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Samoa roll out big guns for World Cup opener
By Tom Vinicombe
After a season of chopping and changing, Samoan head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has settled on a strong match-day 23 for the side’s opening World Cup clash with Chile.
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Three weeks following an impressive showing against the world’s top ranked side, Ireland, in Bayonne, Mapusua has made just three changes to the starting line-up that came within a whisker of knocking the Irish off their perch.
Regular captain Michael Alaalatoa has been reinstated to the No 3 jersey in place of Paul Alo-Emile and will partner James Lay and Seilala lam in the front row.
The back five all retain their spots from the previous match, with Chris Vui and Theodore McFarland named as locks and Taleni Seu, Fritz Lee and Steven Luatua rounding out the forward pack.
In the halves, Jonathan Taumateine retains the No 9 jersey while the experienced Christian Leali’ifano comes into the starting line-up in place of former All Blacks Lima Sopoaga, who performed admirably in his Manu Samoa Test debut against Ireland.
Leali’ifano is one of three players in the team, alongside Luatua and Sopoaga, to have previously played Test rugby for another nation. While Luatua and Sopoaga represented New Zealand, Leali’ifano was Australia’s top points scorer from the 2019 World Cup.
Tumua Manu and Ulupano Junior Seuteni hold down the midfield while Danny Toala’s introduction on the right wing is the sole change to the back three. Nigel Ah Wong holds his spot on the left while France-based Duncan Paia’aua will don the No 15 jersey for the second match in a row after spending the earlier Tests in the midfield.
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Samoa’s battle with Chile will kick off at 3pm CET on Saturday from the Stade de Bordeaux.
Samoa: Duncan Paia’aua, Danny Toala, Ulupano Seuteni, Tumua Manu, Nigel Ah Wong, Christian Leali’ifano, Jonathan Taumateine, Steven Luatua, Fritz Lee, Taleni Seu, Theodore McFarland, Chris Vui, Michael Alaalatoa, Seilala Lam, James Lay. Reserves: Sama Malolo, Jorday Lay, Paul Alo-Emile, Samuel Slade, Jordan Taufua, Ereatara Enari, Lima Sopoaga, Ed Fidow.
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The Wallabies will never be successful while the Tahs insist their second rate players like Porecki and Donaldson are selected and Eddie goes along with it to please them. Neither Porecki nor Donaldson are in the top three players in their position in Australia but there they are captaining Australia and controlling the game. How the hell does your captain get penalised for being too lazy to roll away from a ruck 2 minutes in to a must win World Cup game. The sense of self entitlement to put yourself in that position, as captain, is breathtaking and disgraceful. The Wallabies never stood a chance, which must really really irk the other players ......
Go to commentsThe crisis that has occurred for New Zealand rugby over the last cycle mostly stem from their losses to Ireland and now they are likely to face them in the Quarter Finals. It could be a fitting end, with them exiting the World Cup early like Australia, and some will then wish to write their obituaries for the coach and team at that point. For me, I actually see it as a positive - there is an element of certainty now in what the All Blacks must do - beat Italy and Uruguay (convincingly and with some demonstrable form) then overcome the World Number 1 team. Ignoring the potential semi and final for the moment, if the All Blacks want to conquer some demons, they have the perfect pathway. Can they beat Ireland? Yes, they can - but they need their best team on the paddock throughout - well selected and without injuries or being sent off. Discipline is key. They did actually beat Ireland once last year (which everybody has now forgotten!) and were, in fact, the last team to do so. Ireland have to break some major records of their own to win this World Cup - which creates pressure of its own too.
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