Hotch-potch Samoans set for bruiser with England

(AP)

Whenever Samoa play a serious game of international rugby against a top-tier side – something that does not happen nearly enough, especially on home soil in the Pacific islands, which is considered a no-go area by the likes of England and New Zealand, who consider themselves far too important – they do it in the face of numbing adversity. They have no money, they have no guaranteed access to their best personnel, they have no preparation time, their domestic structure has all the sophistication of a hot-dog stall. It is as much as they can do to work out who might be available for any given match.

And yet. Six days ago, they finished within 10 measly points of an experienced Ireland side in Dublin, flying in the face of all rugby logic once again. "I'm glad they're not in our World Cup group next year," said Declan Kidney, the Ireland coach, afterwards. "They're a tough, physical side and there were opportunities for them to win. They had us tied to our goal-line for long periods and when they built momentum, they made us very nervous."

How in God's name do they do it? The answer is simple and straightforward. Per head of population – around 160,000, little more than double the expected attendance at Twickenham for tomorrow's meeting with England – they produce more world-class players than any nation on earth. Some would argue that, in recent years, the Tuilagi family alone has generated more back-line talent than Italy, or even Scotland.

In 10 months' time, the Samoans will renew World Cup acquaintance with Wales, who have suffered more than once at their hands. Their avowed intention? To erase the memory of a spectacular misfire at the last global gathering three years ago by qualifying for the knockout stages. They believe they can beat Wales again, and they believe they can beat their neighbours from Fiji. That would almost certainly be enough to see them into the last eight.

"This autumn campaign in Europe is the first of four leading into the World Cup," said their manager, Matt Vaea. "This is assembly time for us – time to look at the core make-up of our squad, players who will then be tested during the Pacific Nations Cup, the Super 15 competition and the warm-up matches ahead of the big tournament. The World Cup is special to us. We have to win our first two matches, against Namibia and Wales. We have work to do, but that is our aim."

Vaea's current squad is a hotch-potch. "We have 36 players with us," he said. "Eighteen of them play professionally here in Europe, just over a dozen play good provincial rugby in New Zealand, and we've drawn the balance from our own seven-a-side programme. It's a fair mix: some have good experience, some are very young."

Many of those younger players participated in the comprehensive 66-25 victory over the Combined Services at Kingsholm on Wednesday night, including the unfeasibly rapid Mike Pesamino, who claimed one of his side's 10 tries. Pesamino was signed by Sale at the start of the season, but he has yet to appear, having opted to stay with the sevens squad for a while. If and when he does pitch up at Edgeley Park, he will be well worth watching.

As things stand, though, Vaea is more concerned with addressing the Samoans' traditional Achilles' heel – their set piece – ahead of what promises to be a bruising meeting with England. "We know we have to front up at the scrum and line-out," he said. "We're achieving reasonably well in those areas on this trip, although we're lacking a little control in the rucks. England have a very formidable forward pack, so we'll have to step it up if we're going to stay in the game. We're in a battle this weekend."

Samoan rugby folk love a battle. England discovered that much on their way to winning the World Cup in 2003 – it took them around an hour to hit the front in Melbourne that night – and again at Twickenham two years later. England should win with something to spare tomorrow, but the islanders will surely give their hosts something to remember them by.