Source: WXV

A result to set the heart racing

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Netherlands v Samoa – WXV3

This match set the 16th ranked (NL) versus the 18th (Manusina) under lights. It was to become one of the most memorable WXV matches yet played.

Against expectations the Oranjes drove the first Manusina scrum. From their own scrum they built a beautiful handling movement that saw Linneke Gevers cross in the left corner. Only three minutes gone. 5-0

This was precision rugby of the highest order.

A long Manusina kick straight into touch proved costly. The Dutch drove a line-out at pace and won a penalty by the left post. Pleuni Kievit added the three. 8-0

In the first quarter Manusina were making too many errors, in handling, at the breakdown, then, with a lineout on the Dutch 22, a misaligned throw. They compounded this by collapsing a scrum, and the Oranjes cleared.

There was drama as Easter Savelio broke straight through a ruck and burst towards the line. Two Dutch defenders got back to force her to pass and France Bloomfield must have thought she was over. But the verdict was ‘held up’. I’m not sure how the defenders managed that. Five welcome points went begging.

After the rains in Cape Town, we had a water break in the UAE. Remember those?

Now Manusina started finding their touch. They won a penalty (‘playing the 9’) in front of the sticks and Cassie Siataga got them off the mark. 8-3

That was the half-time score, and the groundstaff busied themselves restoring their pitch to bowling green standards.

Samoa started the second half well, winning two penalties in the process. But the second kick ran dead.

Astonishingly, the score board remained stuck at that 8-3 scoreline for ages. In the 78th minute Samoa won a scrum under the Dutch posts, but the ball squirted out of control, and Esmee Ligtvoet hoisted a kick safe into touch.

It was only in the 82nd minute that Manusina scored their try; the lock, Ana-Lise Sio, responsible. It was no beauty, just a typical hammering at the line till it cracked. Siataga teed up for a last-gasp win. To make tension even tauter, the kick was charged down (I think, by Gevers), and Natarsha Ganley decided it was legal. The Dutch hooped with delight and relief.

Goed gespeeld, Oranjes! Jammer dat jullie niet konden winnen.

Result: Netherlands 8 Samoa 8
Player of the Match: Linde van der Velden
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)

Teams

Netherlands
1 Anouk Veerkamp, 2 Julia Morauw, 3 Nicky Dix, 4 Linde van der Velden (captain), 5 Inger Jongerius, 5 Elisabeth Boot, 7 Mariet Luijken, 8 Isa Prins, 9 Esmee Ligtvoet, 10 Pleuni Kievit, 11 Gaya van Nifterik, 12 Pien Selbeck 13 Linneke Gevers 14 Kika Mulling 15 Lieve Stallmann
16 Anoushka Beukers, 17 Sydney de Weijer 18 Jara Bunnik, 19 Mhina de Vos, 20 Noah Demba 21 Morgane Ter Cock, 22 Lisa Egberts 23 Emma van Traa

Samoa
1 Ti Tauasosi, 2 Lulu Leuta, 3 Ana Mamea, 4 Easter Savelio, 5 Ana-Lise Sio, 6 Utumalama Atonio 7 Sui Pauaraisa (captain), 8 Nina Foaese, 9 Ana Afuie, 10 Cassie Siataga, 12 France Bloomfield, 13 Tyra Boysen, 14 Linda Fiafia 15 Drenna Falaniko
16 Avau Filimau, 17 Denise Aiolupotea, 18 Tori Iosefo, 19 Sydney Niupulusu, 20 Joanna Fanene Lolo, 21 Saelua Leaula, 22 Harmony Vatau, 23 Lutia Col Aumu

Afterthoughts

Just think: 78 minutes elapsed between the only two tries scored. A great triumph was dashed from Dutch lips, but they had the huge recompense of taking two points from a draw on their debut appearance in the big time. And this was their first match outside Europe for decades.

They had shown remarkable coherence in their play; there was no doubting their right to be present.

For Samoa, this must be a wake-up call. They may have been favourites to win, but their large pack failed to produce results until that very last moment. The team committed many unforced errors, which the coaching staff must aim to correct inside a week.

Above all, this was a huge tribute to the standards that WXV3 can achieve. It makes it all worthwhile.