Rugby World Cup: Samoa ready to play again

Alesana Tuilagi of Samoa runs in his third try of the match against Namibia. Photo / Getty Images

Samoa backs coach Brian 'Aussie' McLean has told Radio Sport his team is ready to play, despite a bruising encounter with Namibia yesterday.

Samoa beat the Rugby World Cup minnows 49-12 in Rotorua, with winger Alesana Tuilagi running in a hat-trick of tries. The team's next game against Wales is only days away, but McLean says that won't worry the players.

"We've planned for it and our boys are ready to go - they've got plenty of energy. Some of them were ready to play today."

Former Samoa captain Peter Fatialofa, who led the side in their maiden Rugby World Cup appearance in 1991, was less impressed with the scheduling of matches.

"Obviously the players have to look after themselves over the next four days because it's a quick tournaround. I think the only team that doesn't have to go through that is the All Blacks, who get a week off each week!"

Fatialofa is confident the team can get to the quarter-finals.

"Anything after that is a bonus," he told Radio Sport.

McLean accepted that first-game errors against Namibia were probably attributable to being over-eager.

But he was excited by the performance of wing Tuilagi.

"He players very, very well for Leicester. There's enough size in him, but he seems to grow another leg when he pulls on that blue jersey."

Samoa play Wales in Hamilton on Sunday.

- Herald Online