Wales handed rankings hope this weekend
Given Wales have been the victims of two huge shock results at the hands of Samoa in Rugby World Cups, their supporters are hardly likely to view the Pacific Islanders as their second-favourite team.
Those old enough to remember the events of Cardiff in 1991 - when Samoa was known as Western Samoa - and 1999, will normally want to look away when the team in blue are playing for fear of old memories returning to haunt them.
However, it could be well worth Wales fans logging on to RugbyPass TV's coverage of this weekend's Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup opener between Fiji and Samoa because a win for the latter, depending on the scoreline, would do Wales a favour.
Wales fans particularly will take a keen interest in Friday's match in Suva as the right result would send Warren Gatland's men back into the the top 10 in the world rankings.
The two-Test series against Australia in July did not end well for Wales from a rankings perspective, as the two losses saw them drop to 11th, an all-time low for them.
Wales fans cannot hope for too great a victory for Samoa though, as a winning margin of over 15 points would actually see Fiji be displaced by Samoa in 10th place, with the 2024 Six Nations wooden spoonists remaining outside of the top 10.
Should Samoa draw or win by fewer than 15 points, they would only climb one place in the rankings, overtaking Georgia in 12th.
Compared to Rugby World Cup 2023, the Fijian and Samoan line-ups are fairly callow in terms of experience and the respective head coaches only have a few games under their belts, so it is a tough one to call although being at home makes Fiji favourites.
Samoa's Mase Mahonri Schwalger is enjoying a honeymoon period in charge with a couple of wins against Italy and Spain, the Italian victory being Samoa's first against Six Nations opposition in 10 years, while Mick Byrne led Fiji to victory in Georgia before the team was well beaten by the All Blacks in San Diego.
For Fiji, household names such as Levani Botia, Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra and Waisea Nayacalevu are missing from their roster, while Samoa are without the likes of Christian Leali'ifano, Lima Sopoaga and Duncan Paia'aua from last year, although Theo McFarland, one of the emerging stars of Test rugby is there to lead them in Suva.
Both teams include a couple of debutants in their starting XVs for what is the 100th anniversary of the first Test between the teams, with a host of other players enjoying their first Test starts, and there is also a smattering of sevens Olympians.
Epeli Momo makes his debut for Fiji on the left wing while full back Vuate Karawalevu is on the verge of becoming a cross-code international having already appeared for Fiji at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Selesitino Ravutaumada completes the back three line-up on the right wing as he switches back to 15s after helping Fiji win a silver medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 last month. Centre Iosefo Baleiwairiki is another to have played at the Olympics.
Tevita Ikanivere captains Fiji and is one of only six survivors from the XV that lost 47-5 to the All Blacks in their last outing.
Lalomilo Lalomilo, fresh from representing Samoa on their Olympic Games debut in Paris, will make his test debut for Manu Samoa at outside centre alongside experienced campaigner, Alapati Leiua, while the other newcomer Tuna Tuitama lines up on the right wing.
Elsewhere in the opening round of the Pacific Nations Cup, a defeat to Eddie Jones' Japan against Canada in Vancouver would see the Brave Blossoms slip below Portugal in 15th, while Canada would climb above Romania into 20th place.
A victory for Jones' men in Sunday's game would see no change in their ranking, but would do wonders for their confidence after losing four on the spin.
Latest Comments
Has there ever been a Red and Black you don't rate GP over the years? However to be fair most of your favs have had the goods.
Go to commentsI'm not very hopeful of a better change to the sport. Putting an Aussie in charge after they failed for two decades is just disgusting. What else will be brought in to weaken the game? What new rule changes will be made? How will the game be grown?
Nothing of value in this letter. There is no definitive drive towards something better. Just more of the same as usual. The most successful WC team is getting snubbed again and again for WC's hosting rights. What will make other competitions any different?
My beloved rugby is already a global sport. Why is there no SH team chosen between the Boks, AB's, Wallabies and Fiji? Like a B&I Lions team to tour Europe and America? A team that could face not only countries but also the B&I Lions? Wouldn't that make for a great spectacle that will also bring lots of eyeballs to the sport?
Instead with an Aussie in charge, rugby will become more like rugby league. Rugby will most likely become less global if we look at what have become of rugby in Australia. He can't save rugby in Australia, how will he improve the global footprint of rugby world wide?
I hope to be proven wrong and that he will raise up the sport to new heights, but I am very much in doubt. It's like hiring a gardener to a CEO position in a global company expecting great results. It just won't happen. Call me negative or call me whatever you'd like, Robinson is the wrong man for the job.
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