Sale’s Elvis Seveali’i comes in to replace the suspended Brian Lima in one of five changes to the Samoa team.Winger Lome Fa’atau and lock Leo Lafaiali’i replace David Lemi and Joe Tekori while Daniel Leo (broken wrist) and Henry Tuilagi (shoulder) are out.

United States coach Peter Thorburn has made three changes to his team.

Centre Philip Eloff replaces Albert Tuipulotu, Hayden Mexted is in for Mike Mangan at lock, and Fifita Mounga for Henry Bloomfield at number eight.

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Samoa: Loki Crichton, Lome Fa’atau, Seilala Mapusua, Elvis Seveali’i, Alesana Tuilagi, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Junior Polu; Kas Lealamanua, Mahonri Schwalger, Census Johnston, Leo Lafaiali’i, Kane Thompson, Semo Sititi (c), Justin Purdie, Alfie Vaeluaga.
Replacements: Silao Vaisola Sefo, Naama Leleimalefaga, Joe Tekori, Ulia Ulia, Steve So’oialo, David Lemi, Lolo Lui.

USA: Chris Wyles, Salesi Sika, Philip Eloff, Vahafolau Esikia, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Mike Hercus (c), Chad Erskine; Mike MacDonald, Owen Lentz, Chris Osentowski, Alec Parker, Hayden Mexted, Louis Stanfill, Todd Clever, Fifita Mounga.
Replacements: Blake Burdette, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Mark Aylor, Henry Bloomfield, Mike Petri, Valenese Malifa, Albert Tuipulotu.

Samoas traditional challenge to their opponents, this time England in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in Nantes

England held off an inspired Samoan fightback to earn a 44-22 victory in an absorbing World Cup clash in Nantes.

Brian Ashton’s men romped to a 23-6 lead after half an hour following a quick-fire try from Martin Corry and a further score from wing Paul Sackey.

Jonny Wilkinson chipped in with the boot but Samoa’s Loki Crichton edged his side back to 23-12 at the break.

A Junior Polu try gave England a scare but Wilkinson’s boot, and late scores from Corry and Sackey, saved the day.

The bonus-point win took England into joint second in Pool A with Tonga, who lost 30-25 to group winners South Africa earlier.

England face Tonga in their last group game in Paris on 28 September in what will be a winner-takes-all clash for the second qualification place.

Samoa, who lost to Tonga earlier in the tournament, have still to face USA but their chances of qualification are over.

England made the perfect start when they charged down a kick from Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and recycled the ball for skipper Corry to crash over in the right corner in the second minute.

Wilkinson converted and quickly added a drop-goal but Crichton pulled three points back, and some bullocking runs from Tuilagi brothers Alesana and Henry gave Samoa good field position from where Crichton added another kick.

England were playing a structured and controlled game, interspersed with bursts of Samoan magic from the likes of Polu, but Wilkinson kept the scoreboard ticking with another two penalties, though he missed a third on 25 minutes.

Ashton’s men looked to be finding their rhythm and a sharp, fiery period from England on the half hour took them deep into the Samoan 22.

When the ball came out left to Wilkinson, his side-footed dink through the defensive line bounced favourably for the chasing Sackey to touch down.

But if England thought that would signal the end of the Samoan resistance, they were wrong. Very wrong.

A bold counter from an England punt took Samoa back into the opposition half and they came away with a quick penalty through Crichton, followed by two more as they ended the period strongly.

Crichton continued where he left off after the break as Wilkinson was penalised for “lazy running” or retreating too slowly. But England’s fly-half made amends shortly after with a third penalty following Brian Lima’s high tackle on him.

England, though, were rocked when snappy Samoan handling down the right flank following a miscued Josh Lewsey kick led to hooker Mahroni Schwalger chipping on.

Scrum-half Polu beat Mathew Tait in the foot race and his diving touchdown was ruled a try for 26-22.

If they didn’t before, England now realised they were back in a serious rugby match.

Summoning up some extra fizz, England rumbled powerfully towards Samoa’s line, but Wilkinson’s mask of invincibility slipped a bit when he missed a free shot at a drop-goal and then the ensuing penalty that was coming anyway.

But Samoa stoked their own fires, and after a comedy of errors from both sides, England’s Lewsey was forced to scramble desperately as the Pacific Islanders poured to within yards of the line.

England’s defence held firm this time and Wilkinson was able to add a drop-goal with 10 minutes left after the referee had signalled a penalty was coming.

The fly-half slotted a penalty soon after to ease the tension and as England finished impressively, Corry and Sackey both popped up at the death to score their second tries.

Brian Lima is one of five changes in Samoa’s starting XV for their must-win match against England in Nantes.Lima will partner Seilala Mapusua at inside centre but Samoa will be without key goal-kicker Gavin Williams, who has been ruled out with a broken finger.

Loki Crichton comes in at full-back for the injured Williams, while David Lemi moves to the right wing.

Number 8 Henry Tuilagi and fly-half Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu also return, along with prop Kas Lealamanua.

Lima became the first player to appear at five World Cups when he came on as a replacement in Samoa’s 59-7 defeat to South Africa.

However, the veteran Bristol centre, nicknamed ‘the Chiropractor’ for his crunching tackles, was knocked out minutes after coming on and was subsequently ruled out of his side’s 19-15 loss to Tonga on Sunday.

Both sides need a victory to maintain their hopes of reaching the latter stages of the tournament, a fact not lost on Samoa coach Michael Jones.

“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,” he said.

“If we get it wrong this week - we don’t even want to think about that. The boys are excited, they’re very bubbly and very focused.”

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Samoa team to play England in World Cup match in Nantes on Saturday:

L Crichton (Worcester); D Lemi (Bristol), S Mapusua (London Irish), B Lima (Bristol), A Tuilagi (Leicester); E Fuimaono-Sapolu (Bath), J Polu (North Harbour); K Lealamanua (Dax), M Schwalger (Wellington Hurricanes), C Johnston (Saracens), J Tekori (Waitakere), K Thompson (Otago Highlanders), D Leo (Wasps), S Sititi (Docomo Kansai, capt), H Tuilagi (Perpignan).
Replacements: T Fuga (Harlequins), F Palaamo (Leeds), J Purdie (Wellington), A Vaeluaga (Bristol), S So’oialo (Harlequins), J Meafou (Scopa), L Lui (Moata’a).

England coach Brian Ashton has made seven changes including one positional switch for the crucial clash with Samoa in Pool A in Nantes on Saturday.

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson returns after missing the first two games with an ankle injury, while Josh Lewsey moves from wing to full-back.

Olly Barkley, Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait, Joe Worsley and George Chuter also come in after the 36-0 loss to South Africa.

Shaun Perry and Mike Catt drop from the 22, while Martin Corry stays captain.
 
“Quite a few of the changes are down to players being available again and players who did play against South Africa being injured - one who’s gone home and one who is walking slowly and very gingerly around the hotel - so that accounts for at least four changes,” said Ashton.

“There aren’t many more than that, to be honest, so it doesn’t smack of desperation at all. A lot of it is needs must.”

Wilkinson, who has been plagued by injury since kicking the winning drop-goal in the 2003 World Cup final, damaged ankle ligaments in training before the tournament and was replaced by the impressive Barkley for the opening win over USA.

“I completely rolled my ankle, heard a load of noise and was in real agony. I pretty much resigned myself to the understanding that that was probably it,” said Wilkinson.

“But the scan result was as good as I could have hoped and I guess I’ve always been hoping that this time would come.”

Barkley then picked up a training ground injury himself and Ashton opted for the then 35-year-old veteran Catt at fly-half against South Africa, with Andy Farrell named as goal-kicker.

Wilkinson will now resume kicking duties, with the fit-again Barkley playing at inside centre in place of Farrell, who drops to the bench.

“We’ve got our two best kickers on the field and arguably our two best distributors as well and that will help to get a bit more balance into our game,” said Ashton.

“Obviously, Jonny has achieved great things for England rugby and to have players in there who have done that helps build confidence. Olly Barkley has been the form inside back and it was a great shame he wasn’t fit last week.”

Lewsey’s switch to full-back comes after Jason Robinson limped off with a hamstring injury late on against South Africa, though the former skipper could return for the final pool match with Tonga.

Cueto takes Lewsey’s spot on the wing, outside centre Tait replaces Jamie Noon, who sustained tournament-ending knee ligament damage against the Springboks, and Gomarsall plays instead of Perry at scrum-half.
Ashton said during the Six Nations that he would only consider Lewsey as a winger but admitted to making a U-turn.

“I know I did say that,” added Ashton. “I still think Mark Cueto has a future as an international 15 but he has not played a lot of rugby there and he has not made the progress quite as quickly as we would have hoped.
“Josh has been outstanding on this trip. His mindset is excellent and I’ve not got the slightest problem about him playing full-back.

“He’s always done a job for us before. Mark Cueto will play far more effectively on the wing where he has done it successfully at international level.”

Up front, Worsley is selected as an open-side flanker instead of Tom Rees, while Chuter plays at hooker in place of Mark Regan.

“Tom is still an emerging international player and he’s done a fantastic job for England but we felt Joe was more what was needed against Samoa,” said Ashton.
“Joe has shown in games for his club that he can be a big, big tackler in big games and if ever there was a game for him to stand up and be counted on that score it is against Samoa.

“I appreciate he’s not an out-and-out seven but we are going to play in a particular way in this game and Joe will have a big part in that.”

BBC 5live rugby commentator Ian Robertson said: “I don’t think England have hit the panic button. This looks a more exciting back division by a very long way than either of the ones that played against America or South Africa.

“The back row didn’t have such a good game (against South Africa) and I’m surprised there’s only one change there.

“The pack should be able to cope comfortably with Samoa and now England have a back division that ought to be good enough to score two or three tries to win this game comfortably.”
Samoa full-back and goal-kicker Gavin Williams will miss the match after fracturing a bone in his hand in the match against Tonga.
Williams has notched all of his side’s World Cup points so far, scoring and converting a try in the 7-59 loss to South Africa and kicking five penalties in the 15-19 defeat to the Tongans.

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