Pool D - S. Africa v Samoa

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Boks seal quarter-final spot

Bryan Habana of the Springboks of South Africa goes over ro score their first try during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between South Africa and Samoa at North Harbour Stadium on September 30, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.

( September 29, 2011 - Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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South Africa remained unbeaten in Pool D and move on to the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Samoa 13-5 at North Harbour Stadium on Friday.
Samoa knew going in that it would be a tough ask to make it into the quarter-finals, but no one ever doubted they would fight until the final whistle.
There was a smidge of 'what might have been' attached to the result though for the islanders as had Mahonri Schwalger grounded a score, who knows what might of happened in the final stages. As it was the reigning champions had enough in the tank to stave off their opponents.
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Man of the match: Although on the losing side, Tusi Pisi again showed that he had a big future leading Samoa. The fly-half was light on his feet throughout and marshalled well, finding holes on more than one occasion. Mentions too for Bok props Tendai Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis at scrum-time and also flanker Schalk Burger, who was a genuine nuisance to Maurie Fa'asavalu and George Stowers. David Lemi was also very impressive.

Frans Steyn of South Africa tackled

( September 29, 2011 - Photo by Gallo Images/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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SA finishes 4-0
Samoa finishes 2-2
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Pool D Fiji v Samoa

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Fiji brushed aside by Samoa

Waisea Sedre Luveniyali of Fiji is tackled by Manaia Salavea and Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu of Samoa during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Fiji and Samoa at Eden Park on September 25, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.

( September 24, 2011 - Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Samoa gave their hopes of World Cup quarter-final qualification a boost on Sunday as they easily dispatched Fiji 27-7 at Eden Park in Auckland.
While they only scored two tries through scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i and number eight George Stowers, Samoa will be delighted with the win.
They were slick, powerful and had ideas that made Fiji fall well short of their rivals. The real test comes next week against South Africa though.
Man of the match: Tusi Pisi gave an intelligent showing at fly-half but the workrate and power of George Stowers sees him take this one. Paul Williams deserves a mention.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7199978,00.html
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George Stowers of Samoa charges forward during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Fiji and Samoa at Eden Park on September 25, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.

( September 24, 2011 - Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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next test:
9-30
Samoa v SA
Auckland
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10-2
Fiji v Wales
Hamilton
****

Pool D - Wales v Samoa

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Wales still alive at World Cup 2011

Shane Williams of Wales is tackled by George Stowers and Sakaria Taulafo of Samoa during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Samoa at Waikato Stadium on September 18, 2011 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

( September 17, 2011 - Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Wales kept their World Cup quarter-final hopes alive after seeing off Samoa 17-10 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Sunday.

Trailing by four points (6-10) at half-time, Wales dug deep to deny the Samoans victory thanks to a try by wing Shane Williams thirteen minutes from full-time which proved to be the match-winner.

After major upsets in 1991 and 1999 against Samoa, it was Wales' first victory over their bogey team at a World Cup tournament.

The win, following their 16-17 opening loss to South Africa, puts Wales in the box seat to qualify second from Pool D with a likely quarter-final against Six Nations rivals Ireland.
Man of the match: Sam Warburton did some great work for Wales at key moments, and he was at the forefront of his team's effort, however it's hard to look past Welsh Wizard Shane Williams whose try allowed his team to breathe a little easier.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7186220,00.html

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next test:

9-25

Samoa v Fiji

Auckland

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9-26

Wales v Namibia

New Plymouth

****

Pool D - Samoa v Namibia

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Samoa open with a bang

 

Prop Sakaria Taulafo of Samoa is hauled down by the Namibia defence during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Samoa and Namibia at Rotorua International Stadium on September 14, 2011 in Rotorua, New Zealand.

( September 13, 2011 - Photos by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Samoa got their Rugby World Cup campaign underway in emphatic fashion, after demolishing Namibia 49-12 at Rotorua International Stadium on Wednesday.
Samoa speedster Alesani Tuilagi bagged a hat-trick to help his team along to a comprehensive six-tries-to-two Pool D win.
The islanders simply had too much pace and power for the African minnows, with Wales, Fiji and the Springboks having been interested spectators of the performance.
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Man of the match: Blockbusting wing Alesana Tuilagi signalled his star power with Samoa's first World Cup hat-trick, but it was exciting flank Maurie Faasavalu who really caught the eye without having to score a try. He was just everywhere!
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7175476,00.html
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next test:
9-18
Samoa v Wales
Hamilton
*
9-22
Nambia v SA
Auckland
****

Samoa knock stuffing out of Wallabies

AdMaurie Fa?asavalu of Samoa is tackled by Pat McCabe of the Wallabies during the International Test match between the Australian Wallabies and Samoa at ANZ Stadium on July 17, 2011 in Sydney, Australia.

( July 16, 2011 - Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Look out world, it's the Aussie-beating Samoans

It is one of international rugby's greatest upsets - 100-1 World Cup outsiders Manu Samoa crushing one of the favourites, Australia's Wallabies.

The small Pacific Island nation - population 180,000 - was celebrating hard last night after their team's 32-23 win in Sydney. 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10739192

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France demolish Samoa

Francois Trinh-Duc (r) of France scores a try as Mahonri Schwalger (c) and David Lemi (l) of Samoa close in during the France v Samoa International match at the Stade de France on November 21, 2009 in Paris, France.

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France ran seven tries past Samoa on Saturday as they cruised to an impressive 43-5 victory at the Stade de France.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_5710502,00.html

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next test:

France v N.Zealand

Samoa v Italy

Nov 28

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