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Autumn Internationals Preview: England vs Pacific Islands
Pacific Islanders perform the pre-game "Wilkinson Kicking Stance Dance"
In the large extended family that is international rugby, the nations of the Pacific Archipelago are the cousins who have done time in chokey for drug dealing or have a habit of kicking off after a few pints, or perhaps married someone from the wrong religion. Sure, we all know they exist and that they are fun when you catch up with them, but they are never invited round for Sunday lunch or parties and definitely not to Christenings.
The likes of Fiji (who, remember, beat Wales in the last World Cup and gave South Africa a scare), Samoa and Tonga are not invited on foreign tours, the closest they get to it is being begrudgingly allowed to play one-off games like this as a bastardised team; a sort of Pacific Lions made up of players mostly based in the UK. What chance do they have of winning when they are not even a proper team?
It's hard to say. The Islanders will come out and play as a slightly demented version of the Barbarians (as always); this could either deeply unsettle New England or play right into the hands of the Brian Smith inspired backline.
Given that the game is at Twickenham and New England will each have a Jonno's boot-shaped indentation on their arses, and much to prove, it is hard to see past a home win by at least ten points.
Drink! each time the commentator says: The Pacific Islanders are so dangerous when they throw the ball around
Expect: Modest fireworks, like those ones in the small box from Tesco
Teams: England - D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), R Flutey (Wasps), U Monye (Harlequins); D Cipriani (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), N Kennedy (London Irish), T Croft (Leicester), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), P Vickery (Wasps), T Palmer (Wasps), J Haskell (Wasps), M Lipman (Bath), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester).
Pacific Islanders: K Ratuvou (Fiji); S Tagicakibau (Samoa), S Rabeni (Fiji), S Mapusua (Samoa), V Delasau (Fiji); P Hola (Tonga), M Rauluni (Fiji, capt); J Va'a (Samoa), A Lutui (Tonga), C Johnston (Samoa), F Levi (Samoa), K Leawere (Fiji), S Naevo (Fiji), N Latu (Tonga), F Maka (Tonga).
Replacements: S Koto (Fiji), K Pulu (Tonga), H T Pole (Tonga), G Stowers (Samoa), S Martens (Tonga), S Bai (Fiji), E Taione (Tonga)
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November 7, 2008 in Autumn Internationals, England | Permalink
