Samoans in show of strength

Samoa will begin their warm-up for the World Cup – due to get underway in about nine weeks time on September 9th in Auckland – by playing Australia on Sunday. They have selected virtually a full-strength side for the upcoming Test, the result of which will leave coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua under no illusions as to what his sides chances will be when the action gets underway for real – and with Samoa facing some tough opposition in Pool D of the competition against Wales, Fiji, South Africa and Namibia, they will need to hit the ground running in their opening fixture.

The side will be led by Highlanders hooker Mahonri Schwalger and the squad will boast a wealth of top-flight experience with five players representing their country that hail from clubs in New Zealand and England, two each from Japan and France, as well as one player from Wales. Eleven of the squad have also had experience playing Super Rugby – and will be looking to use their inside knowledge of the Australian players individual attributes to their advantage. Those looking at the World Cup rugby odds should bear this in mind.

Despite naming such a strong side, Tafua is clearly wary of the danger of burn-out ahead of the showpiece event, and so will be resting all of the players that competed in Samoas recent Pacific Nations Cup match against Tonga although five of them have been ear-marked for spots on the bench.

If results go according to plan in both the Australia and Samoa camps – with Samoa looking likely to finish second in their group behind current champions South Africa and Australia topping theirs, this match at the ANZ Stadium could well represent a preview of one of the World Cup quarter-final matches to take place in September. Fans of Betfair rugby union betting will be looking forward to it.

Samoa have just returned home following their IRBs Pacific Nations Cup showing – a largely disappointing affair in which they won just one game against eventual winners, Japan. But having lost to Tonga 29-19 in their final outing, Tafua is determined to look to the future and insists that he has been using his sides Pacific Nations Cup matches as well as the upcoming Test against Australia and their two home fixtures against Western Force to help shape his selection for the eventual World Cup squad.

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