Photo: Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz
Pacific Championship (men) - NZ Kiwi v Toa Samoa
Kickoff: 6.05pm Sunday, 9 November
CommBank Stadium, Sydney
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History
Toa Samoa have never beaten NZ Kiwis in six previous meetings.
That said, they have come very close a couple of times and probably should have won their last meeting three weeks ago, when they bombed at least two prime scoring opportunities in the final 10 minutes of a 24-18 defeat at Go Media Stadium.
In 2014, New Zealand needed a late try from centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall to scrape past 14-12 at WhangΔrei, en route to claiming a Four Nations crown.
There have been some big margins along the way.
In the 2023 Pacific Championships, the Kiwis inflicted a 50-0 pounding on their rivals, with wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo grabbing try doubles, and Isaako converting seven of the nine tries scored.
Historically, Samoa have been used as warm-up opponents before more meaningful fixtures against major rugby league powers, but the exodus of top players to their Pac
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