Short notice name of the game for Samoa

Just when they needed the dice to roll their way, Samoa have been dealt a rough hand with first choice fullback Loki Crichton out of tomorrow night's game against the Junior All Blacks.

Chiefs utility back Crichton suffered an achilles tendon injury in Samoa's 18-17 warmup win over Northland last week.

There are three Super 14 players in the side to be led by veteran international Semo Setiti - freescoring Hurricanes wing Lome Fa'atau; Highlanders second five-eighths Seilala Mapusua, one of three debutants, who lines up at centre; and Blues halfback John Senio, who squares up against his brother, Kevin.

That will be one of two family faceoffs; the other involves Samoa's hooker Mahonri Schwalger and his Junior All Blacks cousin, prop John Schwalger.

Hulking prop Philemon Toleafoa is making his Samoan debut, while replacement wing Iosua Timoteo will be on the bench.

Being drawn from around the globe - nine of the starting XV are based in Europe - and coming together at short notice is nothing new for the Samoans, who despite several injury defections boast a clutch of familiar names for the Pacific Five Nations clash.

Most notable is ageless wing Brian "The Chiropractor" Lima, nicknamed for his ability to rearrange bones with his ferocious tackling.

"To be honest, no other international team takes just one week to prepare for a test," Setiti said yesterday.

"But some of the guys have been here before and are used to it. We don't complain, we know we needed more warmup games, but we are used to it. We will just go with the flow and see how it goes."

The Juniors have seven changes from the team which beat Fiji 35-17 in the heat of Suva last weekend.

The newcomers are first five-eighths Jimmy Gopperth, halfback Kevin Senio, wing Viliame Waqaseduadua, flanker Johnny Leo'o, prop John Schwalger, Tamati Ellison at second five-eighths, and Ben Atiga at fullback, with Sosene Anesi switching to the wing.

"We are just keen in the first two games to give everyone game time," co-coach Ian Foster said yesterday.

"There's two objectives: one obviously to do well and win and one to make sure we are helping develop this next tier."

In the other second-round match, Fiji play Tonga in Gosford on Saturday.

* North Harbour Stadium, 8pm tomorrow

NZ JUNIORS

Ben Atiga
V. Waqaseduadua
Caleb Ralph
Tamati Ellison
Sosene Anesi
Jimmy Gopperth
Kevin Senio
Nick Williams
Johnny Leo'o
Steven Bates
Bernie Upton
Tom Donnelly
John Afoa
Corey Flynn (c)
John Schwalger

SAMOA

Lolo Lui
Lome Fa'atau
Seilala Mapusua
Dominic Feaunati
Brian Lima
Doug Sanft
John Senio
Isaac Feaunati
Semo Setiti (c)
J Faamatuainu
Pelu Pavihi
Daniel Leo
Jeremy Tomuli
M Schwalger
P Toleafoa

Reserves:

Juniors: Saimone Taumoepeau, Campbell Johnstone, Anthony Boric, Josh Blackie, Jamie Nutbrown, Cameron McIntyre, Anthony Tuitavake

Samoa: Muli Salanoa, Donald Kerslake, Daniel Farani, Ulia Ulia , Garrick Cowley, Tanner Vili, Iosua Timoteo