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| England at Twickenham is the big one for us, says Samoa’s George Pisi | England at Twickenham is the big one for us, says Samoa’s George Pisi |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| It has been a turbulent month for Samoa. A public row with the country’s prime minister over the way money provided for the development of rugby on the islands has been used and the threat of strike action have had an impact on the field. Defeat to Italy was followed by an unconvincing victory over Canada in France last Friday. | It has been a turbulent month for Samoa. A public row with the country’s prime minister over the way money provided for the development of rugby on the islands has been used and the threat of strike action have had an impact on the field. Defeat to Italy was followed by an unconvincing victory over Canada in France last Friday. |
| On Saturday, a delegation of the Samoa squad met representatives from the International Rugby Board and the International Rugby Players’ Association to discuss the grievances they had with the Samoan Rugby Union, which did not send anyone to the talks that were organised after the players agreed to call off a threat to boycott Saturday’s game against England at Twickenham. They pointed out their concern was about the funding of the game as a whole in the country, not just how much international players are paid. | On Saturday, a delegation of the Samoa squad met representatives from the International Rugby Board and the International Rugby Players’ Association to discuss the grievances they had with the Samoan Rugby Union, which did not send anyone to the talks that were organised after the players agreed to call off a threat to boycott Saturday’s game against England at Twickenham. They pointed out their concern was about the funding of the game as a whole in the country, not just how much international players are paid. |
| The Northampton centre George Pisi said Samoa are treating the match against England as a cup final having surrendered a half-time lead against Italy and struggled against Canada in the rain in Vannes, pulling away in the final 10 minutes to win by as many points. | |
| “It is looking good for us overall,” said Pisi, whose brother and Northampton colleague Ken is in the squad. “We have a good mix of experienced and young players and the majority of us are full-time professionals. The tour has been about building our strength so far but England on Saturday is the big one. It will be our last game before we get together again next summer ahead of the World Cup and we want to make it count.” | |
| Samoa are in the same World Cup group as South Africa, for the fourth successive tournament, Scotland, Japan and the USA. Their encounter with the Springboks in Albany in 2011 was arguably the most absorbing match of the pool stage and the Samoans felt that refereeing decisions cost them. | Samoa are in the same World Cup group as South Africa, for the fourth successive tournament, Scotland, Japan and the USA. Their encounter with the Springboks in Albany in 2011 was arguably the most absorbing match of the pool stage and the Samoans felt that refereeing decisions cost them. |
| “If you look at the group realistically, our biggest game is against Scotland,” Pisi said. “That is not to underestimate the United States or Japan but we are quietly confident we can finish second and qualify for the knockout stages. We will have a decent amount of time to prepare for the tournament and it means a lot to us. | |
| “Rugby union is the game of Samoa and when you pull on the jersey, you play for the people. We are a people’s team and it is a big driving force for us. We need to change a lot of the things that happen in Samoa, such as getting good coaches in there and making sure there is top quality behind the team. We need not only to bring young players through the system but also to make sure they make themselves available for Samoa.” | “Rugby union is the game of Samoa and when you pull on the jersey, you play for the people. We are a people’s team and it is a big driving force for us. We need to change a lot of the things that happen in Samoa, such as getting good coaches in there and making sure there is top quality behind the team. We need not only to bring young players through the system but also to make sure they make themselves available for Samoa.” |
| Pisi has not played for a month since suffering a freak injury playing for Northampton in the European Champions Cup at Racing Métro but hopes to be fit for Twickenham. He had made a clean break in Paris and was heading for a second-half try underneath the posts that would have given his side the lead when he suddenly dropped the ball and fell to the ground clutching a leg. | Pisi has not played for a month since suffering a freak injury playing for Northampton in the European Champions Cup at Racing Métro but hopes to be fit for Twickenham. He had made a clean break in Paris and was heading for a second-half try underneath the posts that would have given his side the lead when he suddenly dropped the ball and fell to the ground clutching a leg. |
| “I suffered a grade two hamstring tear,” he said. “I felt like I had been shot. My hand instinctively went to my leg and I dropped the ball. I forgot everything I was doing and it was just one of those things. As painful as the injury was, the fact is the try would have turned the momentum of the game our way and I am sure we would have gone on to win it rather than leave with nothing.” | |
| Northampton have three players in the Samoa squad through the Pisi brothers and the scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i, with such as David Lemi, Maurie Fa’asavalu and Ofisa Treviranus among other players with Premiership experience. They defeated Italy 15-0 in Apia in June but this month’s reverse in Ascoli dropped them to 11th in the world rankings. | |
| “We showed against South Africa in the last World Cup what we are capable of,” Pisi said. “It depends which Samoa turns up on the day. The opportunity to play England at Twickenham is a big boost for our morale but playing there is not enough: we want to beat them and be respected in rugby terms. We are not going there to make up the numbers and I hope England are feeling it after the games against New Zealand and South Africa. We are raring to go and it will be a real test match.” | |
| George Pisi was speaking at an event organised by QBE, the business insurance specialist and sponsor of England’s autumn series |