My regular reader(s) will no doubt be aware that the teams' world rankings throughout the tournament and thus through my posts, have been, shall we say, fluid. This is not because I am pulling them from a hat, but instead from the IRB's official iPad app on the day of play. And the IRB are adjusting rankings on the go.
So playing South Africa is now tougher for Samoa than it would have been at the start of the tourney. Because now the RSA are officially the second best team here, and they should be too. They are mighty at the set piece, they have the best defence and they are converting more kicks than any other team. They've used this same formula to win two World Cups already, so they are going to be a huge handful for the brave Samoans.
The Samoan team come to this match riding on a roller coaster of emotion. They've played pretty well but not with their trademark flair. They've overcome Fiji and Namibia, but lost narrowly to Wales. But they have been in the news for reasons other than Rugby. They are struggling to afford to even be here in the first place, but this has been compounded by a unfairly harsh punishment by the IRB for a player using an "offending" non regulation mouthguard - a $10 000 fine they can not afford.
But a hero has stepped in; TV3's John Campbell has made it his personal mission to help pay this fine for the Manu Samoan team. He has sausage sizzled his way towards repaying this pound of flesh, collecting enough today to pay the IRB's nasty fine. Hopefully the Samoans can amp off of this public support, get angry at the IRB, the South Africans and come out firing on all cylinders and surprise us all. Stranger things have happened at sea.
The Springboks, disarmingly dressed in white, look deadly immediately, controlling the ball through multiple phases and grinding up to the Samoan twenty two. They then sneak a drop goal attempt from Morne Steyn. He misses, but this is a warning to all comers. The Boks see the droppy as a potential match winner and they are trying to perfect it.
On 5 minutes Frans Steyn hits a huge penalty attempt from halfway and hits the crossbar. If Samoa can score first, that will rattle the South Africans who could have 6 points by now.
It's not to be. My favourite Springbok Bryan Habana scores a great winger's try in the left corner on 9 minutes. Morne's radar is on target and the Boks are quickly 7-0 up. The Boks are looking clinical.
At last on 12 minutes the Samoan team finally begin to play some Island Style footy! Passing between the legs and with props running like backs. They work the ball to the Springbok line only to be denied by a dubious penalty. I hope they can keep their spirits up, because this is disheartening.
But at 19 minutes it is the Springboks who are looking a little rattled. They have started conceding silly penalties and are engaging in fistycuffs. The South Africans have had incredible discipline in the Tournament up until now, and I'm sure coach De Villiers will not be amused to see this faltering.
Frans Steyn nails one of the biggest penalties ever seen on a New Zealand rugby field on the 24 minute mark. Foxy thinks about 60 metres. The score is 10-0 but the Boks are playing with a healthy breeze at their backs. They are also rampant at the set piece, with their scum and line-out in complete control. Manu Samoa are playing dumb footy now and gift Morne another 3 pointer. 13-0 after 27 minutes.
I figure Manu Samoa must try and score before the half ends or they will soon run out of hope.
One of the notable features of the Springbok game plan is their use of two kickers. On 32 minutes Frans Steyn slightly undercooks another attempt from 63 metres. He might have missed this but it proves that no team can afford to concede any penalty against them. This makes it a long half playing into the wind for Manu Samoa.
But they make it to the break without conceding any further advantage to the Boks. It remains 13-0 at halftime. One tweet explains their dilema tonight. "Samoa have absolutely no set piece. Surprised if they can win this without a lineout or scrum, getting pwnd by SA" @barryhannah
Manu Samoa will need to keep hold of the ball and attempt to tire the big South Africans in the next half. Megan and I saw an athletic Fiji fail to do this a couple of weeks ago, so this will be a big ask.
The first 3 minutes of the second spell are a nightmare for Bryan Habana, who is a one man version of the keystone cops! Even though their pack are still struggling, the Samoan team look more comfortable with the wind at their backs. However they might just need a bit of luck to find their way back into the game.
At 46 minutes, the Springboks blow a great chance at a pushover try - the Samoans will take heart from that. They'll also be pleased to see the end of Habana who has pin-balled himself out of this game.
Samoa grow in confidence and scrappily win a line-out next. They press the South Africans who are saved by the bell when Francois Hoggart is knocked out in the middle of their charge.
AWESOME big #8 George Stowers confirms the Manu Samoan renaissance on the 52 minute mark when he finishes a delightful midfield blitz on the Boks' line. Tusi Pisi misses. 13-5 RSA.
Astonishingly Morne Steyn misses a penalty kick. The South African script for success is not being followed to the letter. If the Samoans can score next, it will be game on!
Mercurial little Samoan wing David Lemi nearly does it alone, and crazy ref Nigel Owens denies the Samoans with a shocking decision. The Boks look vulnerable as. The Manu Samoans are not deterred and are flinging the ball about with gay abandon. I truly believe that their hope of success stems from playing their natural game, but will they be allowed to do so?
South Africa camp on the Samoan line between the 60th and 62nd minutes but fail to collect any points. The crowd get behind Samoa and we have a real chance at an upset in Albany. Astonishingly with 3 players injured, the 12 remaining Samoans almost breech the Boks - this is great David and Goliath stuff folks.
A genius Manu Samoan attack results in a knock-on on the Boks' try-line at the 66 minute mark. They are right in this but they desperately need an ounce of luck. Owens has given them no favours at all tonight.
But it is the linesman who nips their chances in the bud when he spots fullback Paul Wiliams strike Heinrich Brussow in the head - the Tournament's first red card is deserved. I don't think his dad All Black great Beegee Williams will be too chuffed with that.
Hold the phone, within minutes there is a make up call! John Smit is Yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on. With 10 minutes remaining it will be 14 men playing 14 men (and a ref).
The final ten minutes see magical running rugby, but no fairy tale. The South Africans held on via true grit, and superior goal kicking. The Samoans leave Albany with Campbell's $10K and the crowd's heart.
Final score: South Africa 13 - Samoa 5
33 games 196 tries
Tweet of the match - "Samoa gave 80 courageous minutes. Outstanding. SAF gave it theirs. And Owens gave the most appalling display you will ever see. Head up PW." @Martin_Crowe
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