ENGLAND vs SAMOA
Match Preview

England coach Brian Ashton and his Samoa counterpart Michael Jones are convinced their sides can put their World Cup aberrations behind them in Saturday's Pool A meeting in Nantes.

England were humiliated 36-0 by South Africa while Samoa lost 19-15 to Pacific rivals Tonga and realistically both need a win on Saturday to maintain an interest in the competition.

"I would probably go so far to say that the South Africa game was the worst performance by an English team in a World Cup, so we are both in the same boat from that point of view," said Ashton.

"There has been a lot of clarity of thought in our approach to the game this week. Given what we've been through these past few days a win is an absolute must, but a better performance is an absolute must as well."

Ashton has a completely new-look backline from the South Africa game as he seeks the balance and invention that has been so sorely absent so far and says he has encouraged the players to have belief in what they plan to do.

"There has been more intensity and attention to detail this week because of the nature of what this game means," he said. "I am confident the players will go out there and put things right on Saturday."

Captain Martin Corry agreed that concentrating on their own game was key for England, something that did not happen when Samoa ran the eventual world champions close at the same stage four years ago.

If Samoa lose at the Stade de la Beaujoire, they will crash out of World Cup contention, with England then heading towards a pool-stage eliminator against Tonga next Friday.

Should England suffer another embarrassing defeat though, Samoa could send them home ludicrously early by claiming a bonus-point triumph over the United States in five days' time.

Corry, who will act as captain with Phil Vickery suspended, says the huge disappointment taken on board from the sorry showing against The Springboks, will galvanise his team-mates and trigger a revival against a Samoan side, who have lost both their games so far in the tournament.

"When the pressure was on against South Africa we drifted away from the style we wanted to play and that won't happen again,” insisted the Leicester man.

“There is an excellent spirit in the camp. It is always very tough when you are not involved on a Tour or in a tournament - I know that more than most.

"But everyone is really up for this, irrespective of whether they are in the 22 or not. Our anger and frustration from losing and the way we lost to South Africa has turned into determination for us to perform at our very best. That is something we haven't done yet.

"There is so much riding on this. You saw how they (Samoa) went out against South Africa, they gave it everything and they will do exactly the same against us."

"All Test matches are very physical, especially at the start, but this one will be even more so."

Brian Lima, nicknamed 'The Chiropractor' for his ferocious tackling ability, is among three survivors from Samoa's starting XV that day.

England also have three - Wilkinson, lock Ben Kay and flanker Joe Worsley - and if anything, the stakes are even higher this time around.

Samoa, hugely disappointing in losing to Tonga last time out, will bow out of the tournament should England topple them at Stade de la Beaujoire.

But a Samoan success would leave them needing a bonus-point victory over the United States next Wednesday to probably secure a quarter-final place.

Lima is among six Guinness Premiership players in the Samoan back division, while two English-based performers - Saracens prop Census Johnston and Wasps flanker Daniel Leo - feature up-front.

England: Lewsey; Sackey, Tait, Barkley, Cueto; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Sheridan, Chuter, Stevens, Shaw, Kay, Corry (capt), Worsley, Easter.
Replacements: Regan, Freshwater, Borthwick, Moody, Richards, Farrell, Hipkiss.

Samoa: Crichton; Lemi, Mapusua , Lima, A Tuilagi; Fuimaono-Sapolu, Polu; Lealamanua, Schwalger, Johnston, Tekori, Thompson, Leo, Sititi (capt), H Tuilagi.
Replacements: Fuga, Palaamo, Purdie, Vaeluaga, So'oialo, Meafou, Lui.

Date: Saturday, 22 September, 2007
Kick-off: 16:00 (15:00 BST, 14:00 GMT)
Venue: Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Referee: Alan Lewis
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray, Alain Rolland
Television match official: Bryce Lawrence
Assessor: Ian Scotney