KEY POINTS:
After escaping from a wet and miserable Fiji with a narrow and scarcely deserved victory last week, New Zealand Maori are hoping to finally discover their rhythm against Samoa in Hamilton today.
The lake-like conditions in Lautoka were never going to allow coach Donny Stevenson's side to play with much fluidity against the physical Fijians but, even so, he was disappointed with much of what his team produced.
The only positives from that 11-7 victory, he said, were the scorecard and the attitude and commitment that carried the team to victory despite the Fijians dominating for long spells.
"We had to defend our line and keep them out when they were on a roll," Stevenson said.
"But really we let ourselves down in a lot of other areas. Conditions may have been bad but they were bad for both teams.
"Some of the fundamentals in terms of our options were worrying and missed tackles were high, so that was a little bit disappointing."
Stevenson admitted there was plenty of relief at having got out of Fiji with the side's undefeated Pacific Nations Cup record intact.
After two rounds, the table is starting to take shape, with the Maori and Australia undefeated at the top and Samoa and Tonga winless at the bottom.
Samoa may be winless but they have hardly been disgraced. They lost by just five points to Australia A last week and have run in five tries in their two games - two more than the Maori.
The lack of offensive potency was a concern, Stevenson admitted.
"The boys are just starting to get a little frustrated. We selected a team we felt would be able to play the game out wide and we have got players who are mobile and skilful. But we really haven't had a chance to do that.
"So we are pretty desperate to try to play the style of rugby we have picked players for."
Hamilton has been a happy hunting ground for the Maori, who defeated the Lions the last time they played at Waikato Stadium.
Stevenson has made plenty of changes for the match, two of them forced by injury. Daniel Braid's campaign is over after he was ruled out with a calf strain, while Stephen Brett won't feature again after succumbing to a quad injury.
Braid has been replaced in the squad by Scott Waldrom, who comes straight on to the bench for today's match, with Tanerau Latimer promoted to start at openside. Callum Bruce will start at first five-eighths in place of Brett, with Hurricanes pivot Willie Ripia brought into the squad as cover.
With a pack that includes gargantuan former Taranaki prop Census Johnson and veterans Filipo Leviu and Semo Sititi, Stevenson said Samoa would fancy their chances up front, particularly at scrum time.
"We've picked a pack we think will meet that challenge but we've also gone for a reasonably mobile loose forward mix."
Hamilton, tonight 7.35 Dwayne Sweeney
NZ MAORI
Shannon Paku
Tim Bateman
T. Ellison (co-cpt)
Hosea Gear
Callum Bruce
Piri Weepu
Thomas Waldrom
Tanerau Latimer
L. Messam (co-cpt)
Jason Eaton
Ross Filipo
Bronson Murray
Hikawera Elliot
Keith Cameron.
SAMOA
Gavin Williams
Esera Lauina
Henry Faafili
Anitelea Tuilagi
David Lemi
E. S. Fuimaono
Junior Polu
George Stowers
Semo Sititi
Daniel Leo
Chad Slade
Filipo Levi (c)
Census Johnston
Loleni Tafunai
James Johnston.
NZ MAORI: Aled de Malmanche, Jacob Ellison, Hoani MacDonald, Scott Waldrom, Chris Smylie, Jason Kawau, Zar Lawrence.
SAMOA: Simon Lemalu, Taligatuli Moala, Kane Thompsen, Alafoti Faosiliva , Uale Mai, Roger Warren, Gasolo Salima.
