France captain Olivier Elima is hoping to make home advantage count when his side meet Samoa in the final pool match of the World Cup in Perpignan.
Every member of coach Richard Agar’s 19-man squad is either a past or present Catalan Dragons player and, therefore, is familiar with the Stade Gilbert Brutus, which will be packed to the rafters for the last Group B match on Monday.
Both teams are guaranteed places in the knockout stages but the losers in Perpignan will be faced with a quarter-final against England in Wigan, with the winners handed the easier tie against Fiji in Warrington.
The French effectively clinched their last-eight spot with an opening 9-8 win over Papua New Guinea, but Elima says they still have a point to prove and sees no better place to do it.
“People wrote us off from the start of the tournament, we have very much come in as underdogs,” Elima said.
“We had a bad World Cup tournament in 2008 and we wanted to come into it this year and put that behind us.
“We have been training really well this week in Perpignan. It is good for everyone to be back at home. It is going to be fantastic to play such a big game in front of a home crowd.
Elima is acutely aware of the threat of Samoa, who have been improving with each game since being hammered 52-16 by England Knights in a warm-up fixture.
They staged a second-half rally to rattle the Kiwis and secured their quarter-final berth with a resounding 38-4 win over PNG.
“We have watched both of Samoa’s games and they are a very strong side,” Elima added.
“They are the kind of players who like to throw the ball about and you cannot rule them out until you have them on the floor tackled.”
trev
Guest
I know that they are different sports (and sometimes a bit antagonistic) but I hope the Samoans can go a long way in this tournament to honour Peter Fatialofa (a great man, former Samoan rugby capt who had his funeral at the w/end)
oikee
Guest
More money for Fiji and Tonga and Cooks then.
Tyrone
Guest
Toa Samoa aren't going to get any funding, especially when the Prime Minister automatically becomes the head of the Samoan Rugby Union upon election. Rugby union is the only thing that matters behind family and god in Samoa.
Mardo
Guest
I must admit I long for the days when France could still trouble the Kangaroos. (showing my age there).
Nicky C
Guest
I cant wait for this games. France must be huge underdogs but I hope they give it a real go. Does anyone else feel sorry for the French? - A proud rugby league nation that produces their own players and has the administration and stadia to host test matches and tournaments but they cant get regular games against the big 3? They could be the Argentina of the Rugby League world within a decade but rugby league people would prefer to 'grow the game' by filling artificial international teams with aussie accents. Anyway it will be great to see a Frenchman in the NRL next season and hopefully we will se the like of Fages, Duport and Larroyer go on to bigger and better things! Samoa by 10
Matt_S
Guest
Can't wait to see a game at Stad Gilbert Brutus with its Art Deco entrance. Truly one of the great league grounds of France.
oikee
Guest
I wont lie, but i really want Samoa to win this game because whoever has to face England will find it very tough. So if Samoa do scrap home, and i expect a real dogfight at the Brutus. Good luck to France who have been the best of hosts and fans. So the real feel good story for me is if Samoa can play Fiji and win. If they make the semi at Wembley, that will be huge for this nation. (Matagi, all the way from the back streets to playing at Wembley, what a story). And after Ireland flogging Samoa at union, surely the league boys must now be getting close to having more funding go their way. Lets not also forget, the Winner of Samoa and Fiji, or whoever finishes highest in this World Cup plays Four Nations in Australia next year as well, so it is a win/win for either team. Anyhow, i am getting as little ahead, how good has this cup been. Good luck to both teams. I like both these teams France and Samoa. They are closely matched.