Samoa vs Italy Preview & Prediction | 2024 Summer Internationals
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Samoa welcome Italy in this summer international will be an interesting test to see how both of these nations have developed since the World Cup
START DATE/TIME: UK – 6am, Friday, July 5th / US ET – 1am, Friday, July 5th / US PT – 10pm, Thursday, July 4th
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – N/A / US – N/A
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – N/A / US – N/A
SAMOA FORM: SAMOA LOOKING TO IMPRESS NEW COACH
Samoa have had mixed results over the last year or two but despite not making it out of an incredibly tough group at the World Cup, they were competitive against some very good teams. Under a new head coach, this is something of a new era and they will be desperate to get off to a good start against a talented Italian side.
LAST FIVE: LLLWL
ITALY FORM: ITALY AIM TO BUILD ON IMPRESSIVE SIX NATIONS
Italy come off a sensational Six Nations campaign which saw them beat Scotland and Wales, and come within a kick of beating France. That, along with their 49-17 hammering of Samoa the last time they met back in 2022, will give them plenty of confidence ahead of this match.
LAST FIVE: WWDLL
SAMOA TEAM NEWS: EIGHT MOANA PASIFIKA STARS NAMED
Samoa are going through more of a transition than their counterparts ahead of this game and they have named a line-up which comes from all parts of the world. That is nothing new to them however and they will be highly motivated to perform in front of their home fans at Apia Park.
There are eight players from the Moana Pasifika franchise that plays Super Rugby so there is some cohesion and plenty of quality in their ranks. This is their first match under new coach Mase Mahonri and he will be demanding an impressive display here.
SQUAD: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
REPLACEMENTS: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
ITALY TEAM NEWS: CONTINUITY KEY FOR THE AZZURRI
This Italian team contains the vast majority of the squad that did so well in the Six Nations where they registered victories over both Wales and Scotland and drew with France. 28 of the 33 are returning and that is incredibly positive for their development.
The big news for Italy is that coach Gonzalo Quesada is handing Matt Gallagher his Test debut at fullback and it will be interesting to see how he slots into this in-form side.
SQUAD: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
REPLACEMENTS: TO BE ANNOUNCED…
SAMOA VS ITALY PREDICTION
This match has all the makings for a highly entertaining international as Italy are on something of a high after their outstanding performances in the Six Nations earlier this year, while Samoa showed in the World Cup last Autumn that they are a force to be reckoned with. Continuity is key for the Italians and their young team is certainly on an upward trajectory but this tour to Oceania will test them and is something they are less experienced in. The heat and conditions will be significantly different to usual and that will certainly be a factor.
With that in mind, Samoa are our tip to emerge victorious here. They took England to within a point at the World Cup and suffered narrow losses at the hands of Argentina and Japan. They will be confident on home soil of beating Italy and avenging the loss the last time they played them in November 2022.
SAMOA VS ITALY TIP: SAMOA -4 POINTS
