Samoa has beaten Argentina three times in four Test matches, including a 28-12 drubbing in Buenos Aires in 2005.
Terry Tavita, The Roar
But you wouldn’t know, as Argentina has consistently been ranked in the top ten – or even top five – teams in the world the last 15 or so years.
This, while Samoa is deemed a second tier side.
No disrespect to Argentina. They are very passionate about their rugby and have a long and colourful rugby history. Their inclusion also in the Rugby Championship is merited with some good performances over the years as well as, ideal in spreading the rugby gospel in that vast country and the wider South American continent. That is what we all want.
But what about Samoa?
They have a better win-loss record to Argentina and in the last 18 months clobbered the Wallabies in Sydney and ran the Springboks to the wire at the World Cup last year.
Don’t we deserve a possible mention as a possible Rugby Championship side in the future?
From a Samoan point of view, the envy is that Argentina will be a better rugby side in the future now that it will play regularly at this level and the enormous funding boost from the IRB that is coming with it.
Where does that leave Samoa? Samoa too would like to enjoy these benefits Argentina are getting.
Samoa is not unaware of its disadvantages, particularly in the business aspect of the game. A small population (just 180,000 people), a small economy and, like what Argentina are going through, trying to get professional players released from their European clubs for Test matches.
But the country is teeming with rugby talent and has consistently punched above its weight.
Based on results alone, we should be the fourth nation in this exciting Rugby Championship setup. It is only fair.
elcamino
logan
Tina
ROOILEEU
KingPaul
Methos The French Stormer
Thomas_Bulls
Deon
Aldo
JT_BOKBEFOK!
garyj1-Bulls
Amethyst
trevormayhew
Pom in Joburg
Marcel
namboer
Jacques(Bunny)Somtimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits
RUGGA_MIND
Quinn25
Pokkel
moose
Vernonimous
Watte
niekie
Dante
Panther
Vetgesmeerde Blits
bryce_in_oz
Kozac
Blokkies
Number12_Lions
Brutus2
Lehe6
Estian Nortier
DavidS
johanleroux13
Morné
Tafelberg
pietstreak
Ollie
Koos
October 2nd, 2012 at 3:18 am
Geeze- author sounds as dreamy as that boob Obama.
Because they have a population of 180,000 and are essentially for rugby purposes the All Black B team.
And we also live in a world of commercial/monetary reality – not on Planet Whoopi.
October 2nd, 2012 at 4:02 am
Reply to Americano @ 3:18 am:
Yep you’ve hit the nail on the head for the most part… Argentina have a population slightly less than South Africa and a GDP slightly higher not too mention the most popular sport in football… that’s a huge potential growth market…
It must be said that Argentina have consistently been ranked much higher than Samoa in the world rankings and have consistently made it further in the RWC…
October 2nd, 2012 at 5:47 am
Besides Samoa been thugs and would injure many players through dirtly late high dangerous tackles they have made too many enemies.
South Africa is sill smarting at Samoa once again been dirty pigs(another world cup thuggery) but the fall out from the cheating tweets and criticism of a ref baised to them has made bad memories and in Rugby politics is king.
I had been a Samoa advocate to play on a bigger stage but now they can get effed.
P.S. NZ and Australia would have a more difficulst time paoching players that would play more often for Samoa.
October 2nd, 2012 at 5:53 am
Reply to Kevin Rack @ 5:47 am:
P.S… rubbish… 1000′s of Pacific Islanders move to Australia and NZ for exactly the same reason the Brits, South Africans, Chinese and Indians do each year… for a more secure future for themselves and their children…
October 2nd, 2012 at 6:35 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 5:53 am:
Sure, but then those playing Rugby in Oz or NZ would have a choice and some that have in the past gone on to represent the two countries might actually decide to play for Samoa instead assuming that the pay would be equivalent. Kevin is right, it might just deplete Oz and NZ’s acess to the biggest and the best.
October 2nd, 2012 at 7:25 am
Reply to mawm-the-ever-hopeful-shark @ 6:35 am:
The effect would be minimal… don’t kid yourself pay would EVER be near equivalent simply by being a part of the RC… many of the best Argie players are playing club rugby in the NH rather than representing their countries… as an aside I cannot name one current NZ/Aus player that hasn’t been essentially naturalised into their adopted country since a child as opposed to this ‘poaching’ I hear of…
October 2nd, 2012 at 10:55 am
The Rugby powers willnever allow it for then NZ will not be able to steal these players
October 2nd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
That Samoa win was against an Aus B side.
So the last Samoa win was against Arg in 2005.
Duuuuhhhh…. Wherre was Samoa in 2007 when Arg beat France twice to get into the RWC semifinal… Uhm… Oh yes…. On the way home…
Dreamy bumfluff like a teenage boy’s wet dream fantasies of nubile willing scantily clad hoties wanting his pimply face and microwave 10 seconds to ding hairless dick.
October 2nd, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 12:25 pm: nubile willing scantily clad hoties yeah I can relate to that. Scantly clad hoties…hmmm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 5:53 am: Yep I know cheap dig but the first point is they have made enemies and rugby is all about politics.
Besides them just been thugs of course.
October 2nd, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Reply to Kevin Rack @ 12:57 pm:
Thing is… one trip to Samoa, like Tonga and Fiji and that whole angle is dispelled… gentle giants so lid back in every way… playing the game on mudflats all across the Islands (despite their blood-thirsty histories)…
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:54 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:40 pm: Watch the telly Bryce, especially the worst game rugby in RWC history with Samoa and the Boks. Dont talk shit to me and watch that game.
They deserve to sit on their island and play with themselves. Its all of their own making by playing to NZ commands.
They have played into NZ hands and like SARU and Sanzoo, if you are dumb you get taken.
October 5th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Reply to Kevin Rack @ 4:54 am:
I suppose then it’s only your Illuminati-NWO-911 conspiracy type mind that denies the fact that South Africa has one of the worst records in modern rugby test history for foul play… far more yellows and reds than any PI nation!
Let me guess… all a part of the ‘Get-the-Japies’ conspiracy…