improve as a result. They will be very hard to beat, because they will be playing in front of their home crowd, they will be playing for pride and respect and they believe they have a chance to win as they feel we are weakened by some of our players that are unavailable.”

Ernest Skelton scores the try that cracked the 100-points for Manu Samoa

13/07/09 – Just hours before its match against Papua New Guinea (PNG) last weekend, Head Coach Fuimaono Tafua told his team, “This is the most important match in the history of our rugby here in Samoa. If we don’t win today, rugby in our country dies.”

As the Manu Samoa team flew out early this morning to PNG for the final Oceania Qualifier match – rugby in Samoa is very much alive.

In the first Oceania leg, Manu Samoa stamped its superiority over the PNG Pukpuks by winning 115-7. It was a performance worthy of the many historical milestones it represented. A performance that illustrated the gulf in standards between the Pacific’s top-tier and second with Manu Samoa running in 17 tries to one. However, the 108 point margin did not reflect the effort and passion of the Pukpuks as they tackled themselves to the ground. And perhaps unearth opportunities for the Pacific cousins to work together and strengthen Oceania rugby that will benefit the region as a whole.

 
Two captains. George Stowers and William Rikis

10/07/09 - The first leg to find out which of Manu Samoa or PNG Pukpuks will contest the Rugby World Cup in 2011 gets underway this Saturday at 3pm.

Head Coach for Manu Samoa stated, “This match will not be easy assignment for Manu Samoa. Our cousins from Papua New Guinea are the Oceania Champions and here to win.”

Added Captain George Stowers, “We’re still feeling the disappointment from the loss to Fiji. We didn’t follow the game plan in the second half and we’re determined to make sure we do that against Pukpuks.

“We’re focusing on this match just as we would against any other test match. We’re looking forward to the challenge just as Pukpuks are looking forward to locking horns with us on the field.”