Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
England wary of Samoa’s physicality as Ford and Farrell combine
ENGLAND face Samoa in the Rugby World Cup this evening (5.45pm kickoff) having already guaranteed their last-eight place, but remain wary of the Pacific Islanders' traditional strengths.
The 2003 winners have been clinical so far in victories over Argentina, Japan and Chile, but England are well aware of the threat posed by Samoa in their final Pool D game in Lille.
“One thing that Samoans don't lack is physicality,” England lock Maro Itoje told reporters this week.
“From one to 23, they have guys that want contact, who look for collisions.
“As a team, we know that this is front and centre for what they intend to do.”
Before the start of the tournament, England had just three wins in nine games after Steve Borthwick took over as coach from the sacked Eddie Jones.
Borthwick echoed defence coach Kevin Sinfield's thoughts this week, refusing to talk about England's hopes of winning their quarter-final, where they are set to face Fiji or Wales in Marseille next weekend.
“I think Samoa are a really strong side,” Borthwick said.
“They're powerful, they have a lot of pace and they play a physical type of rugby.
“What we face is a lot of experience. Some really top quality players.”
Former England captain Borthwick has made 14 changes from the win over Chile last time out.
Captain Owen Farrell moves to No 12, outside childhood friend and former school teammate George Ford at flyhalf for the first time since March 2021. “That's the thing with playing with each other so many times,” Ford said of his partnership with Farrell.
“Sometimes it's not verbal communication, but a bit of eye contact.
“I'd love to say that there it was a little bit more complicated and there was a special ingredient, but there isn't.”
Outside Farrell will be No 13 Manu Tuilagi, playing against his country of birth for the first time.
“It certainly has a great significance to him and especially to his family,” Borthwick said.
“We understand that with the heritage.
“Manu's also very proud to play for England.
“There's no doubt that he will be giving his all this weekend.”
Borthwick's Samoa counterpart, Seilala Mapusua, has made nine alterations to his XV as they eye an improbable place in the next round after defeats by Japan and Argentina.
They need to score four tries and beat England by a healthy margin, as well as hope the Pumas draw with Japan tomorrow.
Samoa have never beaten England, but Borthwick's side's last outing against a team from the Pacific Islands was a historic first loss to Fiji in August.
“They were brilliantly Fijian in that game,” ex-Samoa centre Mapusua said.
“If anything, what we can take from that is for us, when we play England this evening , is to be unapologetically Samoan.”