Samoa are set to field their strongest side to take on Namibia with the team that beat the Wallabies on hand for their Rugby World Cup opener. Join us for live scores from the commencement at 12.30pm AEST.
Alesana Tuilagi is the man most will be watching as Samoa finally get underway in the World Cup.
Tuilagi having been at the centre of the damage inflicted upon Australia, with Wallabies defenders clutching at the runaway man mountain in Samoa’s 32-23 win.
If Samoan coach Titimaea Tafua can bottle that form, Namibia and the World Cup are in for a destructive Manu Samoa.
Samoa’s strength and continuing professionalism is shown in their bench. Front-rowers Census Johnston and Ti’i Paulo, who start for their teams Toulouse and Clermont-Auvergne, are left to warm the seats and make an impact later in the game.
The crowd will also be with them, with the Samoans wonderfully supported in New Zealand by a strong community.
Namibia coach Johan Diergaardt has made four changes from the Fiji loss, asking for more physicality from his forwards and picking wingers with speed rather than bulk.
The key for Namibia is ball in hand. Diergaardt must ensure his chargers aren’t frivolously kicking the ball away as they against Fiji. If they fail to hold possession, Samoa will be all too happy to smash the ball up and inflict more punishment on the Africans.
Diergaardt remained upbeat into the match, suggesting there is more improvement to be found: “We have absolutely not reached our potential. People say we have gone above their expectations, but we have not gone above our expectations.”
The other factor looks to be five eighth Theuns Kotze. The drop-goal specialist scored fifteen points with nine of them from three drop-goals at range in a four minute period. The early onslaught rattled the Fijians and Samoa will be looking to deny him time with the ball in their half.
The game will be vital to decide the Pool D winner and runner-up. Join us for live scores on the game, and leave a comment if you’re watching.
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clipper
Guest
Namibia is quite a large land area, but small population. German influence, so I don't know how Rugby got started there - from South Africa, or from the few Brits that were there?
kovana
Guest
And did anyone notice Lavea AGAIN not make the distance on a penalty kick to touch.. My gosh.. VINTAGE LAVEA! Seems to have one in nearly every game he plays in.
knockon
Guest
Last night I watched some Top 14 matches. They were farcical due to the referees total ignorance of the laws of rugby. I thought, thank God no French referees are at the World Cup. Unfortunately I was wrong.
Chris
Guest
"There is no reason you may award the try" Given the somewhat vital pause between "reason" and "you" perhaps the TMO's could come up with something a tad clearer! This sentence literally means the exact opposite of its words.
pua
Guest
i agree @ tasesa
Zion
Guest
Zion from Fiji.........Vinaka (Thank you) Samoa...........ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT GAME..........GOD BLESS.... :)
kovana
Guest
Samoa should have scored 50+. Tasesa and Polu are hopeless... And Poite should give himself a yellow card for being so poor.
kovana
Guest
Yea.. Samoa poached those Samoans in NZ ey.. Yea we poached them with huge financial contracts.. Pfffft.
Lady
Guest
Being a lady who follows the rugby, I've really enjoyed following this blog too! Entertaining stuff!
Johnno
Guest
Samoa delibratley switching off to conserve energy now for big game on sunday V Wales. Would love it if the IRB extends the squads to 35 for next world cup.
pua
Guest
NOOO!! TUSI PISI IS INJURED :( he is our "2003 rwc jonny wilkinson" to our team!!
Zion
Guest
Zion from Fiji...........Wananavu Samoa..... pile the points...... :)
The Bush
Roar Guru
I'm now fully aware of how this works - thanks Tristan, this will be very helpful during work hours!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Sounds like its pretty heated out there. Interesting that Samoa seems pretty happy to run up the score on them.
Samoa mo Samoa...
Guest
Yes but Williams is doing ok off the tee at the moment..I also like to see Kahn and junior run the halves they offer a few more options that Tusi....but thats just me.
ed in nz
Guest
well, they can't 'poach' them now they are playing for samoa. If anything NZ could feel they are the ones that are poached from, 15 of the Samoan squad are born in NZ, with players like Paul Williams from the family of brian williams (rugby royalty in NZ). go samoa!
Johnno
Guest
Maurie Faasavalu is a sensational player he would give radike samo a fright. SO much athletic potential in pacific islands it is frightening. I hope the all blacks and wallabies do not poach them all.
ISLAND TEINE
Guest
I AM SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LIKE SPORTS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BIG GAMES LIKE THIS AND SAMOA IS PLAYING, IM ALL FOR IT. KINDA BORED WATCHING WITHOUT KNOWING HOW THE GAME GOES DUE TO THE RULEZ. MANUIA LE TAALOGA MANU SAMOA, O LO O TAPUAI ATU LOU ATUNU'U PELE SAMOA I SASA'E MA SISIFO. TAALO LOTONUU MA TAALO TAUSAAFIA. TOU MA MA NA!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
That's the bonus point for Samoa - four tries scored.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
and there's Tuilagi's third. Namibia didn't find touch from a clearing 22m kick and punished by the powerful and fast running of the Samoans. About to be 35-0.