Ben Gardiner

Deine Mariner came off as a precaution and will have a scan on 17 October to "see how bad it is and move forward from there," Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said. He said the early stage of the tournament and Samoa's early lead made it safer to take him off.

Francis moved off the edge and played 80 minutes in the middle. Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said the switch was agreed in Newcastle about two and a half months ago and never trialled: "We'd made that decision a long time ago that he was going to play there."

Junior Paulo's knee hasn't come up, Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said on 6 October: "He's ready to go, he's been training." Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, injured for last year's Pacific tournament, is "raring to go". Terrell ruled himself out weeks before the tournament.

Jarome Luai is expected to play halfback for Samoa, coach Ben Gardiner calling the co-captain "our most experienced player in that area." The brief for him at 7: "he's best when he does run the ball. So we'll be encouraging him to do that first and foremost."