Manu Samoa

Samoa have beaten the Brave Blossoms in 11 of their 15 previous matchups but haven't tasted success since 2012.

The Manu were thumped 34-0 by Scotland in their previous match but flanker Chris Vui said there is still a lot of belief in the squad.

"After that Scotland game we still have belief in what we're trying to do - Japan's in our way and it's just another team we've got to get past to make those playoff games - and there's huge belief in this squad," Chris Vui said.

As the crowd rolled into the Kobe Misaki Stadium it was difficult to ignore the cheehoos (the Samoan equivalent of 'yahoo'), singing and cheering coming from the two men dressed in Manu Samoa jerseys, lavalava and Samoan Ula Nifo necklaces.

A crowd gathered around them early, and the numbers didn't begin to dwindle until just before the match began.

About three hours into the spontaneous photo-taking marathon one of the men, Bistol Sefo, who lives in Yokohama with his Japanese wife, stepped aside for a break.

To make things worst, it was the first time the Manu had been held scoreless in 30 Rugby World Cup appearances dating back to 1991.

Samoa trailed 3-0 approaching the half hour mark before two tries in four minutes from Sean Maitland and Greig Laidlaw, and a long-range Stuart Hogg drop-goal opened up a commanding 20-0 lead at half-time.

First five Tusi Pisi was caught napping for the opening five-pointer, with Scottish winger Maitland, who's mother is Samoan, getting on the end of a pinpoint cross-kick from Finn Russell.

Rey Lee-Lo and Motu Matu'u were both yellow carded during Samoa's Rugby World Cup opener against Russia last week but were later slapped with a three match suspension by an independent judicial committee.

Coach Steve Jackson said in both cases Russian fullback Vasily Artemyev was deemed to have dropped into contact, which remained a grey area in World Rugby's high tackle framework.

 Coach Steve Jackson has confirmed this after Amosa sustained a tournament-ending knee injury during Samoa’s 34-9 victory over Russia on Tuesday.  

"Alamanda was part of our group for the Tonga test in the Pacific Nations Cup, so he understands our game and our team environment. Even though he is a genuine number seven – he is also very versatile and can cover multiple positions. He’s a very fit and hardworking player who deserves the opportunity," Jackson said.

Motuga played for the Manurewa club in New Zealand.

Lee-Lo was yellow carded for the incident in the 28th minute, when his shoulder made direct contact with the head of Russian captain Vasily Artemyev.

After the match he was cited along with hooker Motu Matu'u.

Referee Romain Poite and Television Match Official Graham Hughes erred on the side of caution after deciding Artemyev had "dipped" his head going into the tackle.

An independent judicial committee ruled last night that while the fullback did alter his height it was not enough to justify reducing the punishment from a red card.

Amosa was injured in a high tackle while scoring a try in Samoa's 34-9 victory over Russia.

Manu Samoa coach Steve Jackson has expressed his sympathy for the hard-running number eight.

Jackson said he has been an outstanding member of the team and he will be missed.

"We are absolutely gutted for him. He is upbeat - but we just need to do what's best for Afa."

Amosa injured his right knee in the act of scoring, just after halftime, in Manu Samoa's 34-9 victory over Russia on Tuesday night.

The Pacific islanders did themselves no favours in a scrappy game that rarely rose to the levels of excitement generated by the noisy crowd at the boutique-sized ground, with Rey Lee-Lo and Motu Matu'u both shown yellow cards for high tackles.

The pair narrowly escaped being sent off by Romain Poite after television match official Graham Hughes recommended only a yellow card because Russia captain Vasily Artemyev had ducked his head into each tackle.

Josie Tada, from Samoa, has been living in Japan for the past 26 years and is set to be in the crowd at Kumagaya to watch the must-win clash.

It will be the first time the countries have played against each other.

"My husband is Japanese. He was a Japanese volunteer in Samoa when we met each other, and we got married then came to live in Japan," she said.

The mix of two different cultures took some getting used to, she said.

The Pacific Islanders begin their campaign on Tuesday and assuming they avoid an upset against Russia, they must get past hosts Japan and eighth-ranked Scotland to progress through Pool A, likely alongside overwhelming favourites Ireland.

Japan looked vulnerable in their opening victory over the surprisingly stubborn Russians and Scotland were disappointing in their 27-3 battering by Ireland on Sunday, potentially putting the Samoans right in the mix.