In order for the Manu to advance their ranking and playing ability. They have to form a team months in advance and start the training process. You can't put together a team in two weeks and expect to perfrom in the highest level. They lack of team cohesiveness and team chemistry as it was indicated against Fiji.

Training
Training is part of every competetive sport, and given a two weeks not just to put together a team, but training is the most important factor for any team sport to compete in the highest level.

For instance, here in America, professional football team not only have mini camp, mandatory camp and then training camp. It's like a four months process, and then after training camp, each team officials makes cuts and make the roster. The next two months, they scheduled pre-season games and each game given the coaches the opportunity to evaluate each players, but also develop a team chemistry by the players involved.

Now, i know we don't have the resources to do all that like we have here, but the Manu is an international team and shoul be treated like one. The team should be in placed months in or even a year in advance and let them play against other local teams, like a recent tournment was held last month where a team from Tonga won. That's the only way Manu will ever improve their performance and hopefully result better ranking.

Wow, the lowest position we have been in. And we probably have the best group of players to choose from since 1991. I just hope we don't go any lower.

Rugby is much different to American Football in terms of a team coming together for trainings and preparing. For example, an NFL player will only play for one team and if selected get to play in a All Star game. They don't play internationals like in rugby where some players may end up playing for up to 4 different teams in one season. Club rugby, provincial then super 14/Heineken cup then on to International level. It is hard bringing in a team together 2-3 weeks before a game, but we shouldn't use this as an excuse! Samoa have been doing this for the last 15 or so years and still have managed to get good results.

On a positive note, let's get behind the team and management and hope that Samoa can play well for the rest of the tournament.

Go the Manu!!

Welcome to the era of professional rugby, Sam. Unfortunately the time frame, structures and stategies of the professional game does not afford extensive training camps. Take the All Blacks for example, who only had one week to prepare for there international test against Ireland. A number of the the All Blacks were short of international experience, and were still able to beat an Ireland side who had a wealth of international game time. That is true professionalism.