Samoa rely on 'rookies' for Russian showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Samoa coach Steve Jackson has selected eight World Cup debutants for his side’s first game of the tournament against Russia on Tuesday.
The New Zealander on Sunday called up 10 of the starting line-up from their final warm-up game, a 34-15 defeat by Australia, for the Pool A clash in Kumagaya, north of Tokyo.
Logovii Mulipola, Motu Matu’u, captain Chris Vui, Dwayne Polataivao, and Ah See Tuala are those who come in for the Pacific islanders, who reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 1991 and 1995.
“The players that have been selected deserve their selection,” said Jackson.
“Some players really put their hands up and that was what it was all about really. We want to keep consistency within the group and especially the starting fifteen and I think we’ve done that.”
Meanwhile, at 37, mercurial flyhalf Tusi Pisi is set to become the oldest player to represent Samoa at the World Cup – in a country he knows well, after spells in Japan, notably with the Tokyo-based Sunwolves in Super Rugby.
Tim Nanai-Williams, the cousin of All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill, plays fullback for the Samoans, who are ranked four places higher than Russia at 16 and will expect to get off to a winning start, though neither side is given any serious chance of advancing from a group also containing Ireland and Scotland.
Samoa: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Ah See Tuala, 13 Alapati Leiua, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Ed Fidow, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Dwayne Polataivao, 8 Afaesetiti Amosa, 7 Thomas Ioane, 6 Chris Vui (captain), 5 Kane Le’aupepe, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Logovii Mulipola.
Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Paul Alo-Emile, 18 Jordan Lay, 19 Senio Toleafoa, 20 Josh Tyrell, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 AJ Alatimu, 23 Henry Taefu.
Date: Tuesday, September 24
Venue: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama Prefecture, Kumagaya City
Kick-off: 19.15 (23.15 Samoan time; 13.15 Moscow time; 10.15 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
