Manu Samoa lose captain for 6 weeks

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 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.

 

Photo Oceania Rugby