Manu Samoa will have to go six weeks without the services of captain Piula Fa'asalele after he broke his wrist in their Pacific Nations Cup match against the USA on Saturday.
The USA take the ball up through the middle against Samoa in the second round of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2019 at the ANZ Stadium in Suva, Fiji. Photo: Oceania Rugby
The injury blow also comes just seven weeks out from the Rugby World Cup.
Samoa were narrowly beaten 13-10 by the USA at ANZ stadium in Suva, the second-ever win for the Eagles, led by fly-half AJ MacGinty, over the Manu.
Samoa's coach Steve Jackson said they went in at half-time with a bit of wind in their sails, but overall struggled to execute their game plan at crucial moments.
"You know we can't kick away aimlessly...and give the opposition that much possession and when opportunities present themselves we have got to take them because at international level you only get one or two," Jackson said.
"We will be doing a little bit of work around our game management, you know four minutes to go three minutes to go we just couldn't close the game, shut the game down and we didn't take our opportunities when they were there."
Samoa will be hosted by Fiji on Saturday and with Piula Fa'asalele en route to Auckland for surgery on his broken wrist, it's back to the drawing board for Jackson and his team.
"We have got a few niggling injuries which hopefully they will rest and recover well. We will chuck every name that is available to us up on the board you know and then decide who is best to go and take the field on Saturday," he said.
Ikale Tahi to work on lifting fitness levels
The Tonga coach Toutai Kefu said lifting general fitness levels was his biggest takeaway from the Ikale Tahi's 41-7 drubbing at the hands of Japan.
It was a much better playing surface this time than the mud-bath Tonga endured in their loss to Samoa at Apia Park but Japan, sporting at least five Tongans of their own, showed their world cup preparations were well on track outclassing the Ikale Tahi in both attack and defence.
Kenki Fukuoka of Japan runs past David Halaifonua of Tonga to score his side's fifth try during the Pacific Nations Cup match between Japan and Tonga at Hanazono Rugby Staidum on August 3, 2019 in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan. Photo: World Rugby /Koki Nagahama/Getty Images
Despite the scoreline however Toutai Kefu said there were some positives he thought the team could build on.
"There were some bright spots. I thought Fotu Lokotui played well. I thought Leva Fifita continued on with his good form. And we got some really good help off the bench. I thought Zane Kapeli that came on did really well as well," Toutai Kefu said.
"So, there was certainly some bright spots there. I thought backs in general probably didn't have the best day at the office, but you know a lot of things to work on and keep improving."
And one of the first things the coach said he was keen to work on, is fitness, especially building up to their World Cup opener against England in September.
"The biggest work-on for us that we have identified is our mobility and our fitness so that is one thing. We have got to, we have worked hard on and even in the games we have worked hard on that as well by pushing ourselves," Toutai Kefu said.
"We have still got a fair way to go. We are getting fitter every week...we have still got another six weeks in camp together and we will use those six weeks to keep working on our mobility and our speed."
Tonga will take on Canada in Lautoka on Friday in the final round of the Pacific Nations Cup.
On Saturday Japan and the USA play their virtual title match at ANZ Stadium in Suva followed by Fiji against Samoa at the same venue.
