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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the historic Test between Manu Samoa and New Zealand in Apia. The Test marks the first time the All Blacks have faced the Pacific Islanders on their home turf, promising an emotional atmosphere for what should be a fine clash. The All Blacks have named an imposing side with skipper Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Kieran Read all included in the run-on XV. Kick-off is just a few minutes away, so stay with us as we bring you all the live action!
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| 1 |
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Referee Jaco Peyper gets us underway in Apia as Samoa full-back Tim Nanai-Williams kicks off deep down into All Blacks' territory. Andy Ellis immediately opts for the box-kick which Samoa fails to take, only for Brodie Retallick to knock the bouncing ball on. A nervy start from the hosts.
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| 2 |
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Samoa win a penalty from the first scrum of the game but fail to find touch. The All Blacks clear back down field and win a turnover, creating their first attacking opportunity of the match. The visitors string some nice phases but the Samoans scramble well in defence before Kieran Read drops a regulation pass.
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| 4 |
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Again the Samoan scrum comes under pressure, giving the All Blacks the chance to get up quickly in defence and force a turnover. They manage to do so and while their passing fails to hit the mark going wide, referee Peyper blows a penalty for off-side.
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| 5 |
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First points to the All Blacks with Dan Carter kicking a penalty from right out in front.
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| 6 |
0 - 3 |
First points to the All Blacks with Dan Carter kicking a penalty from right out in front.
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| 7 |
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A bad error from Alofa Alofa sees the All Blacks immediately come back onto the attack; the Samoan winger kicking out on the full.
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| 8 |
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The All Blacks attempt to set up a drive from the lineout but make little ground, forcing Andy Ellis to open up the backline. Fly-half Dan Carter immediately opts for the cross-kick but it's too big for the chasing George Moala.
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| 10 |
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Andy Ellis goes for a snipe down the blindside from a scrum following a Samoan mistake, the half-back offloading to winger George Moala. The debutant is crunched in a huge hit however, and forced backwards.
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| 12 |
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Penalty All Blacks. Dan Carter will line up his second penalty of the game after Samoa are penalised fo off-side at the scrum. This one will be a little bit tougher than the first however, taking place 20 metres in from the right touch-line.
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| 13 |
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Carter fails to split the posts on this occasion, the score remains 3-0 to the All Blacks.
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| 14 |
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Samoa have struggled for territory and possession in the opening quarter and their case isn't helped once more as Kahn Fotuali'i kicks out on the full. The All Blacks fail to make the most of the opportunity however, allowing the Samoans to clear down field.
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| 15 |
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Penalty All Blacks. A late hit from one of the Samoan backs will give Carter another opportunity to extend the lead. Winger Alesana Tuilagi may actually be a little lucky to still be on the field.
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| 17 |
0 - 6 |
Carter splits the uprights this time around and it's the All Blacks leading 6-0.
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| 19 |
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Samoa finally make their way inside the All Blacks' 22 as referee Peyper finds an infringement at the breakdown. They string together a couple of phases but soon knock-on, allowing Ryan Crotty to clear for the All Blacks.
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| 21 |
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Samoa will have their first chance at points with the Richie McCaw penalised for not rolling away. The physicality of this game has been huge so far with All Blacks prop Ben Franks the latest player to deliver a crunching hit.
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| 22 |
3 - 6 |
Samoa are on the board! Fly-half Tusi Pisi slots a long-range penalty to reduce the gap to just three points.
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| 24 |
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A chance goes begging for Samoa as turnover ball allows them to scoot down the blindside through Tim Nanai-Williams and Alesana Tuilagi. The winger is cut down in a fine covering tackle from Kieran Read and his pass back inside to Nanai-Williams hits the deck.
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| 26 |
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Penalty All Blacks. Samoa are again pinged for off-side which may soon force referee Peyper to increas the sanction. Carter will line up another shot at penalty, and hope to take the lead back out to six points.
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| 27 |
3 - 9 |
Carter makes no mistake, the All Blacks now lead 9-3.
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| 29 |
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The All Blacks string their most promising attacking raid together with Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw and George Moala all involved. They win yet another penalty but this time kick to the corner, presenting an opportunity for a driving maul.
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| 30 |
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Keven Mealamu fails to hit the target from the lineout - opportunity missed.
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| 32 |
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Penalty All Blacks. The infirngements continue to come from the hosts, the latest one against prop Census Johnston at scrum time. Carter again calls for the kicking tee and a shot at three points.
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| 33 |
3 - 12 |
It's over. The All Blacks have their largest lead of the match so far at 12-3.
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| 34 |
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Samoa make another mistake from the kick-off as the ball floats into touch on the full. The All Blacks will have the chance to attack from a centre-field scrum back on halfway.
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| 35 |
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They again fail to make the most of the chance, Samoan flanker Jack Lam winning a penalty at the breakdown for holding on.
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| 37 |
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All Blacks continue to push passes in attack as another ball hits the deck, with Israel Dagg the latest offender. The visitors are obviously a little rusty in their first Test of the year but their handling hasn't been good enough either.
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| 39 |
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Samoa will have the last attacking opportunity of the half after the All Blacks are penalised for off-side. Fly-half Tusi Pisi finds touch but they fail to win the lineout, allowing the All Blacks to counter.
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| 40 |
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That's half-time in Apia with the first 40 minutes dominated by mistakes and penalties. The All Blacks have had the better of territory and possession but poor handling and loose passes have prohibited them from any sustained attacks. Samoa are holding up in defence but have had few chances in attack themselves.
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Players are returning for the second half.
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| 40 |
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We're back underway in Apia as Dan Carter kicks off deep, too deep! The kick goes out on the full, giving Samoa a centre-field scrum back on halfway.
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| 41 |
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A great tackle from George Moala stops the hulking Alesana Tuilagi in his tracks following a sharp Samoan attack down the short-side.
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| 46 |
3 - 17 |
Try time All Blacks! A powerful scrum presents Dan Carter with great ball, the fly-half again opting for the cross-kick to George Moala. This time the winger gets to it on the full and beats two defenders to cross for the game's first try.
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| 47 |
3 - 19 |
Dan Carter adds the extras to open up a handy 16-point lead for the All Blacks.
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| 49 |
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Samoa try a cheeky kick of their own in behind the All Blacks and get a reward with Israel Dagg first knocking-on, and then penalised for playing the ball on the ground. Tusi Pisi will line up a shot at penalty goal from right in front.
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| 50 |
6 - 19 |
Pisi makes no mistake, reducing the gap to 13 points.
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| 51 |
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Samoa are enjoying a nice little period at the moment as they find space down the left touchline with some sharp passing. The play eventually breaks down back in midfield but referee Peyper comes back for a penalty for off-side.
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| 52 |
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Tusi Pisi's penalty attempt hits the crossbar! The ball bounces back into play and Dan Carter clears for the All Blacks.
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| 54 |
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The All Blacks are again penalised for offside as Samoa manage to string a number of phases together following a 20-metre lineout drive.
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| 55 |
9 - 19 |
Tusi Pisi is successful with the attempt, reducing the gap to just 10 points.
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| 56 |
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Some great play from the kick-off sees Samoa rumble down field with both their backs and forwards making some powerful surges. The hosts looked to have settled into the second half much better than they did the first, and are having some success with their big bodies in midfield.
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| 57 |
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Penalty All Blacks. The visitors' scrum wins its second penalty of the match, giving Dan Carter a shot at three points from right on halfway.
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| 59 |
9 - 22 |
It's over, and the lead is back out to 13 points at 22-9.
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| 62 |
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The penalties continue to come thick and fast with the All Blacks penalised inside Samoa's 22 for offside. Pisi boots the hosts down in the All Blacks' half, and they opt for another drive from the lineout.
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| 63 |
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Samoa can't secure possession from the lineour drive and turn the ball over from a collapsed maul.
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| 64 |
14 - 22 |
Try time Samoa! The crowd goes wild as Alafoti Faosiliva crosses for the hosts following two powerful individual runs. The back-rower first got the hosts on the front foot and then got back to his feet to take another run moments later to rumble over the top of Israel Dagg.
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| 65 |
16 - 22 |
Tim Nanai-Williams adds the extras to reduce the gap to just six points with 15 minutes to play.
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| 67 |
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The All Blacks again try their luck with the cross kick after a powerful lineout drive, only this time it's too big for Charles Piutau and drifts out on the full.
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| 68 |
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The All Blacks manage to recover following a huge hit on Charles Piutau, the winger doing very well to hold a high ball with the Samoan defence arriving at just the right time. That allows the All Blacks to counter through Sonny Bill Williams but his flick pass is forward.
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| 70 |
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Samoa will have the chance to attack from inside the All Blacks half again as Brodie Retallick gives away a silly penalty at the breakdown.
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| 72 |
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A frantic passage of play sees the ball turned over a few times before replacement half-back Brad Weber kicks down field and leads the chase. The ball has far too much weight for the small in-goal areas, see the play come all the way for a Samoan scrum on the All Blacks' 10-metre line.
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| 73 |
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Penalty All Blacks. The visitors' scrum again proves too strong, giving Dan Carter a shot at three points from around 47 metres.
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| 74 |
16 - 25 |
It's over and the lead is back out to nine points. That should be enough for the All Blacks to hold on.
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| 77 |
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A promising All Blacks attack eventually breaks down with obstruction just a few metres short of Samoa's line. A wonderful break from Charles Piutau brought the visitors down field but loose passing, and then a bad running line from Ryan Crotty saw it come no avail.
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| 79 |
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All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot quickly snuffs out any chance of a final Samoan hurrah with a turnover at the breakdown. The veteran rake then undoes all his good work with a forward pass, setting up the final play of the game.
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| 80 |
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It's all over in Apia, the All Blacks triumphing 25-16 in a physical clash that saw just the two tries. It's been a fantastic few days in Apia; hopefully we see some of the other Tier 1 Test nations follow the All Blacks' lead and head to Samoa sooner rather than later.
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