Samoa head coach Steve Jackson will be looking to repeat the team’s success when they reached three consecutive Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in the 90s. His work will be cut out, however, in a group that includes Ireland, Scotland and World Cup hosts Japan.
There is some real quality in this Samoa side, but like Fiji and Tonga, they lose a lot of their best players to more established nations – Manu Tuilagi and England being a prime example. But what they lack in depth they make up for in heart and brute strength, and they have become known as one of the most physical teams in world rugby.
They are definitely one of the sides in with a shout of causing an upset – and with their swashbuckling style of play, they’ll certainly be thrilling to watch.
The Rugby World Cup 2019 TV Preview – Can Samoa cause an upset?
Samoa has been ever-present in Rugby World Cups since the second edition in 1991. They quickly became everyone’s favourite underdog thanks to their ability to easily mix it with the bigger nations. But recent tournaments have seen them lose a bit of their fear-factor, something they will be looking to regain in Japan.
But with only eight players in the squad with previous Rugby World Cup experience, they are very light on caps. Uncapped Crusaders forward Michael Alaalatoa is the stand out of the new boys and will be looking to build on a great 2019 season in Super Rugby.
A comfortable opening game against Russia could be a great platform for positive results against tougher opposition. They will be relying on stars such as Clermont Auvergne’s Tim Nanai-Williams, Hurricanes lock Kane Le’aupepe and Reds scrum-half Scott Malolua to reproduce their club rugby form on the international stage.
Review of Samoa’s Group Matches
Samoa vs Russia: An opening World Cup game against Russia should be a great way for Samoa to build confidence going forward. They will have too much quality for the inexperienced Bears and come away with a victory.
Samoa vs Scotland: The Pacific Island men will have their work cut out against Scotland’s unpredictable attack. However, if they stop the scoreboard from running away in the first half, anything can happen.
Samoa vs Japan: The occasion might just get the better of Manu Samoa, and Japan should secure the result. Expect a comfortable win for the home nation against Samoa.
Samoa vs Ireland: The Men in Green are one of the tournament favourites, meaning this will be a tough test for Samoa. If they can keep team Ireland to within a 15 point winning margin, it will be seen as a success.
How to stream every Samoa game at The Rugby World Cup 2019™
Kayo Sports will have every match of the Rugby World Cup 2019™ LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. You’ll also get access to a range of great features, including SplitView (which lets you watch up to four different sporting events simultaneously on the same screen, on compatible devices) as well as No Spoilers (hides the scores) and Key Moments (lets you jump to the most important moments of the match – available for selected sports and matches), all of which greatly enhance the viewing experience for those watching on-demand.
Take a moment to review the Kayo 14 days free trial, and then check out the Rugby World Cup 2019™ fixture list below. You can then start streaming team Samoa live to a variety of eligible devices, also listed below.
Note: Kayo requires internet & compatible device. Data charges may apply. Kayo service available in Australia only.
| Device | Available? | User Guide |
|---|---|---|
| PC/Mac | Yes | Web browser only (Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge) |
| iOS/Android Phones/Tablets | Yes | Via native apps (iOS 11 and Android 6 minimum) |
| Google Chromecast | Yes | Chromecast Ultra or 3rd Generation required for 1080p HD, otherwise 720p |
| Telstra TV | Yes | Split View not available; TTV1 limited to 720p |
| Android TV | Yes | Via app for version 7.0 and up |
| Samsung Smart TVs | Soon | App in development |
| PS4 and Xbox One | Soon | App in development |
| Apple TV | Yes | 4th Generation or higher |
Stream the Rugby World Cup with Kayo FREE Trial
Stream every match of the Rugby World Cup 2019™ LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. Watch over 50 Sports Live and On-Demand. Start your 14 day FREE trial with no lock-in contract!
What time does Samoa Play? Live TV Fixtures
TV fixtures are shown as Sydney time, so you may need to adjust the hour depending on where you live. Rugby World Cup 2019™ on-demand match replays will be made available following the conclusion of each game – so you will need to consult your Kayo TV Guide during the tournament for exact times.
Samoa Group Games Live TV (Sydney time)
| Date | Event | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 24 Sept | Samoa vs Russia | 8:15pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Mon 30 Sept | Samoa vs Scotland | 8:15pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Sat 5 Oct | Samoa vs Japan | 8:30pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Sat 12 Oct | Samoa vs Ireland | 8:45pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Sat 19 Oct | England v Australia | 6:15pm | Kayo / Fox Sports / Channel 10 |
| Sat 19 Oct | New Zealand v Ireland | 9:15pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Sun 20 Oct | Wales v France | 6:15pm | Kayo / Fox Sports / Channel 10 |
| Sun 20 Oct | Japan v South Africa | 9:15pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Sat 26 Oct | Semi Final 1 | 6:00pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Sun 27 Oct | Semi Final 2 | 7:00pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Fri 1 Nov | Bronze Final | 7:00pm | Kayo / Fox Sports |
| Sat 2 Nov | Final | 7:00pm | Kayo / Fox Sports / TenPlay |
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