Samoa: Stats mean nothing
The Samoans head to England having slipped to 11th in the world rankings but with a realistic chance of being among the two sides to emerge from Pool B which also includes South Africa, Japan, Scotland and the United States of America.
The Springboks are the only one of the four sides they have not beaten since the last World Cup.
The once leading island team – they now rate behind Fiji and Tonga – started their World Cup build up providing a stern challenge for the All Blacks before losing 16-25.
But after pushing the New Zealanders close, the 1991 and 1995 World Cup quarterfinalists lost the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) final to Fiji, after drawing with them in pool play, and dropped two places in the world rankings.
However, Betham argues that being classified outside the top 10 is not as significant as preparing for the World Cup.
"The World Cup is the big picture and that is the whole aim," he told the Samoa Observer. "We have faith in this team and to us, this is the best team."
The PNC gave Betham the chance to test players in a tournament environment and while results may not have been what he wanted they did solve some selection issues.
Six players missed the cut for England including Newcastle wing Sinoti Sinoti while three locally-based amateurs – Jake Grey, Vavao Afemai and Patrick Faapale – forced their way into a side dominated by overseas professionals.
London Irish flank Ofisa Treviranus, 31, who was injured in the historic All Blacks match, returns to captain the squad of 18 forwards and 13 backs.
Leicester Tigers prop Logovi'i Mulipola, Hurricanes midfielder Rey Lee-Lo and the three Pisi brothers – Tusi (Suntory Sungoliath), George and Ken (both Northampton Saints) – also make the squad after missing the PNC.
Samoa's game plan is no secret – cash in on their physicality and look to crash their way through to the line.
Brothers Vavae and Alesana Tuilagi along with giant prop Logovi'i Mulipola, 1.98 metre lock Joe Tekori, former Great Britain rugby league international Maurie Fa'asavalu and Treviranus lead a side not short of speed, size and muscle.
They will, however, be missing veteran lock Kane Thompson for their must win opener against the United States after he was suspended for punching an opponent in their warm-up game against the Barbarians which they lost 24-27.
In the halves they have a world-class pairing in Kahn Fotuali'i and Tusi Pisi but behind them the distribution ranks are sparse giving Betham the headache of when, or even if, to rest his frontline halves.
In 2011, both started in the opening game against the less-demanding Namibia where Pisi was injured after 30 minutes and unavailable for the must-win clash with Wales four days later.
Wales came from behind to win 17-10 to beat Samoa for a berth in the quarterfinals with South Africa from Pool D.
Betham does not want a repeat of that heartbreak and has put his faith in Afemai and Faapale to step up when required.
Their distribution skills may be up to the mark but whether the amateur pair have the tactical kicking nous is under question.
Veteran prop Census Johnston who faced the All Blacks despite his contract with Toulouse stipulating an end to his Test career is not among the travelling 31.
But Betham has hinted the 34-year-old could be on the radar if a replacement front-rower is required.
Johnston's brother James, also a prop, as well as former skipper David Lemi and scrumhalf Pele Cowley were not available because of injury.
AFP
