Australia vs Samoa
International
10:30am Saturday 7th September

David Pocock made an effective return using a victory over Samoa as the Wallabies bid farewell to Australia at Western Sydney Stadium on Saturday in their final match ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Flanker Pocock, sidelined by injury for most of the year and playing his first game since March 8, captained the house side in place of the rested Michael Hooper and managed 58 minutes before making way.
The world champions were 22-3 facing half-time using Pocock having supplied the pass for lock Adam Coleman to evaluate the first of Australia’s six tries at the eighth minute.
Scored the selection of these scores together with flanker Lukhan Salakaia-Loto along with centre Adam Ashley-Cooper additionally crossing half-time when he rampaged previous four defenders from the minute.
Samoa hit back after the break with Dwayne Polataivao scoring the two of their attempts but winger Dane Haylett-Petty and centre Matt To’omua spanned to see the hosts to success.
“It was a difficult one, tons of big hits. However, it was good to be out there, very enjoyable,” said Pocock.
“There’s plenty to work on there, I thought a few of our silhouette was really good but it did receive somewhat stop-start occasionally, they put us under stress and there is a couple of things at scrum time we will work on.”
After the first had finished with an injury, samoa temporarily threatened a replica of the upset they achieved in their game against the Wallabies in Sydney in 2011.
Beginning scrumhalf Scott Malolua needed a test debut to overlook, dislocating his shoulder at a try-line ruck to place his participation from the World Cup in doubt.
His replacement Polataivao created an immediate effect, however, scoring his first try following the Pacific islanders had ruled an attacking scrum along with the second eight minutes later following a line-break from centre Reynold Lee-Lo.
“It was a difficult first halfwe gave up four tries through mistakes along with a quality side like Australia are going to capitalise,” said Manu Samoa skipper Tusi Pisi.
“The boys have worked really hard over the last month and hopefully we can add some decent performances in the World Cup.”
But there will be a concern at Coleman leaving the area with what looked like a thumb problem after 56 minutes, australia came through unscathed on the injury front.
Coach Michael Cheika, who led Australia to the final four decades back in England, will take pleasure from the fact he fielded a side quite different from that expected to begin the World Cup opener against Fiji in Sapporo on Sept. 21.
The Wallabies confront Wales, Uruguay and Georgia in Pool D, although Samoa are in Pool A with hosts Japan, Ireland, Scotland and Russia.