Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Samoa will look to secure their place at the 2019 Rugby World Cup as they travel to Heidelberg for the second leg of their Europe/Oceania Play-Off series against hosts Germany. The first leg went decidedly in the Manu’s favor, a 66-15 win at Apia Park two weeks ago.
Facing a 51-point deficit, Germany will have to pull off the impossible if they are to steal the spot from their Pacific guests. To do so would likely go down as the greatest result in World Cup Qualifier history. The dream does not end here, however, as the loser of the series will be the third participant in the Repechage tournament at Marseille in November. Canada and Hong Kong have already qualified.
Germany coaches Pablo Lemoine and Kobus Potgieter have made a handful of changes to the side that was blasted into submission in Apia. Mark Fairhurst makes his first test start at hooker in place of Mika Tyumenev, and Jarrid Els is recalled to the starting lineup at the expense of Marcel Henn. Els takes over at his preferred No8 with Sebastian Ferreira switching to the blindside flank.
The captaincy is handed to veteran scrumhalf Sean Armstrong who will partner with fit-again flyhalf Hagen Schulte. Christopher Hilsenback drops back to fullback with Maxime Oltmann left out. Mathieu Ducau is restored at outside center and versatile speedster Rafael Pyrasch is named on the wing.
The Samoans have lost three players but remain a formidable outfit. Josh Tyrell and Piula Fa’asalele have not recovered from injuries suffered in Apia so there is a new second row combination in Joe Tekori and Brandon Nansen. Switching to the blindside is captain Chris Vui to make room.
A significant change in the backs sees Patrick Fa’apale selected at flyhalf and Tusi Pisi bumping out one spot to fill in for unavailable Alapati Leiua. Otherwise the backs remain unchanged but there are three additions to the bench in Harlequins No8 Mathew Luamanu, Western Force inside back Rodney Iona, and uncapped scrumhalf Ionatana Tino.
With the jet leg now dropped on Samoa and the return of some key players, expect Germany to be more competitive on home soil. Overcoming the massive point spread, however, is out of the question. The Manu remain heavy favorites in the match and should clinch their qualification at a canter.
Kickoff is set for 4pm local time, 10am Eastern. A live stream will be provided by World Rugby.
GERMANY
1 Julius Nostadt, 2 Mark Fairhurst, 3 Samy Füchsel, 4 Eric Marks, 5 Timo Vollenkemper, 6 Sebastian Ferreira, 7 Jaco Otto, 8 Jarrid Els, 9 Sean Armstrong (capt.), 10 Hagen Schulte, 11 Marcel Coetzee, 12 Raynor Parkinson, 13 Mathieu Ducau, 14 Rafael Pyrasch, 15 Christopher Hilsenbeck
Replacements: 16 Mika Tyumenev, 17 Luke Dyckhoff, 18 Jörn Schröder, 19 Matthias Schösser, 20 Marcel Henn, 21 Tim Menzel, 22 Nikolai Klewinghaus, 23 Florian Wehrspann
SAMOA
1 Logovi’i Mulipola, 2 Motu Matu’u, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 4 Joe Tekori, 5 Brandon Nansen, 6 Chris Vui (capt.), 7 Jack Lam, 8 Ofisa Treviranus, 9 Melani Matavao, 10 Patrick Fa’apale, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 12 Tusi Pisi, 13 Paul Perez, 14 Ed Fidow, 15 Ahsee Tuala
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Viliamu Afatia, 19 Mathew Luamanu, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Ionatana Tino, 22 Rodney Iona, 23 Alofa Alofa
Date: Saturday, July 14
Venue: Fritz Grunebaum Sportpark, Heidelberg
Kickoff: 16:00 local (07:00 PT, 10:00 ET, Sunday 03:00 Apia)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistants: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU) & Ian Tempest (RFU)
Broadcasts: World Rugby, Facebook
