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Samoa centre's apology enough

WORLD CUP NEWS: SAMOA CENTRE Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono’s apology for comparing the scheduling of his team’s rugby World Cup matches…

Wed Sept 21 2011 - 01:00

WORLD CUP NEWS:SAMOA CENTRE Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono's apology for comparing the scheduling of his team's rugby World Cup matches to the holocaust has saved him from disciplinary action by tournament organisers.

Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) said in a short statement yesterday that no action was necessary after they reminded Samoa of the appropriate social media conduct and Sapolu Fuimaono’s apology.

After Samoa were beaten 17-10 by Wales in their second game in four days on Sunday, Sapolu Fuimaono tweeted that his side’s treatment by the IRB was “like slavery, like the holocaust, like apartheid”.

The Welsh team had enjoyed a week off before the clash.

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Yesterday Sapolu Fuimaono tweeted: “C’mon guys, obviously rugby does not even come close to what Hitler did! There still is injustice and exploitation in this instance.

“Delete the analogies. apologies. Issues of injustice remain.

“Just feel for our people who paid for us to participate, especially the poor children who gave their lunch money.”

He then added: “Its not like I was throwing dwarfs around lol,” in an apparent reference to some members of the England squad who attended a bar in Queenstown last week which was hosting a “Mad Midget Weekend”.

Fijian flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu will miss his country’s last two World Cup pool games against Wales and Samoa after being banned for three weeks for a dangerous tackle, organisers said yesterday.

The backrow forward was cited for a spear tackle on Springbok fullback Patrick Lambie towards the end of South Africa’s 49-3 victory in a Pool D clash in Wellington last Saturday.

Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi yesterday remained coy on his fitness for Sunday’s vital World Cup Pool B clash with Scotland.

Contepomi suffered a rib injury in the opening loss against England, a result which means the Pumas must beat Scotland in Wellington to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Contepomi said: “If I’m fit to play, I’ll play. If I’m not I’m fully confident in the strategy and that the players will enter the pitch on Sunday and be competitive.”