WALES WILL all but qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals if Samoa lose to South Africa tomorrow and fail to secure a bonus point. The omens are good for Wales, who play Fiji on Sunday. Samoa have faced South Africa in three World Cups and never come closer than 28 points.
If Samoa draw a blank, Wales would have to lose to Fiji, their conquerors in 2007, by 62 points to miss out. Fiji have failed to fire so far, which was the case at this stage in the tournament four years ago, and they would effectively be playing for third place and automatic qualification for 2015.
“We are confident,” said Samoa coach Titimaea Tafua, who named Wasps’ David Lemi on the right wing in place of the injured Sailosi Tagicakibau. “We believe we have a chance of winning. It will be the second anniversary of the tsunami that hit Samoa and that will be motivation for the players.”
Samoa, with Fiji, have muted their traditional flair for something more European, concentrating on structure and set-pieces. South Africa do not expect them to abandon that approach, even though the islanders may need a bonus-point victory to make the quarter-finals.
“I think they would be foolish to do that, to change their approach now,” said South Africa backs coach Dick Muir. “They have been together for a long time and their progress is clear. It has been an exciting pool for us. We came into the competition a little underdone and we used the tough, physical group games to prepare ourselves for the knockout stage. Friday is a knockout game for us because we have not made the last eight yet.”
SOUTH AFRICA: Pat Lambie; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Frans Steyn, BryanHabana; Morne Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira. Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield (capt), HeinrichBrussow, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies.
SAMOA: Paul Williams, David Lemi, Seilala Mapusua, Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, Alesana Tuilagi; Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali’i;Sakaria Taulafo. Mahonri Schwalger (capt), Census Johnston, Daniel Leo, Kane Thompson, Taiasina Tuifua, Maurie Faasavalu, George Stowers.
