Unfamiliar favourites tag for Samoa

Samoa's historic win over Australia in July has ramped up expectations of the Polynesians creating more history at the World Cup, but the Pacific islanders are not used to the favourites tag they have been given ahead of their clash with Namibia.

If Samoa hadn't shocked the Wallabies 32-23 in Sydney, as barely anyone predicted, then the team's participation in the tournament would be even more low-key than it already is. After all, it's been 16 years since they featured in the quarterfinals.

Samoa finished last in this year's Pacific Nations Cup despite beating eventual champion Japan. The team then changed completely when its best professionals were freed up by their clubs in Europe, New Zealand and Japan. The players gelled quickly and were too strong and fast for the No. 2-ranked Australians in what was their greatest ever triumph.

Understandably, the Samoans are downplaying high hopes of having a notable World Cup on what might as well be home soil.

"I think our supporters are still dining out on that (win)," reserve hooker Ti'i Paulo said. "It's given our boys a lot of confidence, being on the world stage again. But there's also added pressure with that. That's the standard we've set and anything below that won't be acceptable."

The Samoans start their cup campaign as the tallest and heaviest on average of all the 20 squads. They will be looking to exploit mismatches all across Rotorua International Stadium, none more so than on the wings, where Alesana Tuilagi and Sailosi Tagicakibau - who both feature in the English Premiership - are opposed by the lighter and shorter Danie Dames and Llewellyn Winkler.

Dames, who made his Namibia debut against Fiji, is tasked with stopping Tuilagi, who loves weightlifting so much that Samoa fullback Paul Williams joked he's barred from his club gym because he's powerful enough.

But the underdog teams have been the stars of the five-day-old World Cup so far, including Namibia in their fighting 49-25 loss to Fiji.

Paulo, for one, is wary.

"I don't think we should underestimate them," he said "They've got a really good skill set. I think those kind of teams are unpredictable. They like to use a bit of width, like we do. They've got some silky runners and skilful backs. I think they'll try to move the ball on us."

Namibia earned respect from the fighting loss to Fiji, and they were happy to hear that they had made their countrymen proud.

"People back home were impressed, knowing from where they are, knowing what surrounds them," said coach Johan Diergaardt. "We know our limitations, we know what to expect of ourselves. For us, being here, being competitive- we can be better. We know what our potential is."

"People were saying we played above their expectations, but it wasn't above our expectations. We can step it up," he warned.

Diergaardt has made three changes to his team in order to inject a little more punch and pace, and said the side will have to improve its counter-rucking to reduce turnovers, and finish off passes and catches to keep errors to a minimum.

Wing Conrad Marais, who played against Fiji, said that they want to hit Samoa hard and "be as physical as we can."

"We are going to show them that as much as the islanders like to play tough, the guys from Africa are pretty hard as well," he said.

SAPA-AP