A near full strength Samoa won’t be showing all their tricks in Sunday’s rugby Test against Australia, as they hope to meet the Wallabies in the World Cup quarter-finals later this year.
A side comprised totally of overseas based players was named for the ANZ Stadium encounter.
Highlanders’ hooker Mahonri Schwalger will lead a side that includes five players from New Zealand and England, two each from France and Japan and one from Wales.
“We’re pretty close to full strength but we won’t be showing everything because hopefully we’ll play Australian in the quarter-finals of the World Cup,” Samoa assistant coach Brian McLean told AAP on Thursday.
“We expect to be very competitive.
“If you look at our results on the northern hemisphere tour late last year, we played England the week after Australia played them and Australia lost by 17 and we lost by 13.”
None of the team that played in Samoa’s final Pacific Nations Cup match against Tonga on Wednesday have been named in Sunday’s run on side, but five of them have been listed on the bench.
While winger Digby Ioane was the only player from Queensland’s Super title-winning team originally named in the Wallabies’ starting lineup for Sunday, McLean believed Australia were still fielding close to half of their full strength lineup.
“If they were picking what they would consider their best team, and I know (Wallabies’ coach) Robbie (Deans) would never admit this, but I’d say they have probably got seven of their very best XV playing,” McLean said.
“I would have expected that’s what they were going to do.
“They need to find out who they want to pick in their final squad, so they’ve got to give people an opportunity.
“To be fair it’s probably a better chance to give them an opportunity when they play Samoa than when they play South Africa.”
The Samoans certainly gave no impression they felt slighted or disrespected by facing a less than full strength Wallabies’ side.
“Any Australian side is going to be a strong side,” said Schwalger, one of 11 players in the squad with Super experience.
“Playing against an A-class team like Australia is going to be a big bonus for us to see the level we need to get to and where we’re at as a unit.”
Samoa team: Paul Williams, Sailosi Tagicakibau, George Pisi, Seilala Mapusua, Alesana Tuilagi, Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali’i, George Stowers, Maurie Fa’asavalu, Taisina Tuifu’a, Daniel Leo, Kane Thompson, Anthony Perenise, Mahonri Schwalger, Sakaria Taulafo. Reserves:Tii Paulo, Census Johnston, Filipo Lavea Levi, Manaia Salavea, Brenton Helleur, Eliota Fuimaono, James So’oialo.
Tissot Time
Guest
This landmass which holds the remains of that famous Scottish creator of Jekyll and Hyde. Maybe Stevenson was thinking of RWC players in the heat of a finals battle when he prayed...."Give me courage, gaiety and a quiet mind"
shahsan
Guest
Of the squad announced above, i believe 15 ie Tagicakibau, Pisi, Stowers, Fa’asavalu, Tuifu’a, Schwalger, Taulafo. Paulo, Johnston, Levi, Salavea, Helleur, Fuimaono, So’oialo all played in the PNC. The others are coming in cold, except for Fotuali’i, of course, who played in the Super 15 final and tried to ankle tap Genia on the way to his try.
formeropenside
Guest
mmm, catchy
p.Tah
Guest
Very good point. This title is becoming very difficult to phrase. How about: "If the collection of islands encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean (and therefore excluding American Samoa) which is known as the Independent State of Samoa had eyes, it would be focusing one of those eyes on the upcoming Rugby World Cup in New Zealand."
formeropenside
Guest
Well actually its a bunch of islands - two major ones, a few little ones. I'm not sure that qualifies as a landmass. And what about American Samoa?
Jiggles
Roar Guru
pTah I think you have taken smart ar$se to a brand new level! I love it!
p.Tah
Guest
Well if you are going to be picky, Samoa doesn't actually have one eye. It's a land mass, but if the editor is refering to the people of Samoa then there are 357,692 eyes (not taking into account those unfortunate Samoans who actually only have one eye or those that in fact have no eyes). So the title should be "If the landmass known as Samoa had eyes it would be focusing one of those eyes on the upcoming Rugby Wolrd Cup in New Zealand" or "Those in the rugby team representing Samoa who are focusing on the Rugby World Cup say... aye"
mokicat
Guest
"Samoa 'have' one eye on World Cup Clash" What's happened to singular subject (Samoa), singular verb (has)?
TommyM
Guest
Completely different team playing. Might as well be a different country! I think they'll be competetive. Could be a loose, scrappy affair though with both teams having such short preparations (again THESE Samoan players have only just assembled)
formeropenside
Guest
Great, so we have a second-string team playing a team not really trying. Even with the crazy Robbie selections the Wallabies should win this. It will be a tough first 20-25 minutes and then the Wallabies will run away with it. Can't we play the Reds - Crusaders final again instead?
Shahsan
Guest
Message to the Samoan team: sorry, but if you play the way you played at the Pacific Nations Cup, this will be the only meeting you will have with Australia this year. You won't beat Fiji, nor Wales, at the World Cup. Buck up!