Planet Rugby

Preview: Fiji v Samoa

09th June 2012 18:12

Paul Williams samoa rwc

Paul Williams: Starting for Samoa

Samoa and Fiji go into their Pacific Nations Cup clash in Tokyo on Sunday knowing victory would put them one win away from the title.

But that hasn't stopped coaches Stephen Betham and Inoke Male from making big changes to the sides that opened the competition with victories in Nagoya.

There are seven new players and two positional changes in the Samoa starting XV.

In the forwards, Wayne Ole Avei comes off the bench to start at hooker, Daniel Crichton moves from the back-row into the second-row, Alafoti Faosiliva starts at blindside flanker and Maurie Faasavalu gets the nod at openside.

Behind the scrum, Jeremy Sua is named at scrum-half, Ki Anufe shifts from the centres to fly-half, with Lolo Lui moving in the opposite direction.

Paul Perez comes off the bench while Paul Williams makes his first appearance of the tournament and will wear 12.

Male praised his team's new disciplined approach following the win over Japan. But like Betham he too has changed over half his team.

The Fijians have an all new front row in Jeremaia Yanuyanutawa, Seremaia Naureure and Waisea Daveta.There are also two new flankers in Josefa Domolailai and Malakai Volau.

Nemia Kentale is named at scrum-half, while Alusio Buto comes off the bench and will start on the wing.

"We want to win our fans back and winning against Samoa will be vital for us to attract our fans," said Male.

Fiji: 15 Kameli Ratuvou, 14 Aloisio Buto, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Isake Katonibau, 11 Watisoni Votu, 10 Setareki Koroilagilagi, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Netani Talei (c), 7 Malakai Volau, 6 Josefa Domolailai, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisai Naikatini, 3 Waisea Daveta, 2 Seremaia Naureure, 1 Jeremaia Yanuyanutawa.
Replacements: 16 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17 Setefano Somoca, 18 Iliesa Ratuva, 19 Ratu Malakai Ravulo, 20 Kelemedi Bola, 21 Iliesa Salusalu, 22 Waisea Nayacalevu.

Samoa: 15 Faatoina Autagavaia, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Lolo Lui, 12 Paul Williams, 11 David Lemi (c), 10 Ki Anufe, 9 Jeremy Sua, 8 Benjamin Masoe, 7 Maurie Faasavalu, 6 Alafoti Faosiliva, 5 Daniel Chricton, 4 Faatiga Lemalu, 3 James Johnston, 2 Wayne ole Avei, 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Pelesiusi Kualau, 17 Logovii Mulipola, 18 Maselino Paulino, 19 Misioka Timoteo, 20 Galuefa Tuigamala Falamoe, 21 Fautua Otto, 22 Ken Pisi.

With thanks to the IRB

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