By the time this match kicks off in Saint-Étienne on Friday, 13 days will have passed since Argentina’s last outing – the 27-10 loss to England in Marseille.
Coach Michael Cheika will have spent a good deal of that time working to improve the Pumas’ discipline and attacking game for this match against Samoa – one they now cannot afford to lose.
He has made three changes to his starting XV, with Eduardo Bello coming into the front-row, Guido Petti into the second-row, and Matías Moroni into the midfield.
Samoa, meanwhile, are second in Pool D after their 43-10 win over Chile. Their relatively short turnaround compared to Argentina leaves coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua facing a different set of issues.
He too has made three changes to his starting XV. Paul Alo-Emile comes into the front-row, Brian Alainu’u’ese into the second-row, and Ben Lam onto the wing.
FIXTURE: Argentina v Samoa
GROUND: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne (41,965)
KICK-OFF: 17:45 local time (GMT+2)
FIXTURE HISTORY
Samoa have won three of the four historic meetings between the two sides dating back to the first one, at Pontypridd’s Sardis Road, in 1991. But their last match, in Buenos Aires, was 18 years ago – in December 2005.
MEMORABLE MATCH
Argentina beat Samoa 32-16 at Llanelli’s Stradey Park at Rugby World Cup 1999. It may seem hard to believe now, for a side that has racked up a third- and fourth-place finish and two quarter-final appearances since 1999, but Argentina had lost nine of their first 10 Rugby World Cup matches, prior to that match in south Wales.
It kick started a run of Rugby World Cup performances that has seen Argentina to two quarter-finals, and fourth- and third-place finishes in the tournaments that have followed.
It’s been a while since Argentina’s last outing in France, but their reaction to that defeat against England – and what they have learned from it – will be vital. Despite previous Rugby World Cup experience, a number of players seemed a little out of sorts in Marseille as George Ford kicked them out of the game. Cheika has said that he is confident the Pumas will bounce back. We’ll find out in Saint-Étienne.
PLAYER HEAD-TO-HEAD
Juan Cruz Mallia v Duncan Paia’aua. Two of world rugby’s quietly versatile ‘Swiss Army backs’ go head to head at 15. The Argentinian has played in every position from 10 to 15 for Top 14 side Stade Toulousain, while his opposite number has played 10, 12, 13, and 15 for RC Toulon.
Paia’aua is the only player to have played every minute for Samoa this year across all five tests. He is currently on a three-game try-scoring run, after crossing just once across his first four tests for Samoa.
If he’s used off the bench, veteran hooker Agustín Creevy will move to joint second all-time in RWC appearances for Los Pumas, level with Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, on 17 matches. Only Mario Ledesma has played more times – he racked up 18 between 1999 and 2011.
Nic Berry (Australia). This is Berry’s second Rugby World Cup in France. In 2007, he was playing scrum-half for French side Racing Métro and got involved in the tournament as a fan.
TEAMS
ARGENTINA Juan Cruz Mallia; Emiliano Boffelli, Matías Moroni, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (captain), Eduardo Bello; Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Matias Alemanno; Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Francisco Gómez Kodela, Pedro Rubiolo, Rodrigo Bruni, Tomas Cubelli, Nicolas Sanchez, Lucio Cinti
SAMOA Duncan Paia’aua; Nigel Ah-Wong, Ulupano Junior Seuteni, Tumua Manu, Ben Lam; Christian Leali’ifano, Jonathan Taumateine; James Lay, Seilala Lam, Paul Alo-Emile; Brian Alainu’u’ese, Chris Vui (captain); Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua
Replacements: Sama Malolo, Charlie Faumuina, Michael Alaalatoa, Taleni Junior Agaese Seu, Sa Jordan Taufua, Melani Matavao, Alai D’Angelo Leuila, Danny Toala
Seilala Mapusua, head coach
On some of the changes he has made to his team to face Argentina:
“Brian (Alainu’u’ese, second row) has been training really well and this was a game we thought his strengths would be utilised, especially around the set-piece.
“Ben Lam (winger) has just become available after sustaining an injury a few weeks ago. He is now fit and ready to go. We were worried when he sustained his injury. He’s a lot on the edge for us, he’s a very big man who can move quickly… he brings a lot to the wider channels, his pure power and the way he plays the game. We are looking forward to finally getting him on the field this weekend.
“With Lima Sopoaga’s (fly-half) omission (from the match-day squad), I think it’s been circulated, he sustained a (calf) injury last week against Chile. He was ruled out this week, we ruled him out as a precautionary. Also, because of the nature of his injury he wasn’t ready to play this week. We will reassess at the weekend towards next week’s game.”
On not expecting to have to read the riot act at half-time like he did during the opening game versus Chile:
“The boys have realised we are in the tournament, we’ve arrived at the party. There are no second chances so this week the whole squad, there has been a real lift and energy. We know we have got a huge game coming up.
“We won’t be short of motivation.
On a six-day turnaround from their opening match:
‘It’s been tough. We waited a couple of weeks to play our first game and then I felt like we blinked and we are straight into the second game. It’s been good but we’ve had to be a bit creative this week in terms of how we managed our squad, making sure we are in the best condition for the game on Friday.”
On the need to change the model so Samoa can get more ‘meaningful games’:
“We are expected to come to the pinnacle event of our sport and compete and be competitive and this is on the back of two games against a tier-one nation in the span of four years, and one of them being on the eve of the World Cup.
“This is a model that definitely needs to be looked at, especially from our perspective. We need more meaningful games and comparable games where we can assemble our best and keep developing as a team.”
On taking pride and confidence from Fiji’s win over Australia:
“We had confidence before the game, confidence that Fiji were going to get over and also confidence in what we are doing. That’s awesome to see our Pacific brothers doing really well and we are always going to be behind them until we have to play each other.
“We are proud of them and of course we are going to take inspiration and confidence from that. But I’d be more inclined to take confidence from the work and preparation this group of men have done over the past few months.”
On stopping Argentina by playing the ‘Samoa way’:
“We are going to have to stop Argentina from doing what they do by doing what we do and committing to how we want to play. We are under no illusion to the threat Argentina pose and we believe that if we stick to how we want to play and play the Samoa way, I am confident we will be able to stop Argentina.”
On taking notice of how England convincingly beat Argentina in week one:
“It’s always very useful to see how one team can beat another… in terms of game-management, it was really interesting to see how England were able to nullify Argentina’s play and how they wanted to play. We know England play a certain style of rugby and we are always learning from other teams. It’s how we use those learnings and play how we want to play.”
Chris Vui, captain
On being the only captain this week, having shared duties versus Chile with Michael Alaalatoa:
“I’m excited for the challenge ahead. Me and Mikey work really well in that space and it’s an honour for me to lead the boys this week. I am just going to keep it simple this week and just get the boys to express themselves.”
On hoping for the same support from the locals in Saint-Étienne that Fiji received last weekend:
“Of course. Please. Short answer, please.”
Christian Leali’ifano, fly-half
On facing up to his former Australia head coach, now Argentina head coach Michael Cheika:
“Excited for the challenge ahead. Not only a former coach there in Michael Cheika but just the challenge that lays ahead for this team, this group to play a tier-one nation that historically did really well at a World Cup.”
On kicking being part, but not all of the plan:
“Like any test match and most of the games so far there’s been a lot of kicking. It’s important for us as well, we’ve got some plans in place that we’ve prepared. We just hope we can execute. Kicking is a part of that, running is a part of that, passing is a part of that.”
On it ‘feeling like home’ to represent Samoa, having represented Australia four years ago:
“Really special to represent my home nation and my family. You never take them for granted when you get to play at a World Cup. This one is just as special.
“I’m home. That’s what I love. It just feels like home.”
On still appealing for the safe return of Lima Sopoaga’s kicking tee, which went missing after the Chile match:
“I think he’s still looking for it… he’s obviously had that one since he was 14 and it’s something you hold almost as close as a baby when you are kicker.
“Hopefully the world out there can hopefully find his tee and get it back to him. Something like that is pretty sentimental to him. The boys have been mocking him a little bit this week, (saying) ‘Is it this one?’.”
Sama Malolo, hooker
On modestly crediting ‘the boys’ for his two tries versus Chile:
“Two tries just at the backend of the boys doing the job. It feels good but full credit to the boys.”
Paul Alo-Emile, prop
On the unique connection Samoans have with each other:
“Samoa is such a unique country, such a unique culture. You look at the country itself, it’s 200,000 people, there’s not that many in comparison to the world. When you see another Samoan it’s like family straight away. We have that connection and it really helps.”
On attempting to overcome handling errors due to the slippery nature of the conditions:
“Some of the boys use spray… at training we tend not to, just to train under more difficult situations so come game-time it’s easier. There is no magic solution or anything like that.”
Michael Cheika, head coach
On the three changes to Argentina’s starting XV:
“Guido Petti comes in for Tomás Lavanini who is out this week with an injury, but I think he will be fine for Chile. It is the third week that Guido is available after his return from injury. He is coming back in very good shape, with a good attitude. We are also happy with [Pedro] Rubiolo.
“Matías Moroni, since we arrived in Portugal [for preparation] has always been in very good shape in training. This game is good for him, he is very strong in defence, what we need for a number 13 and Lucio [Cinti] is a substitute to finish the game.
“Eduardo Bello, since he has been in our squad at the start of the year, has been improving every week. It is a nice opportunity for him.
“In Italy, he doesn’t play every week but training with us every day, every week, at a high level, with a lot of scrum pressure, with the competition, we think he deserves his chance in the team. We swap roles with Gómez Kodela who will finish the game.”
On he experience on the bench:
“With Agustín Creevy, Nicolás Sánchez and Tomás Cubelli we have a lot of experience as finishers. It will be a different type of game this week and we return to the combination of five (forwards) and three (backs) on the bench as we usually have.”
On the game plan against Samoa:
“We know the type of game we want to play; we don’t want to change too much depending on the opponent.
“This week started with the fundamentals – scrum, line, ruck and maul and fitness. With that, the focus was on the possibility of having more ball, possession and territory. We have to be very disciplined when it comes to penalties, because in this tournament penalties cost a lot, as always.
“Also, we have to be disciplined in our organisation, in defence and attack. It may take 60, 70 minutes until the opportunity is there, but you have to take it when it comes.
“You don’t have to do something magical; it is about playing our game disciplined and very aggressive.”
On his thoughts on Samoa:
“Samoa have improved a lot. They have a good group of coaches, very united. I know Christian Leali’ifano, Michael Alaalatoa from before and they are good rugby players.
“It is a great challenge, like all Rugby World Cup games. To the many fans, families, and those who are watching [from afar], we want to show what we can do.”
On how he views his team:
“The team has learned important lessons [after England]: to have more focus, more clarity, more peace of mind about what we have to do, and without last week’s build-up. It is a very important game.”
Julián Montoya, captain and hooker
About the Samoan pack:
“The Samoa pack is heavy with renowned players who play in main leagues, in England, France.
“We expect a very physical match from them. We have worked on pressure and the maul.”
About the pressure they are under:
“You can see the pressure that is coming – what we have to lose or what we have to win.
“I prefer to see what we have to win. We are in a World Cup and the mentality we have is what we have to win.
“We know there will be pressure, we are training for this. It’s where we want to be. Nobody forces us to be here, we do it with a lot of passion, with a lot of love for the shirt, and for what we represent.
“[Being here] is the most privileged place we can think of. The older ones are there to absorb the pressure. Let the younger ones think about playing. We are ready to have a great game against Samoa.”
Eduardo Bello, prop (pictured)
On starting the game
“I am very happy. No matter where you are, you will always do your best for the team, be it as a starter, from the bench or the stands.”
On Samoa’s pack:
“They have a very heavy pack. They scored three maul tries against Chile and they are going to come looking for us there and in the scrum.
“We are prepared to do battle with them on Friday.”
On the Argentine scrum:
“We are not the same scrum as the one that started this process against New Zealand [in July]. We are working full time with ‘Dogo’ [Andrés Bordoy] on that. We have to adjust individual issues more than pack ones.”
Gonzalo Bertranou, scrum-half
About his preparation:
“I prepare all week to play the best game on Friday. Preparation makes me confident.”
On leadership against England:
“When the team plays well it is generally thanks to the scrum-half and fly-half. When it plays badly you have to raise your hand, and I take responsibility.
“We turned the page [after England] and we are very clear about what we have to do to harm Samoa. I am very clear about what is good for our team and that gives me peace of mind.
“I know how to put the team in a good position along with the game leaders. It gives me great peace of mind that on Friday we are very well prepared to put our forwards and our backs in a position to take advantage.”
About the ball:
“The game we played was played at night, with a lot of humidity. It felt very wet and the ball was wet. It was the same for both teams.
“As a kicker, the ball is good, it flies a little more and is a little rounder.”
360
EOIN Morgan- an Irish-born cricketer doesn’t sing the national anthem before starting a game.
Saber-Red
The French domestic rugby competition is called the Top 14.