In the second Test against England, Samoa’s rugby league team opted for a more restrained approach to their Siva Tau, deliberately keeping their distance from the English players to avoid the intense face-off seen in the first match. During the initial game, the Samoan players had engaged closely with England during the ceremonial challenge, with players like Mikey Lewis and Gordon Chan Kum Tong pressing foreheads with their Samoan counterparts, creating a viral moment that set an intense tone for the game.
However, this time at Headingley, Samoa lined up further back in their own half instead of advancing to meet England on the halfway line, as they did previously. Samoa’s head coach, Ben Gardiner, confirmed that this adjustment was a deliberate choice, reflecting a strategic shift to avoid the previous week’s physical confrontation. Gardiner shared that while the Siva Tau remained passionate, the change in distance was a tactical decision to honor both teams’ space without detracting from the intensity of the challenge.
Interestingly, on the same day, the England rugby union team chose a different approach at Twickenham, stepping forward to meet New Zealand’s Haka, showcasing an assertive response to the iconic ritual.
