Our Travels

So this is how it went. Samoa were in Pool C which was a tough one with England who always shine in Dubai and last year's winners, South Africa and Portugal. Samoa narrowly beat both Portugal and South Africa but lost to Portugal. Portugal managed to beat both England and SA kicking both those powerhouses out of the Cup race. Samoa then faced Wales and beat them nicely in the quarter finals. They faced France in the semi-finals and beat them too to make it into the cup finals to face New Zealand. The final was amazing. Paul Perez scored a try within 10 seconds from kick off. It was just beautiful. Lolo scored another, then Perez again. Another went to Tulolo I believe. Perez was on fire and he really stood out during this tournament. He was the player of the match deservingly. He was everywhere tackling the boys in black and was there when he was need to run the ball. The whole Samoan team played like champs and didn't give NZ a chance to get through this time. It was an aweso...

Every Manu Samoa fan in every corner of the world at this very moment is most likely on the edge of their seat, biting nails, restless and just waiting with anticipation this next game that will start in an hour and half in Paris. After Samoa's last two wins against Canada and Wales this is a defining moment. They beat Australia last year and then went to lose to Wales at the World Cup in NZ which was heart wrenching for all Samoans.  To me this will change Samoa's place in the rugby world if they beat France tonight after annihilating Wales last week in their homeground Cardiff! If they don't then we're once again a one hit wonder that win once in awhile. Last week we saw our team really have the goods to deliver. Having said that France are also at the top of their game. They beat Argentina last week beautifully so it's Manu Samoa has a huge task ahead of them. Well I just want to wish our team the best of luck. O tou mama na. Whatever the outcome I'm a pro...

Samoa is swarming with rugby players at the moment. Everywhere we went we were sure to run into one or their families. They were holding trials in Samoa for the Manu Samoa team to play in the Pacific nations and then on to the team for the World Cup. And these players are Samoan guys that play all over the world. Some Samoan born some NZ born. I thought it was nice how some of these players that are successful in their own clubs elsewhere still find it the ultimate to come play for Samoa. But then again the World Cup is the ultimate for any sport I'd say. So at the airport we met up with a few of these guys leaving Samoa unhappy as they didn't make the cut. I was quite surprised for a couple of guys we knew that didn't make it! Like two of the Tuilagi brothers not making the cut!!! They're strong players and hope the team won't suffer without them. Anyway the Rugby Union in Samoa is so corrupt that it's a wonder why these guys waste their time. But then again it...

I had just hopped into bed last night when the landline started ringing. I ran out to the lounge to pick up the phone and my heart started pounding as late calls usually mean bad news. It was my mother inlaw calling to inform us that a tsunami had just hit Samoa and if my family was okay. The sick feeling I felt in the pit of my stomach was all I felt at that very moment. My mind raced as I tried to think if my family were in the danger areas. Poutasi, Falealili was mentioned and I felt even more sick as my sister J was in Poutasi to do her research there and now I was praying that she had left the area. I hung up the phone and started the marathon calls to Samoa to all my family's numbers. As I've just changed phones I didn't have all the numbers saved but these I have committed to memory. Amazing in the moment of stress and panic, I couldn't remember some of the numbers that I dial over and over. Panic rose as I could not get through to anyone. I was just not connecti...

Our Samoan rugby team won the cup at the Wellington Rugby Sevens tournament last week-end. They beat Fiji 17-14 who were the finals favourites. Fiji gave New Zealand a good beating at the semis 34-0 and everyone thought they had secured the Cup. With a bit of strength, technique and throw in a lot of heart, Samoa came away the winners last week. A big congratulations to them for the great effort. They are now heading for San Diego for the other tournament there. We hope to watch them again at the Hong Kong sevens in March! A bit of fanaticism? Maybe just patriotism!