Match Preview: Kiwis v Samoa
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Ahead of playing on New Zealand soil for the first time in four years, Toa Samoa see no reason why their support at Eden Park this Saturday can’t match that generated by Mate Ma’a Tonga in recent years.
Since the 2017 World Cup – when a host of stars elected to represent Tonga over the Kiwis or Kangaroos – the island nation has been a major drawcard in New Zealand and typically enjoyed the majority of in-stadium support when playing there, even when they've been taking on the Kiwis.
And after attracting a crowd of close to 4000 for a fan day in Auckland this week ahead of their clash with New Zealand, Toa Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said his side have an opportunity to make the country into an unofficial home base.
“If Tuesday’s fan day was anything to go by then we have got a lot of support here,” Gardiner told NRL.com.
We think there’ll be a blue wave and we will be able to compete with the black jerseys in the crowd on Saturday.
Ben Gardiner
"To be able to have a crowd behind you and a lot of support would be amazing.
“It’s been super high energy for us here and it’s building nicely towards Saturday.”
The game headlines a triple-header at Eden Park, with a match between the New Zealand and Tonga ‘A’ sides and a Test between the Kiwi Ferns and Mate Ma’a Tonga kicking things off in week two of the Pacific Championships.
Match: Kiwis v Toa Samoa
Week 2 -
home Team
Kiwis
1st Position
away Team
Toa Samoa
3rd Position
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
With Tonga’s men’s side currently touring the UK, it’s expected that large numbers of the Tongan community in Auckland will turn out on Saturday to get their fix of international footy, although Samoa prop Spencer Leniu doubts his men will get much love from their island neighbours in the crowd.
“I’m not too sure about that. I can say for sure that a lot of Samoans in general won’t go for Tonga and vice-versa, but hopefully we get a few Tongan fans cheering us on,” he said.
“Whether it’s Samoans or Tongans or whatever it may be, our people turn out in numbers and it’s always a vibe playing in front of them.
“A lot of Auckland people have been waiting for this moment to have us Toa Samoa boys come out.”
On the field it shapes as a big occasion for Samoa, after they were humbled by the Kangaroos 38-12 last week and they must beat the Kiwis to remain in the hunt to play in the Pacific Championships final on November 4.
Kangaroos v Toa Samoa - Week 1, 2023
Gardiner said a horror start, which saw his side down 22-0 after 18 minutes, meant they never gave themselves a chance against Australia in Townsville, but he expects the playing group to be far more settled this time around.
“We missed the jump, it’s not something complicated, so we have talked about how we are going to better deal with that as a team,” Gardiner said.
A lot of guys were playing their first game and I think they got caught out with the intensity of it at the start against Australia.
Ben Gardiner
“So our aim is to get that rhythm right at the start this week and that in turn will allow us to have our opportunities on the ball.”
Secure your tickets to watch both the Kiwis v Toa Samoa and Kiwi Ferns v Mate Ma'a Tonga games at Eden Park here.
