Preview: South Africa v Samoa
Most of the Samoan team play for clubs abroad – England, France, Italy, New Zealand and Australia.
Only one of this team plays his rugby in Samoa – scrumhalf Vavao Afemai.
They are professional players, professionally trained, used to mixing it with professional players around the globe.
But they have their own hard edge to their play, which Springboks have felt over the years – especially at World Cups.
South Africa and Samoa have met eight times, five times in South Africa and three times on neutral grounds.
Samoa have never beaten South Africa, which may be an irrelevant figure in the wake of what the Japanese did in Brighton.
But mostly the Samoans have been satisfied with rattling Springbok bones.
South Africa have been to five World Cups and four times they have played Samoa.
In 1995 the two teams met in the quarterfinal of the World Cup, Chester Williams scored four tries and several Springboks were hurt – Andre Joubert most seriously. It took a miracle of medical science to get his hand good enough for the semifinal and the Final.
In 2003 they met in a pool match in Brisbane, when they all knelt together to pray. That was the year when Brian Lima tackled Derick Hougaard in possibly – probably actually – the toughest tackle ever at the World Cup.
In 2007 they met in Paris, when Jean de Villiers was injured and in 2011 in Albany, when the Springboks had their smallest victory, one try each, a Samoan sent off and Frans Steyn injured.
It is a consummation devoutly to be wished that this match this Saturday may be free of untoward incident and of tournament-ending injury.
Both sides have played at this World Cup – Samoa beating the United States 25-16 and South Africa suffering the ignominy of defeat at the hands of the Japanese.
That means that both sides have big incentives.
Samoa will be seeking a quarterfinal spot by ending in the top two in the pool, while the South Africans will be hellbent on stopping the mocking that was as loud as hyenas laughing over a piece of meat.
The Samoans must be licking their lips, wanting to get stuck into the Springboks as never before.
It could just be the most physical match of the whole 2015 World Cup.
The Springboks will surely be better at set pieces and line-out mauls, but they will have their work cut out when the Samoans start throwing bodies about.
Players to Watch.
For South Africa: There are different reasons for watching players – watching Jean de Villiers and Duane Vermeulen to see if they are all right, watching Willie le Roux to see what magic he can weave and watching Damian de Allende running straight and strongly.
For Samoa: Tim Nanai-Williams, the fullback who was the lightness and brightness of their match with the US, can set any game alight with his ability to counterattack. Small and light as he is, there is big Paul Perez who was excellent at centre against the US, and prop-like Alesana Tuilagi on the left wing. In the pack the rugged No.8 Ofisa Treviranus could well stand out again. Mike Stanley is a person of interest, in for Tusi Pisi at flyhalf. He is part of the big family that includes All Blacks – uncle Joe and cousins Benson and Jeremy. Born in Auckland, he grew up in England, starting out at Saracens Under-14 and playing age-group rugby for England.
Head to Head: Experienced, controlling power, instinctive player Fourie du Preez in a scrumhalf battle with lively, surprising Kahn Fotuali'i, both excellent scrumhalves – though Du Preez needs to prove match readiness after a long lay-off. They are both 33. Flyhalf versus flyhalf, always a crucial part of the game, Handré Pollard versus Michael Stanley. Pollard is young but has played twice as many as Stanley's seven Tests. Playmaker versus Playmaker – Willie le Roux against Tim Nanai-Williams. That could become the most exciting part of the game. Physical versus Physical – the two No.8s, Dwayne Vermeulen vs Ofisa Treviranus.
Previous results.
2013: South Africa won 56-23, Pretoria
2011: South Africa won 13-5, Albany (World Cup pool match)
2007: South Africa won 59-7, Paris (World Cup pool match)
2007: South Africa won 35-8, Johannesburg
2003: South Africa won 60-10, Brisbane (World Cup pool match)
2002: South Africa won 60-18, Pretoria
1995: South Africa won 42-14, Johannesburg (World Cup quarterfinal match)
1995: South Africa won 60-8, Johannesburg
Prediction: After everybody who predicted last Saturday got it wrong, one realises that this prediction is on shaky ground but still we believe that the Springboks will win by over 20 points.
Teams
Samoa: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Paul Perez, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Mike Stanley, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Ofisa Treviranus (captain), 7 Jack Lam, 6 TJ Ioane, 5 Iosefa Tekori, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Census Johnston, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 Vavae Tuilagi, 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Tusi Pisi, 23 George Pisi.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Damian De Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jesse Kriel.
Date: Saturday, 16 September 2015
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Kick-off: 16.45 (15.45 GMT; 17.45 SA time; 05.45 Sunday, September 27, Samoan time)
Expected weather: A clear day with a high of 18°C, dropping to 5°C
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Angus Gardner (Australia)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
By Paul Dobson
@rugby365com
