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Australia 34-15 Samoa: David Pocock returns as Wallabies win in Sydney
Australia vs Samoa
10:30am Saturday 7th September
David Pocock created a return as the Wallabies bid farewell to Australia in Western Sydney Stadium on Saturday in their final match before the Rugby World Cup with a hard-fought 34-15 victory over Samoa.
Flanker Pocock, playing his first match since March 8 and sidelined by injury for most of the year, captained the house side in place of the rested Michael Hooper and managed 58 minutes before making way.
The world champions were 22-3 in front at half-time using Pocock having provided the pass for lock Adam Coleman to evaluate the first of Australia's six tries.
Winger Marika Koroibete, who looked dangerous throughout, scored the pick of these scores together with flanker Lukhan Salakaia-Loto along with center Adam Ashley-Cooper also crossing half-time if he rampaged past four defenders in the 16th minute.
Samoa centre Matt To'omua crossed to see the hosts and hit back after the break.
«It was a tough one, lots of big hits. But it was great to be out there, very pleasurable,» said Pocock.
«There's plenty to work on the market, I thought a few of our silhouette was really good but it did receive a bit stop-start sometimes, they put us under stress and there is a couple of things in scrum time we'll operate on.»
After the first had finished with an unfortunate accident, samoa briefly threatened a repeat of the upset they attained in their last game against the Wallabies in Sydney in 2011 using their resurgence in the second half.
Beginning scrumhalf Scott Malolua needed a test introduction to overlook, dislocating his shoulder in a ruck that is try-line to place his participation in the World Cup in doubt.
His replacement Polataivao made an immediate impact, though, scoring his first try after the Pacific islanders had ruled the next eight minutes later following a line-break from centre Reynold Lee-Lo and an attacking scrum.
«It was a tough first halfwe gave up four tries through errors and a high top quality side like Australia are going to capitalise,» said Manu Samoa skipper Tusi Pisi.
«The boys have worked very hard throughout the previous month and hopefully we could add some good performances at the World Cup.»
Australia came through front but there will be a concern in Coleman leaving the area with what looked after 56 minutes.
Coach Michael Cheika, that led Australia into the final four years back in England, will take reassurance from the fact that he fielded a side very different from that anticipated to begin the World Cup opener against Fiji at Sapporo on Sept. 21.
The Wallabies additionally confront Georgia, Uruguay and Wales in Pool D, while Samoa are in Pool A with hosts Japan, Ireland, Scotland and Russia.
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