Samoans aim to subdue Fiji up front

Samoa fly half Tusi Pisi and prop Census Johnston are in accord that they have to beat Fiji up front at Eden Park on Sunday in a match neither team can afford to lose.

And they agree that they should not be drawn into a reckless running game by the free-spirited Fijians in an encounter that will end one of the Pacific Islands teams' hopes of progressing beyond the pool stage.

"It's just about us sticking to our game plan and not getting trapped into a bit of jungle rugby," said Pisi, who returns to the starting XV after being knocked out during Samoa's opening match with Namibia and being forced to pull out before the start against Wales.

“For us, it's going to be won up front. If we can get good go-forward ball and our backs can look after their pill (ball) then we'll come out on top."

The veteran Johnston puts it more bluntly, which is not exactly surprising given that at 135kg he is the second heaviest player at RWC 2011, "With the backs that the Fijians have, you have to smash them up front," he said.

"For me, that's my job. That's what I need to do. The Fijians aren't a small pack."

Not expected

Samoa coach Titimaea Tafua, who has made just three changes to the team beaten 17-10 by Wales last weekend, said he is confident they will bounce back against their island neighbours.

Fiji won 36-18 the last time they met, at the Pacific Nations Cup in July of this year.

"Our game against Wales was not expected," Tafua said. "We were prepared to win that game. We will try to pick up the spirits and get ready for the next game."

Assistant coach Tom Coventry does not believe the Samoa players will let the emotion of a packed Eden Park overwhelm them.

“A lot of these boys are seasoned professionals. They play a lot of rugby in Britain and Europe and in New Zealand, so they're no novices when it comes to getting themselves up for big occasions,” said Coventry, who looks at Sunday's showdown as a stepping stone to achieving Samoa's ultimate goal.

Special occasion

“If we want to be quarter-finalists we have to win the next two games. I think the equation is pretty simple for us. The first step is getting past Fiji."

For Samoa's Auckland-raised second row Daniel Leo, running out at historic Eden Park for the first time will be a special occasion

"It’s going to be a dream fulfilled," said Leo. "For any Kiwi rugby player growing up you always want to, it epitomises the game really, playing on Eden Park."

A win on Sunday would cap a memorable week for replacement hooker and second-time father Ti’i Paulo, who has just made a fleeting trip home to Christchurch for the birth of his daughter Florence.