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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Manoa Named Man Of The Match As Northampton End Ulster's Unbeaten Run


U.S. lock Samu Manoa earned Man of the Match honors for Northampton as they ended Ulster's unbeaten run in all competitions at 13. The loss was also the first time that Ulster have lost at home in Europe for four years. Northampton were aggressive early on getting out to a 10-0 lead just 20 minutes into the match. Ulster responded through two penalties before the half and one immediately afterward. With their backs to the wall it was Manoa who came up big winning a huge restart with his athletic ability and making strong tackles. He single-handily seemed to stop Ulster's momentum and put Northampton back on the front foot. Still, he saved his biggest momentum for last. Down one with only two minutes to go Ulster looked certain to get a score until Manoa forced a knock-on, killing any momentum and giving Northampton the match. It was a big result for his club as they now have fought their way back into the contention in Pool.

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17 comments:

  1. Ulster haven't lost in Europe in 4 years?! That can't be right

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    1. Sorry, I meant at home. Let me fix that.

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    2. Wow I thought the years would have been the typo, 4 years unbeaten at home in Europe is damn impressive

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  2. Too bad this ungrateful man puts club before country. Only was interested in the Eagles to get his cap, which allowed him to get a work visa to play pro rugby in the UK.

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    1. I think it's a little harsh to se that Manoa himself puts club before country. It's more like he puts family above everything else and Northampton controls his livelihood. That means if they say he can't go then what choice does he have?

      Watch out for next week when I'll have a piece on the subject.

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    2. Curtis is right on this one. Family first.

      If the USA wants him that bad (and others), how about we contract these players and loan them out to professional teams. This way we can control their releases? Just throwing an idea out there.

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    3. Centrally contracting them is the way forward. However, I don't think USAR has the money to do so at the moment. That's why it's crucial for USAR to replicate the crowd that was in Houston last year for all tests in multiple cities. Of course, a winning team will help draw more fans and better opponents (who, in turn, draw more fans) too and players like Manoa would help with that so it's a bit of a case of the chicken and the egg.

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    4. family first bitch

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    5. you don't know him bitch ,say what you know about him this is rugby not war to puts your county before your family." asshole ".

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    6. Family is important, Curtis.

      However, I think what the anonymous speaker is trying to in-eloquently state is this: Manoa may never have got a look by a Premiership team if he had not played in the RWC. We should always dance with the ones that brought us.

      Not that Manoa cares, but there is a lot of ill-feeling toward his decisions to spurn the Eagles for two sessions. My personal feelings about it are not directed at Manoa, but at Northampton's management. I understand WHY they might have coerced him to forego touring with the Eagles. But I think it takes a lower-than-worm-crap attitude to put a man in a position to choose between money and honor. Then again, we all knew this type of thing would eventually happen to someone somewhere in the professional era of our sport.

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    7. manoa didn't play in the RWC.Northampton wanted him before the RWC and saying he bailed on the eagles? is better to do that then bailed on his kids. manoa have 3 kid he need the money for his family on 2015 RWC he 's going to play for the USA EAGLE but for now his family first.

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  3. Why have we never heard any interview from the man about why he bailed on the Eagles? This s--t is on the radar of the IRB. Why is nobody telling the truth?!

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    1. Bailing on the Eagles? You tell me what you'd choose:

      A: $100-$150 per diem for three weeks during the RWC

      B: making six figures and solidify your contract to feed your kids and familyand play in the next RWC?

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    2. make money to feed your and kids and family, rwc don't feed your family . he can play the next RWC.

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  4. Curtis, is there any chance you could get an interview with Manoa?

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    1. I'm working on it, but sometimes it's difficult to get bigger clubs in Europe to answer an e-mail from a U.S.-based rugby writer. That's doesn't mean I won't get one!!

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  5. Curtis
    He did a big interview in the UK Rugby World mag Nov issue.

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