Rugby World Cup

Fiji is on its best unbeaten run in this century, Tonga is enjoying its best string of results in a dozen years, and the Samoa players have peace of mind.

The way the Fijians dismantled Canada in their last warm-up match even has some believing Fiji is a threat in the toughest of the groups, featuring top-five teams Australia, England, and Wales.

“We can shock the world,” winger Nemani Nadolo says seriously.

The global cosmetic giant brought the two together when Manu Samoa set up its training camp in Brighton in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.

The Body Shop International ingredients buyer Christina Archer said since 2008 the company had been a proud trading partner with Samoa’s Women in Business Development, which supplies organic virgin coconut oil from its smallholder farmers.

The Manu round out their tournament preparations against English Premiership club Wasps in Coventry Sunday morning.

10 changes have been made to the run-on team that lost to the Barbarians, in an effort to give all players some game-time and a chance to press for selection.

Stephen Betham says the players know they can't rest on their laurels.

Six of the starting fifteen, including captain Ofisa Treviranus, first five Tusi Pisi and fullback Tim Nanai-Williams didn't feature in the Pacific Nations Cup, while Rey Lee Lo's last test was at the end of last year.

Stephen Betham says some players haven't played a game of rugby for almost two months and need to get some minutes under their belts.

Cook Islands won the biennial event two years ago but will not defend their title, choosing to focus their limited resources on November's Olympic Sevens Qualifier.

Newcomers American Samoa open proceedings against Solomon Islands at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, followed by hosts Papua New Guinea against Tahiti, in the first round of matches.

The General Manager of Rugby PNG, Frank Genia, says pride and silverware aren't the only things on up for grabs.

The 31 man squad was named earlier this week, with Ofisa Treviranusto captain the side, which features three local players, while the likes of flanker Faifili Levave and outside backs Sinoti Sinoti, Paul Williams and Ah See Tuala have missed out.

Assistant coach Namulauulu Alama Ieremia says the All Blacks test and Pacific Nations Cup was about people putting their hands up and some players did and some players didn't.

Manu Samoa coach Stephen Betham has made six changes to his starting side to face Canada in Toronto.

Viliamu Afatia, Iosefa Tekori and Faifili Levave get a start in the pack with local lad Faialaga Afamasaga getting a chance in the number 12 jersey.

The other two changes from the team that drew with Fiji is the return of Sinoti Sinoti and Ah See Tuala out wide.

Stephen Betham says this is the coaching team's final opportunity to test combinations and to give some players more game time.

A total of 40,000 tickets are currently on sale at tickets.rugbyworldcup.com and a further 100,000 additional tickets will go on sale Monday (July 27).

More than 2.15 million have already sold.

The additional tickets are a mixture of extra seats from the completion of venue configuration, handbacks from the Rugby World Cup Limited commercial programme, and tickets that have been registered for re-sale from fans who can no longer use their tickets.

He said rugby was a key national sport and united a nation.

Speaking at the opening of the FRU development workshop at the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji Monday,  Bainimarama said Fiji was blessed with a massive amount of local talent and resources.

He said provincial union leaders were the ones who would eventually take the Fijian brand of rugby to another level.