On-Song Samoa Aim To Go Out On A High Note
Despite defeats against Scotland and Japan, meaning they cannot reach the knockout phase, there was still loud singing coming from their changing room after Friday's captain's run at the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium.
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Having lived together for more then two months, Samoa's all-singing rugby family are planning to go out with a bang against Ireland on Saturday.
Despite defeats against Scotland and Japan, meaning they cannot reach the knockout phase, there was still loud singing coming from their changing room after Friday's captain's run at the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium.
Samoa's players are determined to enjoy every second of the remainder of the tournament before heading home and going their separate ways.
"We've had a playlist for the whole tournament and last night (Thursday) I was saying to my roomie Jack Lam that if one of the songs plays next week I'm probably going to cry," said second-row Filo Paulo.
Unable to finish third and book an automatic qualification spot for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, captain Jack Liam insists Samoa still have a lot to play for against Ireland.
"We've been together for a good eight weeks and it's pretty much been my family, a great family," he said.
"We've had our ups and downs, as any family would, but we're still tight."
Lam is one of the players who sacrificed a professional club contract to play for Samoa at the World Cup.
"It was a no-brainer," he said. "There were a couple of contracts in France I could have taken but they had the condition that I had to turn down playing for Samoa in the World Cup, and in the future as well.
"I couldn't do that to myself and the jersey. It didn't cross my mind. It was a bit of a risk, but my missus and my family were all behind my decision.
"It's pretty tough. We can't pick certain players. A lot of our players have chosen to take that (contract). I chose not to take that route, but other players might have families to think about as well."
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Samoa's assistant coach Al Rogers thinks the players' sacrifices have made the team stronger and more motivated.
"It's been a challenge selecting this squad, but we knew we had a group that really wanted to be here, who sacrificed a lot to be here, and we could build a good foundation off that," he said.
"It has to change for the future of Pacific Island teams."
Coach Vaeluaga Steve Jackson said that if the group can finish on a high, it would be one of the biggest victories in Samoan rugby history.
"In the professional era, this is probably one of the biggest games we could play and win," he said.
"They are in the top five in the world, it's going to be massive.
"Knowing we're on an airplane on Monday, going home, to have a scalp like that would be great."
