SAMOA NOT A GOER FOR OPENER
SAMOA coach Matt Parish admits his team will be under-prepared for their opening World Cup game against England in Newcastle on Saturday.
England coach Shaun Wane has labelled the Pacific Islanders favourites for the game at St James’ Park and the bookmakers agree but Parish insists the odds are stacked against his side.
“The one on the 19th of November is probably a bit more important than this one but they’re all important, they’re World Cup games,” Parish said at the launch of the tournament.
“I’m confident we’re going to get better as the competition goes on.”
While Wane has the benefit of two warm-up games, one against Fiji only last Friday, Parish says his squad has only just come together.
“We’re under-done for the first game,” he said. “England played a trial match while our boys were all on a plane.
“We’ll have two more sessions this week and then we’ve got to play the opening World Cup game.
“I’ve no doubt we will play well.”
Like Tonga before them, Samoa have been boosted by the defection of players who were set to play for tier one nations.
“It’s very pleasing and humbling that they have chosen Samoa,” Parish said. “They realise there’s a group of young people that can do something. We’ve a very young squad but exciting too.
“If you look at the teams that are competing, it’s by far the strongest World Cup ever, the most even, and it’s exciting to be part of. We’ve got some confidence but got some work to do to.
“It’s a big occasion and we need to rise to it. I’ve got no doubt they will. A lot of our boys have played in Grand
Finals, we’ve got some young boys too, I’m confident.”
Eight members of Parish’s squad played in the NRL Grand Final eight days ago, including half-back Jarome Luai and winger Brian To’o who were set to be included in Australia coach Mal Meninga’s World Cup squad, and the coach confirmed they will face England.
He said: “We need to get some connection with our team and find some team continuity, from that point of view we’re a bit rusty but our goal is to peak further down the tournament, not on Saturday.”