Weekend Match Previews - Sunday, 16th September
Fiji vs Canada
Canada flanker Jamie Cudmore knows the meaning of tough - and it is not the sight of a 19-stone Fijian thundering at him on a rugby field.
A decade ago Cudmore, standing 6ft 6in, was the cash collector for a drug dealer in his home town of Squamish in British Columbia on Canada’s west coast.
Cudmore turned 18 while serving a year in a juvenile detention centre after being found guilty of assault.
His name was linked to trouble again after a New Year’s Eve party at his parent’s house in 1997, even though he was not involved. Cudmore was not there when a neighbour came to investigate the noise and was beaten to death by two men.
He realised then he had to leave Squamish and moved to Vancouver where rugby became the “biggest part” of his life.
“I had a bit of trouble growing up,” said Cudmore ahead of Canada’s World Cup clash with Fiji in Cardiff.
“It was a very, very sad time and a very unfortunate incident but I wish I would have been there to stop it.
“In a sense, yes, rugby saved me. It gave me an outlet. Rugby got me on the right track. I’m certainly glad it did.”
Cudmore did not take up rugby until he was 17 but it was always in his make-up. He relishes the physical contact.
He once illegally tackled an opponent running to home plate in a junior baseball game.
“In rugby you got rewarded for that kind of contact. So for me it was something I had been looking for all my life. You can run into people and people can run into you.”
Cudmore spent a year with Llanelli and and now plays in the French Top 14 for Clermont Auvergne.
He enjoyed a huge game in Canada’s World Cup clash against Wales, scoring their first try as the Cannucks opened a surprise 17-9 lead.
Wales eventually proved too strong for the Canadians, but they enter tomorrow’s clash with Fiji full of confidence.
Coach Ric Suggitt has added a physical edge to his side by including lock Mike Burak and fly-half Ryan Smith in order to combat Fiji’s free-running, open style of rugby.
“Watching Fiji we saw how dominant they were and where they attack with their runners,” said Suggitt.
“I don’t think anyone is more mobile than the Fijians and at any given time they can turn nothing into something. That’s their strength from one to 15.
“Ryan is an excellent tackler and he’ll bring the defensive line with him. Mike Burak is a big forward. He’s very physical and we know it’s going to be a tough, physical game to begin with and we have the other guys to provide mobility.”
Fiji arrived in Cardiff on the back of a bruising 35-31 win over Japan and boosted by the news that Gloucester-bound flanker Akapusi Qera is fit to start.
Samoa vs Tonga
Samoa coach Michael Jones believes Tonga will have a “point to prove” when the World Cup rivals clash in Montpellier on Sunday.
Samoa head into the Pool A contest looking for a morale-boosting victory following their thumping against South Africa last Sunday.
And although injuries sideline Brian Lima, Justin Va’a and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, while prop Alfie Vaeluaga is serving a one-match ban, Samoa still start as favourites a week before facing England in Nantes.
Jones said: “We know Tonga very well - we play them a lot - and they know us very well. We’ve just got to play a very smart game plan, and we’ve got the personnel to play and execute that game plan.
“We will have to do it well, because the Tongans will be up for it.
“They have got a point to prove and they can go home successful if they beat us. That’s what it comes down to.
“But we are really happy with the squad we’ve got. We definitely have the right team for the game-plan we’ve drawn up.”
Jones has switched Gavin Williams from centre to full-back, while other changes include starts for wing Sailosi Tagicakibau, plus centres Elvis Seveali’i and Seilala Mapusua.
Tonga opened their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory over the United States last Wednesday, and they have also made changes.
“We have a competent squad and a squad that can rotate, but these tactics need to be secret so we can walk up with a few things up our sleeve,” said lock Inoke Afeaki.
“Playing against Samoa is very special, but we have been on the losing side against them for too long.”
Captain Nili Latu is a doubt for Tonga, having not trained since the United States game due to a hamstring problem.
Tonga made three switches to the side that started the match against America, with hooker Ephraim Taukafa replacing Aleki Lutui, Afeaki taking over from Lisiate Fa’aoso and scrum-half Enele Taufa replacing Soane Havea.
Prop Taufa’ao Filise remains absent from the squad, having returned home following the death of his father.
France vs Namibia
France coach Bernard Laporte has warned his players the clock is ticking as Les Bleus seek to atone for their disastrous start to the World Cup.
Overcome by stage fright, France’s tournament curtain-raiser against Argentina ended in an embarrassing 17-12 defeat.
The result has left them with no margin for error if they are to qualify for the knockout stages, cranking up the tension for Friday’s crunch showdown with Ireland.
But first they must dispatch Namibia in Toulouse with Laporte demanding the Africans, ranked 24 in the world, feel the backlash of a week’s frustration.
“To say that we enjoyed ourselves against Argentina would be a lie,” he said. “It got to such a fever that we didn’t enjoy ourselves. Everyone was affected. We have to rediscover this pleasure.
“The World Cup doesn’t last a year - there are only a few matches. We left the Argentina match frustrated that we hadn’t played well and managed the situation badly. It is now time to rectify that.”
Laporte is desperate to put the Argentina debacle to bed, but only a handsome victory over the Namibians will give him breathing space.
France demolished Wales and England during an ominous build-up to the tournament but their fitful, error-strewn display against the Pumas left them traumatised.
“What is important is winning the next game. There is no point going over the Argentina match 50 times,” he said.
“We are focusing on the next match, which should allow us to rediscover the enthusiasm, passion and dynamism that we had in our three preparation matches.
“We have to get going because there are only three matches left. It is imperative we win tomorrow and take the bonus point.
“We had two difficult days in the 48 hours which followed the Argentina match but that is all in the past.
“Our destiny is now in the next three matches.”
Namibia performed heroics against Ireland last Sunday and even won the second half before a dubious late try gave Brian O’Driscoll’s side a 32-17 final scoreline they failed to justify.
Whether the Namibians, who are largely made up of amateur players, can scale those heights again looks doubtful but Laporte is wary of the threat they pose.
“We saw Namibia’s match against Ireland. We don’t know more than that. They are a good team and they posed problems,” he said.
“That means we will have to perform well. We mustn’t say to ourselves that it will be easier than against Argentina.
“We are preparing for this game like any other. The aim will be to construct our match and put things back in order.
“The defeat to Argentina hasn’t changed that.”
Namibia number eight Jacques Burger admits France are red-hot favourites to dismantle his side - but insists the outcome is no foregone conclusion.
“Everybody is going to be a giant challenge. I always look forward to playing guys you look up to like Sebastien Chabal,” he said.
“We don’t want to respect them too much, but we will look forward to the challenge.
“It is going to be difficult. France are the favourites hands down.
“It’s a funny old game though and they shouldn’t be too confident. They should watch out as you never know what will happen.”
