Samoa bank on England stars
Samoa have selected eight Premiership players in their squad to face Wales in Cardiff on Friday.
The team will be led by London Irish flank George Stowers, while his club team-mate Seilala Mapasua will start at 12. Sale hooker Mahonri Schwalger, Newcastle lock Filipo Levi, and wings David Lemi (Wasps) and Anitelea Tuilagi (Sale) are also in the starting team.
Bath loose forward Jonny Faamatuianu and Leeds Carnegie back Henry Fa’afili are among the replacements.
Massive Perpignan No 8 Henry Tuilagi also starts, but as the team only gathered on Sunday, it is unlikely the Samoans will have enough preparation time to secure enough quality first-phase ball for their abrasive runners to regularly trouble the Welsh.
Samoa – 15 Lolo Lui, 14 David Lemi, 13 Gavin Williams, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Anitelea Tuilagi, 10 Fa’atonu Fili, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Henry Tuilagi, 7 Ofisa Treviranus, 6 George Stowers (c), 5 Iosefa Tekori, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Justin Va’a.
Subs: 16 Andrew Williams, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 Kane Thompson, 19 Jonathon Fa’amatuianu, 20 Uale Mai, 21 Henry Fa’afili, 22 Titi Esau.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Tribal Dragons!
November 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am
More like New Zealand stars. At least 40% of these guys were born and raised in NZ and have never lived in Samoa.
Gavin Williams, George Stowers, Census Johnston,
Andrew Williams, Kane Thompson and more. They are club rugby players from Auckland. why don’t we hear the outcry about Samoa poaching NZ players??
November 12th, 2009 at 9:46 am
#2 Delek: Never a comment about that – should be a good game ,the welsh will be sore !
November 12th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Yip,the Samoans really love the physical exchanges.Even little Uale Mai doesnt back down for anyone..but I’ll say Wales will take this by 15.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Not a bad team.