England vs Samoa Test Series preview
Super League may be done and dusted for the year, but thankfully there’s still some rugby league on UK shores to keep us going over the next couple of weekends.
England vs Samoa: When and where is it being played?
The first test takes place at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan on Sunday 27th October at 2.30pm.
Then, the second test takes place the following Saturday (2nd November) at Headingley Stadium in Leeds, also with a 2.30pm kick-off.
England vs Samoa: Head-to-head
Samoa will be full of confidence after beating their hosts in the previous meeting. Admittedly it was two years ago, but that 26-27 win at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium was in a World Cup semi-final no less, and meant the Pacific Islanders qualified for their first ever major final.
In the first match of that delayed World Cup in 2022, England hammered the Samoans 60-6 in Newcastle, so as for this year’s test series, it’s anyone’s guess as to who might win.
England team news
England have named a strong squad for the series with six players from the NRL coming back home for the two fixtures.
All six have been named in the 19-man squad for the first test, and there could be a debut for Wigan’s Super League Young Player of the Year, Junior Nsemba.
His club mate, Liam Marshall, is the only other uncapped player in the 21-man squad, but he’ll have to wait until the second test for a potential debut after missing out on the 19 this weekend.
Samoa team news
The Samoans have brought a star-studded squad with them for the series, although a number of big names are missing.
Chief among them is Stephen Crichton, who broke English hearts with his Golden Point drop goal in the World Cup semi-final in 2022. Star winger Brian To’o is also missing, as is Joseph Sua’ali’i, who headed to Rugby Union at the end of the season, and is already in the Australia squad for their tour of the UK this Autumn.
Despite the absentees, Samoa’s squad is still packed with NRL talent, and a number of them will be making their debuts after previously representing other countries.
Jeremiah Nanai was part of Australia’s World Cup winning squad in 2022, but has rejected the Kangaroos this year to play for Samoa. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, meanwhile, made 20 appearances for New Zealand, and even played three times for the All Blacks during his stint in Rugby Union, but he’ll make his Samoa debut in this series.
All in all, 12 players could make their debuts over the two games – Tuivasa-Sheck, Nanai, Shawn Blore, Deine Mariner, Josiah Pahulu, Junior Pauga, Paul Roache, Simi Sasagi, Jeral Skelton, Jake Tago, Blaize Talagi and Lazarus Vaalepu.
My prediction
England to win the test series, 2-0, and both matches by 6+.
Looking at the two squads, England’s looks stronger on paper and Samoa have a number of absentees. Add in home advantage and a team looking for revenge after what happened in the World Cup semi-final, and I ca see the hosts winning this series in style.
