SAMOA PUT UP a huge performance this morning in their first ever home test match against the All Blacks , but it wasn’t enough to stop Dan Carter and co from eking out a nine point win.
Despite being without their Highlander and Hurricanes contingent, the All Blacks were able to send out a team packed with test stars in Apia, with a combined 634 caps in the pack alone.
The much anticipated game exploded into life even before the kick off though as the sides faced off for their respective war dances, as first the Haka, and secondly the Samoan Siva Tau got the pulses racing.
Despite so much experience in Steve Hansen’s team, it was debutant George Moala of the Auckland Blues who scored their only try of the game, as he latched onto Dan Carter’s stunning crossfield kick, before shaking off Alesana Tuilagi’s tackle en route to the line.
Some individual brilliance from Alafoti Faosiliva brought the Samoans back into it a quarter of an hour from the end, but another Carter penalty killed the momentum, as the All Blacks opened their season with yet another win.