England has picked a much-changed team to face Samoa in a vital Pool C game at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne on Sunday 26 October.
Form guide
Both teams are unbeaten with two wins from two starts.
Samoa are on 10 points, with a bonus point from wins over Georgia 46-9 and Uruguay 60-13. England are on 9 points from two wins, including a bonus point from the 84-6 win over Georgia.
Samoa have posted their two biggest RWC victories at this Tournament and for the second time won consecutive games at a RWC.
All indications are that this will be a very physical encounter. Samoa have employed a big hitting style of defence.
England have admitted they turned over too much ball against South Africa and intend to take control at the breakdown and in contact situations.
Samoa’s adventurous style of play could trouble England, with the Pacific Islanders looking to throw the ball about in an attempt to play an expansive game.
But they’ll need to ask plenty of questions of an England defence yet to concede a try.
Samoa are no strangers to causing RWC upsets, having twice beaten Wales under the banner of Western Samoa in the 1991 and 1999 Tournaments.
Previous meetings
England and Samoa have met only twice before, the last of which was back in December 1995 when England won 27-9 at Twickenham.
The first meeting came six months earlier at the Rugby World Cup, England winning the Pool 2 encounter 44-22 at King’s Park in Durban, South Africa. However both sides were already guaranteed a spot in the quarter finals.
In and out
England coach Clive Woodward has made seven changes - including an entirely new front row - to the team that beat South Africa 25-6 in Perth, putting out his strongest line up against Samoa.
Jason Leonard, Mark Regan and Julian White head England's engine room while Joe Worsley replaces Lewis Moody in the back row.
In the back line, Jason Robinson moves to fullback at the expense of Josh Lewsey and Matt Dawson resumes at scrum half after missing the match against South Africa due to injury.
Iain Balshaw is the new right wing, while Stuart Abbott makes his RWC debut in the centres replacing Will Greenwood, who has made a mercy dash home to be at his pregnant wife's side.
Samoa has held nothing back, naming its strongest team for a match that could secure an unforseen quarter final berth.
Key players
England’s forwards are expected to dominate the set pieces giving their backs clean ball and open space.
England will be looking to another flawless performance from its star fly half Jonny Wilkinson who has not missed a conversion, penalty kick or drop goal in Rugby World Cup 2003, scoring 36 points in two matches.
Expect the unexpected from a Samoan team intent on taking whatever chances are on offer. The back row is very explosive and will look to make inroads in the English defensive line.
Samoa centre Brian Lima will be playing in his record 15th consecutive Rugby World Cup game, likewise, England skipper Martin Johnson will play in his 14th consecutive RWC game.
Veteran English prop Jason Leonard will surpass Sean Fitzpatrick’s record of 17 RWC games, having equalled it as a replacement against South Africa. This is also his 109th cap, two shy of the world record of 111 held by Philippe Sella.
What it means
An England win will assure them of a quarter finals berth, with one match to play against Uruguay.
A Samoan win would set the cat amongst the pigeons, likely to leave England and South Africa battling it out for second place in the pool.
What they said
"There's no point doing all that hard work and letting it slip. Samoa have also got a lot less to lose - they'll feel able to take more chances and that makes it a dangerous game," said England captain Martin Johnson on why its a danger game for his side.
"We want to keep improving and getting better. There are certain aspects, certain things we'll try and do differently.
"These games, though, are about getting through and winning the pool. Setting any more targets than that would be disrespectful to the Samoans.
"In World Cups they beat Wales in 1991, their quarter-final was tough against South Africa in 1995 and they beat Wales in 1999.
"They're dangerous and always capable of beating teams. Sometimes teams play to patterns but with sides like them anything can happen."
"We don't care who they put out," said Samoa coach John Boe. "We have to be ourselves and on attack do what comes naturally."
“As we’ve always said we are not here to make up the numbers. We are here to compete and we’ll get out on the field and do our best.
“We’re not going to be negative. We’re determined we are going to have a go and that’s all we can ask of the boys.
“England are extremely clinical. They don’t make too many mistakes. They are ranked number one, and deservedly so. We are nowhere near number one but I know we’ll do our best.”
Match details:
England v Samoa
Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Kick off: 20:30 local time
Match officials:
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Nigel Williams (Wales) and Andy Turner (South Africa)
Television match official: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)