Birmingham – South Africa’s loss to Japan has sharpened Samoa’s focus on a fixture they have in any case been targeting for almost a year, centre George Pisi said from his team’s hotel at The Belfry, which overlooks the famous golf course outside this midlands city.
It is something the All Blacks are used to – opposition teams playing a ‘final’ against the top team – and the Springboks certainly experienced the same thing last week when Japan played the game of their lives before succumbing to normality and losing heavily to Scotland four days later after their historic win in Brighton.
“We’ve been waiting to play this game for a long time. This is what we have been preparing for,” the Northampton player said. “This is one of the games you want to play in. They are one of the top teams in the world.
“A class team like South Africa will always come out fighting after such a disappointing loss, and we will be ready for that,” Pisi continued. “They will have been hurting but that will make them harder to play against (tomorrow). There’ll be a reaction from them and we need to be strong in all areas to deal with it.”
Prop Anthony Perenisi, who plays for Bristol, said the Boks had always been expected to top Pool B, and he does not think that will change.
“We still feel they are the top team in the pool but that does not mean we can’t beat them,” the 32-year-old said. “Everyone is looking for the perfect game. Maybe there’s never been one but you always strive for it. You go and give 100percent and you expect the guys next to you to do the same.”
Pisis’ flyhalf brother, Tusi, has been dropped for the match for Mike Stanley, who is better known as a tactical kicker.
At hooker, Motu Matu’u is promoted for Ole Avei, while flanker TJ Ioane takes the place of Maurie Fa’asavalu in the other change from the team that beat the United States 25-16 in their opening World Cup game in Brighton on Sunday.
If George Pisi gets a run in the second half, there will be a possibility of three Pisi brothers being on the field at the same time to create Rugby World Cup history. Ken Pisi will be starting on the wing.
More family history could be written if Vavae Tuilagi comes off the bench for his World Cup debut. Four of his brothers have played in the tournament – Fereti (1995), Henry (2007), Alesana (2007, 2011 and 2015) for Samoa, and Manu for England four years ago. - The Star