Fixtures
Sun 20 Sep Samoa v United States, Falmer Stadium, 12pm
Sat 26 Sep South Africa v Samoa, Villa Park, 16:45pm
Sat 3 Oct Samoa v Japan, Stadium MK, 2.30pm
Sat 10 Oct Samoa v Scotland, St James’ Park, 2.30pm
Odds to win World Cup
250/1
Coach
Stephen Betham
Captain
Ofisa Treviranus
When Mahonri Schwalger was dropped after the 2011 World Cup, the official reason was age. Schwalger, then 31, did not believe it. After the tournament in New Zealand, the then Samoa captain had written a report to the country’s prime minister, the same man in charge of the country’s rugby union, and complained about the behaviour of the management during the tournament.
They were accused by Schwalger of “treating the World Cup like a holiday”, of spending their days drinking and partying and playing golf rather than helping the players prepare for one of the biggest moments of their careers. One of the officials denied the claims.
Samoa unsurprisingly did not reach the quarter-finals and Schwalger believes he paid for his outspokenness. “I knew it would cost me my international career,” he told the Samoa Observer. “[But] if it means that the Manu will go forward without me then that’s a sacrifice I will take.”
Changes were made but the problems did not stop. Fast forward three years and the players threatened a boycott before last November’s England game with reports that they were furious over a lack of financial transparency at the SRU and coaches unable to pick who they wanted. But the threat of drastic action brought change. Samoa have finally gone forward. Just a day before they flew to England for this year’s World Cup, the official Samoa Twitter feed announced: “Samoa Rugby and the Samoan players’ collective have agreed a new, formal Relationship Agreement between the union & players ... Samoa becomes the first Tier 2 national union to sign a Relationship Agreement with their elite players.”
With peace having broken out, Samoa can now do what they were unable to do in New Zealand: concentrate on playing rugby. “We want Samoa Rugby to be its best on the world stage and for players to feel committed to that,” said the Samoa rugby union CEO, Vincent Fepuleai. “We live in an era where many players play professionally offshore; we need to be in step with those professional standards.” Alesana Tuilagi agreed. “We want our World Cup prep to be smarter and to make the most of limited resources better than our higher funded competitors … This is a good outcome.”
The result of all this is not such good news for their Pool B opponents South Africa, Japan, USA and Scotland for this is a fiercely talented side. Twelve of the squad are British based and three backs – Kahn Fotuali’i and Ken and George Pisi – come from a Northampton squad who made it to the semi-final of the Premiership as well as the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Ken could be one of the players that lights up the World Cup. His speed on the wing makes lightning look a geriatric with a bad back and a worse hip and his ball-handling skills are deft. At 5ft 11in and 196lb he may not be as big as other wings on display but he is solid enough in the tackle too. (Much of the same applies to the equally exciting to watch full-back/wing Tim Nanai-Williams). While George’s weakness is his kicking, he is arguably one of the best centres in the Premiership and his ability to get over the line will be crucial to any success Samoa are to enjoy.
So too will Fotuali’i’s capacity to control a game and stay free of injury. The only other scrum-half in the squad is the inexperienced Vavao Afemai, a Samoa-based amateur.
Thirty one is no longer seen as too old for a captain with the London Irish flanker Ofisa Treviranus to take charge of Samoa at the tournament. He led his country for the first time in their first Test against New Zealand in Apia in July – the historic nature of the match meant the day was declared a public holiday on the island – and his strength and power means he will be another key player.
As quick and skilful as their backs may be, there is little doubt that Samoa intend to work hard up front and at set pieces to leave opposition bodies bruised and bloodied, something New Zealand would, no doubt, attest to after their match. Much of that burliness will come from the British-based players such as Bristol’s Anthony Perenise and Jack Lam, Newcastle’s Kane Thompson, Bath’s Alafoti Fa’osiliva and Sale’s TJ Ioane, all of who have the power to hurt and carry. Though they will be deprived of another Premiership player, Leicester’s Logovi’i Mulipola, who has withdrawn with an injury and been replaced by Census Johnston.
Despite this mix of strength, skill and speed results have been more down than up over the last 12 months. There were wins over Canada and the USA in July in the Pacific Nations Cup. However, against Canada, they had to come from behind and only secured victory in the final moments after Sakaria Taulafo capitalised on a knock-on while against the Americans they were in control before pressing the snooze button and enduring a rude awakening that almost turned into a nightmare. As well as those wins there have been four defeats (against England, New Zealand, Fiji and Italy) a draw with Fiji and another narrow victory over Canada.
Of course, that all came before the good news of the relationship agreement and sometimes without many of their better players – Samoa are often without their scattered stars. However, with harmony and unity restored, they will be a much more dangerous prospect and should they come away from their opening game against the US with a win, Scotland will have good reason to be quaking in their boots come the expected decider for second place. The two sides meet in the final group game and it could be a case of who can hold their nerve best.
“I promise you,” said Schwalger in the last line of that letter to the prime minister, “if this is sorted out by getting the right people to do the job, Samoa will be unstoppable.”
We are about to learn if Schwalger had a point.
Samoa’s 31-man World Cup squad
Props Viliamu Afatia (Agen), Jake Grey (Samoa Scopa), Census Johnston (Toulouse), Anthony Perenise (Bristol), Sakaria Taulafo (Stade Français).
Hookers Ole Avei (Bordeaux), Manu Leiataua (Aurillac), Motu Matu’u (Wellington).
Locks: Filo Paulo (Treviso), Joe Tekori (Toulouse), Kane Thompson (Newcastle).
Back-rows: Maurie Fa’asavalu (Oyonnax), Alafoti Fao’siliva (Bath), TJ Ioane (Sale Sharks), Jack Lam (Bristol), Faifili Levave (Verblitz), Ofisa Treviranus (London Irish, capt), Sanele Vavae Tuilagi (Carcassonne).
Scrum-halves: Vavao Afemai (Samoa Vaiala), Kahn Fotuali’i (Northampton).
Fly-halves: Patrick Fa’apale (Samoa Vaiala), Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath), Michael Stanley (unattached).
Centres: Rey Lee-Lo (Cardiff), Johnny Leota (Sale), Paul Perez (Coastal Sharks), George Pisi (Northampton).
Wings Fa’atoina Autagavaia (Nevers), Ken Pisi (Northampton), Alesana Tuilagi (Newcastle).
Full-back: Tim Nanai-Williams (Ricoh Black Rams).
Kahn Fotuali’i
Age 33
Caps 24
Position scrum-half
Height 6ft 1 in
Weight 207lb
Samoa debut v Japan, Tokyo, 30 Oct 2010
Pts 28 T5 P1
