Australia struggled to cope with Samoa's physicality in Sydney on Sunday
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Peter Fitzsimons of WA Today reflects on Samoa's remarkable 32-23 victory over the Wallabies on Sunday and argues that it might prove a blessing in disguise for Robbie Deans' men.
"Nobody told them there'd be days like this! In terms of stunning upsets in sport, the 32-23 victory of the Samoan Test side over the Wallabies at the Olympic Stadium yesterday was absolutely stunning.
"Six years ago, in the same game, the Wallabies won 74-7 and were expected to double the dose this time. For how could a side from a nation of only 180,000 people, with only 7000 senior players to pick from, who've lost five of their last six Tests, possibly compete against a two-time world champion team of Australians, in Australia, la creme de la creme of 40,000 players?
"An easy victory beckoned. Instead, of course, our blokes were reduced to a bloodied and muddied bunch of Goliaths as a courageous and wonderful bunch of Davids in blue jerseys cut them down to size, ran them ragged and then danced on their rugby graves."
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