PRESS RELEASE

MANU SAMOA RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007

TOUR REPORT 12

Date 20 September 2007

Chiropractor back to aid Samoa

NANTES, 20 September – Manu Samoa head coach La’auli Michael Jones will unleash legendary tackler Brian Lima when his side meets England in Nantes on Saturday.

Lima is set to play against the defending champions after recovering from a suspected concussion sustained during the team's opening match against South Africa. He also missed Samoa's disappointing 19-15 defeat against arch-rivals Tonga in their second match last Sunday.

Known as 'The Chiropractor' for his aggressive tackling style, he will line up at centre for the key Pool A match at Stade de la Beaujoire and La’auli says he has no worries about throwing Lima into the fray.

"He's very committed to making those tackles. We trust him, he's been playing this game longer than most of us have. I'm not going to change his tackling at this stage. It's all a matter of timing and I don't think he'll get the timing wrong."

Other changes to the line-up include the return of powerful Henry Tuilagi to number 8, and the naming of Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu as fly half.

"Eliota is our man for first five this game for a number of reasons," Jones said. "He's a good organiser, a very good little general."

Full back Gavin Williams, who injured his hand in the match against Tonga, is ruled out on Saturday but has targeted a return for the team's final match against USA on 26 September in Saint-Etienne.

Samoa have to defeat England to keep their chances of reaching the quarter-finals alive and La’auli said the team was "very bubbly and very focused."

"We're all very clear on the significance of this game and what it means in terms of what we represent in terms of our country, our families, all the good things we play for. If we get it wrong this week - we don't even want to think about that."