Samoa will unleash their wrecking-ball winger Alesana Tuilagi against winless Namibia as they field the same team that beat the Wallabies in their Rugby World Cup opener in Rotorua on Wednesday.
Tuilagi left the Australians red-faced with a runaway 70m try off a turnover in Samoa’s ground-breaking 32-23 upset in Sydney in July – their last Test outing.
The powerful winger has an impressive strike-rate of 12 tries from his 22 Tests and threatens to be trouble for the Namibians, who are looking to end a losing 12-match World Cup run.
Alesana Tuilagi, 30, is the only one of three brothers selected in Samoa’s 2007 RWC squad who is returning for the 2011 World Cup. A fourth younger brother, Manu, is playing in his debut World Cup but for England.
Tuilagi typifies the sheer physical threat of the Samoans, who are confident of making an impact in New Zealand with nine wins in their 20 RWC games, including the scalps of Wales twice in 1991 and 1999.
“As a fullback you’re well aware of his potential so you want to get him the ball as much as you can,” teammate Paul Williams said.
“He’s all but barred from the gym in his club (Leicester Tigers) in Europe because they figure he’s big and powerful enough.
“Any power testing we do, he cleans us up. He’s a formidable winger.”
Namibia indicated they may counter Tuilagi’s menace by kicking in behind him during the Rotorua game.
“They have big wingers. Coach told us to play behind them. They don’t want to turn around and walk back,” scrum-half Eugene Jantjies said.
Samoa are in arguably the toughest pool at the World Cup — with South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Namibia — where at least four teams boast credentials worthy of filling one of the two quarter-final berths.
Samoa skipper and hooker Mahonri Schwalger said with the backing of the sizeable Samoan community in New Zealand his team was keen to get underway in the tournament.
“It’s our first game so the boys are pretty itchy to get out there,” Schwalger said.
“I think there’s more Samoans in New Zealand than back home so we’re looking forward to a lot of people coming out to support us. It will probably help us a lot.”
While Samoa are to make their first appearance at this year’s tournament, Namibia provided Fiji with a stiff challenge before going down 42-25 in Rotorua on Saturday.
Namibia coach Johan Diergaardt has made four changes from the Fiji loss.
“Up front we wanted to go more physical and in the back we wanted more speed,” he said. “Instead of two big wingers, we went with faster ones.
“We have absolutely not reached our potential. People say we have gone above their expectations, but we have not gone above our expectations.”
Namibia: Chrysander Botha; Danie Dames, Danie van Wyk, Piet van Zyl, Llewellyn Winkler; Theuns Kotze, Eugene Jantjies; Pieter Jan van Lill, Jacques Burger (capt), Jacques Nieuwenhuis; Henk Franken, Heinz Koll; Raoul Larson, Hugo Horn, Johnnie Redelinghuys. Res: Bertus O’Callaghan, Jane du Toit, Nico Esterhuyse, Rohan Kitshoff, Ryan de la Harpe, Darryl de la Harpe, TC Losper
Samoa: Paul Williams; Sailosi Tagicakibau, George Pisi, Seilala Mapusua, Alesani Tuilagi; Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali’i; George Stowers, Maurie Faasavalu, Taiasina Tuifua; Kane Thompson, Daniel Leo; Anthony Perenise, Mahonri Schwalger (capt), Sakaria Taulafo. Res: Ti’i Paulo, Census Johnston, Joe Tekori, Ofisa Treviranus, Junior Poluleuligaga, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Tasesa Lavea
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