Samoa

PIPA has today announced the finalists in the much-anticipated 2015 PIPA Player of The Year competition. They include the talented Nemani Nadolo, Paul Perez, Siale Piutau, Leone Nakarawa, Telusa Veainu and Tim Nainai Williams.        

During the Rugby World Cup (RWC) players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga voted for the ‘Player’s Player of the Year’ from their respective nations as well as their overall selection for the ‘PIPA Pacific Island Player’s Player of the Year’ award.

Captain Greig Laidlaw scored the decisive try in the final seven minutes, though the Scots had to cling on following Motu Matu'u's late score.

Samoa scored through Tusi Pisi, Ma'atulimanu Leiataua and Rey Lee-Lo in a thrilling first half.

Hooker Ford had been a major doubt with a head knock picked up during the Rugby World Cup defeat by South Africa.

Centre Mark Bennett also returns to a side showing seven changes after missing out against the Springboks.

A victory at St James' Park on Saturday would secure Scotland a place in the quarter-finals.

Samoa cannot now qualify and will be without Newcastle Falcons wing Alesana Tuilagi, who has been suspended after foul play during his side's weekend defeat by Japan.

Tuilagi struck Japan's Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee in the second minute of the Pool B match on Sunday.

He denied the act of foul play but was found guilty by the citing commissioner and will miss Samoa's last match against Scotland at St James' Park on Sunday.

Samoa cannot reach the quarter-finals after losses to Japan and South Africa in Pool B.

Police representatives from across the region are attending the three-day gathering.

The Samoa Police Commissioner, Egon Keil, says the conference will allow police to share experiences and concerns.

"We're going to be going through some very, very intense training and some experiences sharing so we can focus on the regional issues. Because if it's happening in Samoa, we'd like to know what Fiji is doing about it, what New Zealand is doing about it, what Australia is doing about it, so we can combat it here in Samoa."

The Brave Blossoms face Samoa at Milton Keynes in a match that will make or break their quarter-final chances. After stunning South Africa in their opening game in Pool B, Japan played Scotland just four days later and faded after an hour, slipping to a 45-10 defeat.

Eddie Jones’ men, however, have recuperated over the past six days in the quiet of Warwick, where the team have been able to focus on preparing for the Samoa game.

On Saturday, American Samoa held a memorial service for the 34 victims killed there.

The names of the children, father and mothers, who died in the tsunami were read and monetary awards were presented to the children who lost their parents.

The money was donated by the One Global Family organisation, founded by Laura Ava-Tesimale.

The Governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga said the pain and suffering endured by families of the victims of the tsunami still lingers on and will never end.

Adriaan Strauss, who will win his 50th cap, is the starting hooker, while Duane Vermeulen will make his first Test appearance of the year in the No 8 jersey as coach Heyneke Meyer reacted swiftly to the shock of defeat against Japan.

Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen and Damian De Allende return in the backline – with skipper Jean de Villiers shifting to outside centre – while there are new halfbacks in Handré Pollard and Fourie du Preez.

Man of the match Tim Nanai-Williams and captain Ofisa Treviranus scored the tries while the boot of Tusi Pisi and Mike Stanley ensured the Manu maintained their lead throughout the match.

The US continued to question the Samoan defence, with the power of Thretton Palamo and raw pace of Takudzwa Ngwenya a constant threat, and managed a consolation try in the final minutes.

Coach Stephen Betham says there is plenty to work on but they're happy to take the win and move on.

First up is England in the opening match of the tournament at Twickenham on Saturday morning.

Expecting a raucous atmosphere, head coach John McKee revealed during the week his team used loud speakers during training camps in an effort to prepare for the atmosphere at the home of English rugby.

While the bulk of the 82,000 strong Twickenham crowd will be barracking for the home side but coach John McKee says the Pacific Nations Cup winners are embracing the occasion.