Manu Samoa lost to Argentina 19-10 in their second pool match at the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Manu Samoa
England players say they're expecting a physical battle from Manu Samoa when the two teams meet in their last Rugby World Cup pool game in Lille on Sunday morning (Samoa time).
Both sides have named their line-ups with Manu Samoa making nine changes to the match-day 23 that lost to Japan last week.
English second-rower Maro Itoje told the media in a press conference in Paris on Wednesday that they expect a big game from the Samoans.
"Samoa are a very good side, much improved from the last time we played them," Itoje said.
"They are a physical side, they are organised, they play with a lot of power and skill; so it is going to be a great game."
Itoje plays club rugby for Saracens in the English Premiership alongside Samoan lock Theo McFarland.
He said McFarland, who won Player of the Match for the Samoans against Chile, is a key player.
"Theo is an outstanding talent. I've had the pleasure of playing with him at our club and he is an incredibly athletic player," Itoje said.
"He has a great mindset. He had quite a serious knee injury so it has been amazing to see him back on the field and back doing what he loves.
"When this is all done, I'll look forward to playing alongside him again."
Danny Care, the English scrum-half, said they want to win against Samoa and win well.
"It's a really exciting game. Another chance for us to try and keep improving. I think we have been doing that throughout the tournament," he said.
"We want to win the game and win it well but we are not taking them lightly at all.
"They have shown how special they are, they have some very big humans who like to run and tackle you very hard, so we know our physicality has to be right up there," Danny Care said.
"Having a bit of time off last week came at a good time for us; [it] replenished, recharge the batteries a bit and the boys have come back in itching to get going again.
"Saturday, we know we are going to have to be really on our game to do what we want to do," he said.
Fans of Manu Samoa at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne for the match against Argentina's Pumas for the Rugby World Cup pool match on 22 September, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Iliesa Tora
Samoa eye win for qualification
Manu Samoan forwards coach Tom Coventry said they are focused on a win against England, to help them qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The top three teams in each of the four pools get automatic qualification for the next event in Australia.
England, Argentina and Japan are currently ahead of Samoa but a win will help the Pacific Islanders in their endeavour.
"It is a do-or-die. We came here with aspirations to possibly be a quarter-finalist," he said in Montpellier on Wednesday.
"We need to think about qualifying and making our pathway easier for the next World Cup.
"England are a huge challenge, but we have been reasonably competitive against most of the nations that we've played.
"It's just a lack of discipline at times. Playing with 14 men is never easy. You don't win very often when you only have 14 men on the field for the period of time that we did [against Japan]."
Coventry said against England the team has to work on keeping the ball for longer and playing the Manu Samoan brand of rugby.
"I'm old fashioned. Sometimes we can take another ruck; we can build more pressure.
"Sometimes throwing that pass and hoping it will stick will get a nice try off the back, but to me it's about making sure we've got ourselves into space before we make passes," he said.
"We haven't really nailed that either and that's a big part of our game. It's not good enough at the moment."
He said if he tried to describe the Manu way "it's about playing on top of a team, creating space, then holding the space for players coming from different directions to support the ball".
"Teams are very good nowadays with their defensive lines and shutting down our attack."
He said the team is looking forward to England, who he said have depth across the squad even if they field a second-string side.
Head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has made nine changes to the team that lost to Japan.
Only six players from that side have retained their places in the match-day 23.
They are Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Jonathan Taumateine, Tumua Manu and Duncan Paia'aua.
An all new tight-five have been named with Jordan Lay, Sama Malolo and captain Michael Alaalato'a starting in the front and Sam Slade partnering Brian Alainu'u'ese at in the locks.
Former All Black Lima Sopoaga returns to flyhalf, pushing Christian Leali'ifano to the reserve bench.
Flanker Miracle Failangi has also been named on the bench.
Follow all the action on RNZ Pacific's live blog on Sunday morning.
The Manu Samoa match-day 23: 1. Jordan Lay, 2. Sama Malolo, 3.Michael Alaalato'a, 4. Sam Slade, 5. Brian Alainu'u;ese, 6. Theo McFarland, 7. Fritz Lee, 8. Steven Luatua, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 11. Neria Fomai, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Tumua Manu, 14. Nigel Ah-Wong, 15. Duncan Paia'aua.
Reserves - 16. Seilala Lam, 17. James Lay, 18. Paul Alo-Emile, 19. Sootala Fa'aso'o, 20. Alamanda Motuga, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Christian Leali'ifano, 23. Miracle Failangi.
Josua Tuisova training with the Flying Fijians in Bordeaux. Photo: Fiji Rugby Union
English send condolences
Meanwhile, England's defence coach Kevin Sinfield has shared England Rugby's condolences and best wishes to Flying Fijian winger Josua Tuisova, who lost his son to a long-term illness in Fiji.
Tuisova decided to stay with the Fijians in their campaign to win a quarterfinal spot at the World Cup.
"It's tragic circumstances. We pass on all our condolences and our best wishes," Sinfield said.
"I don't think anyone should have to deal with what he has had to deal with.
"On behalf at everyone at England Rugby we pass on our condolences, best wishes and we're thinking of him."
Tuisova is expected to line up for Fiji against Portugal in Toulouse on Monday morning (Fiji time).
Portugal wary of Fijians' physicality
Portugal coach Patrice Lagisquet says his team is wary of Fiji and expects the Fijians' physicality to get to his players in the game.
"My fear is a bit the same as before the Australia game. I'm afraid that the physical dimension of the Fijians will drain us, that we'll end up cracking and that it will be difficult to hold out for 80 minutes," Lagisquet told the media in France.
He added they will play their own game.
"I don't think it's relevant to try and reproduce what Georgia did. They finally cracked physically. They put Fiji in danger when they put a lot of volume back into the game," he said.
"Yes, the counter-attack at the end of the first half was the turning point for them; but we don't have the same quality as Georgia or the same DNA.
"We don't yet have enough experience to control our game.
"On the other hand, we can take inspiration from their defensive quality, because they defended high and prevented the Fijian powerhouse from expressing itself."
Fiji winger Josua Tuisova is mobbed by teammates after scoring a try. Photo: AFP