David Lemi fit to lead Samoa against Wales
David Lemi just after he scored against bitter rivals Fiji in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. Photo by Getty Images.
David Lemi has proved his fitness to captain Samoa against Wales in the Dove Men Series match at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night (21:30 CAT).
The Worcester Warriors wing wonder missed the 42-13 victory against Canada in Colwyn Bay last Friday but came through a fitness test to claim his place on the left wing and line up opposite Alex Cuthbert.
That means rising 20-year-old star Robert Lilomaiava, who scored four tries against Canada, has to be content with a spot on the replacements bench.
While Samoa were winning in North Wales, a day later Wales were beaten 26-12 by Argentina and they will return to the Millennium Stadium six days later out to make amends.
“We know how strong Wales are – especially at the Millennium Stadium – and we wont pay to much attention to last week’s performance against Argentina because Wales will not let that happen against,” said Daryl Suasua, the Samoan assistant coach.
“It has been especially valuable for us to have had this time together, first at the camp in Surrey and then in North Wales, because it is always difficult for us to get everyone together in the same place at the same time.
“But when we are together we can concentrate on our patterns and philosophies and, most importantly, have the guys together as a team.”
The last time the nations met Wales beat Samoa 17-10 at the Waikato Stadium in the group stages of the 2011 World Cup and Samoa will have seven survivors from their starting line-up in Hamilton on duty again, including Ospreys scrum half Kahn Fotifua.
Samoa: Fa’atoina AUTAGAVAIA (Northland); Paul PEREZ (Eastern Province), George PISI (Northampton), Paul WILLIAMS (Stade Francais Paris), David LEMI (Worcester, capt); Tusiata PISI (Suntory Sungoliath), Kahn FOTUALI’I (Ospreys); Sakaria TAULAFO (London Wasps), Wayne Ole AVEI (Bordeaux-Begles), Census JOHNSTON (Toulouse), Daniel LEO (Perpignan), Teofilo PAULO (North Harbour), Ofisa TREVIRANUS (London Irish), Maurie FA’ASAVALU (Harlequins), Taiasina TUIFU’A (Newcastle)
Replacemets: Ti’i PAULO (Clermont Auvergne), Viliamu AFATIA (Agen), James JOHNSTON (Harlequins), Joe TEKORI (Castres Olympique), Tivaini FOMA’I (Hawkes Bay), Jeremy SU’A (Tasman Makos), Johnny LEOTA (Sale), Robert LILOMAIAVA (Laulii)
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