Pacific Islanders primed for Springboks clash

Samoa are well aware of the size of their task against South Africa at North Harbour Stadium on Friday.

The Springboks require at least one point from their final Pool D match to secure a quarter-final spot, while Samoa must upset the defending world champions with a bonus-point win to advance.

"This is our last chance and it will not be easy, but it will be a hell of a test,” Samoa captain and hooker Mahonri Schwalger said. "It will not be hard to motivate these guys, especially against the world champs.

"These are the games you want to play rugby for. You do not take these opportunities lightly."

While Samoa have lost all six of their previous encounters with the Springboks, coach Titimaea Tafua is adamant his men are capable of achieving what some see as the impossible.

"We do believe we have a chance to win,” he said. “We are confident."

Centre Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu added: "A lot of people are talking about this being the best Samoan team ever. Well, let's find out. There's no better way than playing the world champions."

Two changes

Tafua has made just two changes to the Samoan side that beat Fiji 27-7 last Sunday, with David Lemi, who has not played a RWC match since 2007, replacing Sailosi Tagicakibau at right wing, and Sapolu taking over at centre from Seilala Mapusua.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made seven changes to the starting XV that beat Namibia 87-0 last Thursday, and is happy to have the luxury of choosing from an almost fully-fit squad.

"It's the first time since our first game we have the privilege to select the team from 29 fit players,” he said.

Lineout specialist Victor Matfield returns from a hamstring injury, and de Villiers believes the 34-year-old will be key to countering Samoa’s potent front row.

"They annihilated the Fiji scrums, so that's a bit of bother for us. Having Victor back in the lineout, that can be a great contest now. He understands the systems and he inspires people around him."

Flanker Heinrich Brüssow added: "They're a brute side, so it won't be easy. But we're working hard to hopefully put them under pressure in the lineouts and in the scrums."

Very dangerous

"If you play any of the Pacific Island teams, the set pieces are very important. If you give them too much ball, they're very dangerous, so that's one thing we're focusing on."

With an average age of 30 years and 51 days, Samoa will be fielding the oldest starting XV ever in a Rugby World Cup. While Sapolu concedes his teammates are weary, it has nothing to do with age.

"There are a lot of guys with sore bodies,” he said. “There are a lot of guys who are playing their fourth game, their fourth 80 minutes. There are a lot of people who are tired.”

The Springboks have been dubbed the “oldies” of the tournament, although the Samoa side for Friday's match is actually older on average.

South Africa assistant coach Gary Gold believes that age, while mostly irrelevant, can be an advantage.

“There’s not very much we can do about it - the age of our team or theirs,” he said. "One of the things that age does show is they're an incredibly experienced bunch.

"In 2003, England were the oldest team at the World Cup, quite substantially, and look what happened to them (when they defeated Australia to win the Webb Ellis Cup).

"It's a fine balance - a balance that we believe we've got right and their (Samoa's) coaches feel the same way, I think. They've got a good balance in their team and they're going to get a lot of respect from us tomorrow."