Your definitive team guide to the Rugby World Cup.

SAMOA

Colours: Blue shirt, white shorts.

Nickname: Manu Samoa.

World ranking: 10.

Coach: Fuimaono Tafua.

Appointed head coach in 2009, he was promoted from the sevens team after guiding Samoa to their first IRB World Series tournament title in Wellington 2007 at the 62nd attempt and then to the Hong Kong crown. Tafua has since enjoyed success at the 15-a-side game with a first Pacific Nations Cup.

Squad:

BACKS Born Caps Tries Cons Pens DGs Pts

Kahn Fotuali’i 22/5/82 5 2 0 0 0 10

Tasesa Lavea 10/1/80 5 0 0 1 0 3

David Lemi 10/2/82 27 5 0 0 0 25

Johnny Leota 21/1/84 2 0 0 0 0 0

Seilala Mapusua 27/2/80 19 1 0 0 0 5

George Pisi 29/6/86 7 2 0 0 0 10

Tusi Pisiata 18/6/82 3 0 3 2 0 12

Augustino Poluleuligaga 5/2/81 18 3 0 0 0 15

Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu 31/10/80 19 3 0 0 0 15

James So’oialo 2/3/89 3 0 6 7 0 33

Jeremy Sua 10/11/88 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sailosi Tagicakibau 14/11/82 18 7 0 0 0 35

Alesana Tuilagi 24/2/81 22 12 0 0 0 60

Paul Williams 22/4/83 7 2 2 6 0 32

FORWARDS

Ole Avei 13/6/83 2 0 0 0 0 0

Maurie Fa’asavalu 12/1/80 10 2 0 0 0 10

Cencus Johnston 6/5/81 30 4 0 0 0 20

Daniel Leo 2/10/82 26 0 0 0 0 0

Filipo Levi 6/9/79 24 0 0 0 0 0

Logovi'i Mulipola 11/3/87 5 0 0 0 0 0

Ti’i Paulo 13/1/83 6 0 0 0 0 0

Anthony Perenise 18/10/82 10 0 0 0 0 0

Manu Salavea 26/3/86 8 1 0 0 0 5

Mahonri Schwalger 15/9/78 36 4 0 0 0 20

George Stowers 14/2/79 19 3 0 0 0 15

Zak Taulafo 29/1/83 10 0 0 0 0 0

Joe Tekori 17/12/83 17 3 0 0 0 15

Kane Thompson 9/1/82 18 2 0 0 0 10

Ofisa Treviranus 31/3/84 16 1 0 0 0 5

Taiasina Tu’ifua 20/8/84 3 0 0 0 0 0

Key player: Mahonri Schwalger.

The Samoans will be looking to their veteran hooker and captain to lead them out of a difficult group, as he has experience of Super Rugby with Highlanders, the Celtic League with Scarlets and the English Premiership with Sale.

2010-11 form:

13/11/10 v Ireland (Dublin) L 10-20

20/11/10 v England (Twickenham) L 13-26

27/11/10 v Scotland (Aberdeen) L 16-19

2/7/11 v Japan (Tokyo) W 34-15

9/7/11 v Fiji (Suva) L 18-36

13/7/11 v Tonga (Lautoka) L 19-29

17/7/11 v Australia (Sydney) W 32-23

World Cup pedigree:

Quarter-finals: 1991, 1995.

Quarter-final play-off: 1999.

Group stage: 2003, 2007.

Did not qualify: 1987.

Record: P20, W9, D0, L11.

Most appearances: Brian Lima 18.

Most points: Silao Leaega 62.

Most tries: Lima 10.

High:

The 1991 tournament, their World Cup debut, although they were then known as Western Samoa. Not only did they embarrass Wales 16-13 at Cardiff, they also routed Argentina 35-12 and only lost 9-3 to eventual winners Australia in qualifying for the quarter-finals, where they were beaten 28-6 by Scotland.

Low:

The 2007 tournament, where they managed only one victory in their four pool matches. Heavy defeats by South Africa and England were expected, but a 19-15 loss to Tonga was not. The Samoans’ solitary consolation was a 25-21 win over the USA.

Hero: Brian Lima.

The only player to appear in five World Cups, he featured in the famous 1991 win over Wales and also holds Samoa’s World Cup try record. However, the wing-cum-centre gained more notoriety for his fierce tackling, which earned him the nickname of ‘The Chiropractor’.

Villain: Mata’afa Keenan.

The only Samoan player to be sent off in the World Cup, Keenan was dismissed for fighting with Argentina lock Pedro Sporleder in the 1991 tournament. The Pumas came off worst, though, as Western Samoa romped to victory 35-12.

2011 prospects:

The Samoans’ shock win over Australia in Sydney in July has made the Pacific islanders an even bigger threat to South Africa and Wales, who are favourites to qualify from the pool. The Welsh, in particular, are fully aware of their capabilities after their 1991 and 1999 losses to Samoa.

Group matches:

14/9/11 v Namibia (Rotorua)

18/9/11 v Wales (Hamilton)

25/9/11 v Fiji (Auckland)

30/9/11 v South Africa (Auckland)

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