Wallabies to play Samoa in warm-up

Pietermaritzburg on April 6 in their next Premiership tussle.

“You’ve got to understand – and most people don’t understand – players are feeling it the most. Club officials feel it but the one’s who feel it the most are the players,” Tinkler explained.

Maritzburg are facing a mountain to climb but they can still avoid the drop They will lock horns against Celtic, Highlands Park, Pirates, Black Leopards, SuperSport United and Baroka FC in their remaining matches.

“Now, we have to sit for four weeks. It is what it is. We still have got to get other results against Celtic and Pirates.

“That’s plays on the mind of the players. It is going to be hard work for the next four weeks to keep them focused and motivated. We’ve got to look to play some friendlies. We got to keep that intensity. The intensity is important,” Tinkler concluded. – THE WALLABIES will play Samoa in Sydney in early September before heading off to Japan for the World Cup, Rugby Australia said yesterday.

The twice world champions, currently sixth in the world rankings after three underwhelming seasons, will take on the Pacific islanders at the new Western Sydney Stadium in Paramatta on 7 September.

Australia last met Samoa in Sydney ahead of the 2011 World Cup, when the visitors outmuscled their hosts at the Olympic Stadium to secure their first win over the Wallabies.

“With the World Cup in our sights this year we really want to build some momentum to help take our game up a level or two, I think that’s really important for us,” Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said in a news release.

“We will have a few new tricks up our sleeve this season so we might look a little different to what most people may expect.” |