Do or die for Manu Sāmoa as repechage campaign begins

Manu Sāmoa vs Brazil

Kick off: Sunday 9 November, 2am (NZT)

Location: Dubai National Stadium

This weekend marks a crucial moment for Manu Sāmoa as they begin their final push to secure qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Sāmoa are chasing their 10th consecutive World Cup appearance, having participated in every tournament since 1991.

Captain Theo McFarland acknowledges the weight of expectations that come with representing Sāmoa.

“We obviously want to qualify and we have been involved a lot in the Rugby World Cup,” McFarland told reporters. “So it’s definitely a lot of pressure. But with that, we’ve had a good couple days of training, and we’ll just figure out as we go.

“We’re focusing on us and not worrying about the result. Just focusing on what we’re doing on a daily basis, focusing on preparations.”

Brazil’s captain, Lorenzo Massari, shares his pride in competing in Dubai this weekend.

From left: Duncan Paia'aua, Theo McFarland and Melani Matavao. Photo/Alan Lee/Photosport

“Of course, it’s a big, big privilege to face a team as big as Sāmoa and in a situation like this, that is trying to qualify for the Rugby World Cup,” Massari told reporters.

“But I don’t think there is a bigger privilege than this, and that’s why we choose to play this game and having a very big prize to play for should be the biggest privilege for us.”

Brazil has only faced Namibia out of the four qualifying teams, winning both encounters 40-13 in 2003 and 49-12 at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Rotorua. For more information on fixtures and results, click here.

Manu Sāmoa player Melani Nanai against Fiji. Photo/Stephen Parker/Photosport

Sāmoa’s remaining fixtures

Friday, 14 November vs Namibia: Dubai National Stadium, 4.30am (NZT)

Wednesday, 19 November vs Belgium: Dubai National Stadium, 4.30am (NZT)

Key Facts

This will be the first-ever meeting between Sāmoa and Brazil in men’s Test Rugby. Brazil will become the fourth South American side that Samoa have faced, after Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

Brazil could become the fourth South American nation to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, joining Argentina (10 appearances), Chile (1), and Uruguay (5).

Sāmoa have struggled against South American teams recently, coming into this match winless in their last three encounters, having lost two matches against Chile.

Sāmoa recorded the highest dominant tackle rate of any team in this year’s Pacific Nations Cup, averaging 10.3 dominant tackles per game, only bettered by Japan.

Previous World Cup campaigns

Sāmoa reached the quarter-finals in both 1991 and 1995, being the only team in the final qualification tournament to achieve this feat.

The late Papali’itele Peter “Fats” Fatialofa was a key player who led Sāmoa to a memorable victory over Wales in their Rugby World Cup debut in 1991.

Manu Sāmoa Head Coach Lemalu Tusi Pisi has represented Sāmoa in 42 international tests, including the 2011, 2015, and 2019 Rugby World Cups.

In the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Sāmoa did not advance from the pool stages, finishing fourth in Pool D, behind England, Argentina and Japan.

TEAMS

Manu Sāmoa: Jarred Adams, Millenium Sanerivi, Tietie Tuimauga, Ben Petaia Nee-Nee, Michael Curry, Theo McFarland, Alamanda Motuga, Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, Jonathan Taumateine, Rodney Iona, Vaa Apelu Maliko, Tumua Manu, Melani Nanai, Latrell Ah-Kiong, Jacob Umaga. Substitutes - Luteru Tolai Titi Lamositele, Mike Ala'alatoa, Taleni Seu, Niko Jones, Connor Tupai, Faletoi Peni, Lalomilo Lalomilo.

Brazil: Caique Segura, Wilton Rebolo, Leonel Moreno, Gabriel Oliveira, Adrio de Melo, Matheus Claudio, Andre Arruda, Lucas Spago, Joao Amaral, Robert Tenorio, Raff Hollister, Lorenzo Temer Massari, Theo Bastardie, Lucas Tranquez. Substitutes - Henrique Ferreira, Brendon Alves, Vicente Galvao, Ben Donald, Renato Santos, Devon Muller, Thiago Oviedo, Robson de Morais.

This article has been updated to include team lists.