What a game!! What a atmosphere!! What a night!!
This must have been one of the best rugby games so far at the World Cup and we were there to witness every moment of it...
All the elements were in place for a truly unforgetable night of rugby. The weather was at it's best. The Samoans supporters were at their creative and vocal best as was the thousands of Springbok supporters who made it all the way to North Harbour stadium to support their beloved team as they played a very aggressive and emotional Samoan outfit.
We were lucky to have great seats that allowed us to not only hear the loud crunching impacts of Samoans and South African bodies colliding but also to feel the tension and passion that both these teams played with.
South Africa started the game strongly and dominated the Samoan scrums and line outs while matching their physical approach. It was their good discipline that keep them ahead in the game with great kicking by both Steyn's. A well worked try finished by Bryan Habana in the first half capped off some fine backline display lead by Jacque Fourie making a decisive pass to the winger before feeling the pain of a Samoan shoulder in his ribs.
In the second half the Samoans fought back hard and decided to run the ball at all costs...and it worked! There was a wonderful display of running rugby that got the crowd wild. Sadly a poor call from the Referee and Touch judge lead to the red carding of their full back Paul Williams and shortly after a yellow card to John Smit.
The game ended as did the Samoan World Cup campaign. On the streets of Auckland after the game it felt as if the Samoans had won the game as hundreds of Samoans poured the streets in jubilation waving their flags around. The Springboks may have won the game but the Samoans surely must have won their World cup and all the supporters in Auckland and the world.
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