Toa Samoa

Toa Samoa reached the quarter finals at last year's World Cup despite failing to a win any of their four tests.

A host of injuries and retirements has left new Kiwis coach Michael McGuire scrambling to name a squad to face England in Denver next weekend.

Matt Parish expects most of his World Cup team to be available for Samoa's Pacific Test against Tonga in Campbelltown but said New Zealand has managed to convince a couple of players to cross-over.

Five-eighth Michael Morgan also grabbed a first-half brace as the Kangaroos, winners of 10 of the 14 versions of the tournament, ran in eight unanswered tries to set up a semi-final against New Zealand or Fiji in Brisbane next week.

Cameron Smith orchestrated Australia's attack with his usual efficiency from hooker and converted all but the last of the tries, while fullback Billy Slater made a typically lively contribution and grabbed a record-equalling 14th World Cup try.

It will be an uphill battle for the Samoans, who are still yet to win a game in this year’s tournament and will have to play a full-strength Australian side which has conceded only 10 points so far.

But following the success of Tonga last week, Tagataese says it shows the top tier nations aren’t invincible and they’re in with a shot.

"It grows confidence and encourages a lot of the other players around Australia and T GROWS New Zealand – Pacific boy – to strive and play for their countries or their parents’ country of birth,’ said the former captain.

Pritchard and Roberts did not play in last Saturday's 14-14 draw against Scotland, which earned Samoa a play-off berth due to a superior for-and-against than the Bravehearts.

Papua New Guinea coach Michael Marum has also named star five-eighth Ase Boas for Sunday's quarter-final showdown with England in Melbourne after resting the Queensland Cup player of the year from last weekend's 64-0 defeat of USA.

Lachlan Lam makes way for Boas, despite scoring two tries in his Test debut for the Kumuls.

Fa'amanu Brown will partner Jarome Luai in the halves in Cairns, while Matthew Wright replaces Ken Maumalo on the wing and Frank Winterstein and Bunty Afoa will start up front in place of Leeson Ah Mau and Frank Pritchard.

Sam Tagataese has been named captain in Pritchard's absence, although the veteran backrower will start from the interchange bench.

After opening defeats against New Zealand and Tonga, the Toa must win their final group match to advance to the quarter finals.

In an otherwise closely contested encounter, Samoa's sloppy ball control inside their own 20-metre zone gave Tonga a free pass to set up camp in attacking territory on a number of occasions, while four of their five tries came directly after Samoan handling errors deep in their own territory.

It contributed to Samoa finishing the match on the wrong end of a lopsided possession count, and post-match coach Matt Parish was fuming at his side's self-capitulation.  

Meli highlighted Samoa's inability to contain second phase, which saw them allow 16 offloads, as the key difference in New Zealand's 38-8 win, and told NRL.com they could expect something similar against a star-studded Tonga forward pack at Waikato Stadium.

"I think Samoa got caught off guard against the Kiwis, the first contact in tackles was good but they weren't getting players to ground, you saw [Martin] Taupau almost on the ground and still able to offload at times," said Meli, who played seven times for Samoa along with earning 13 Test caps for the Kiwis.

Ricky Leutele has been named on the wing in place of Peter Mata'utia, who's returned to Australia with a quad injury.

The other change is up front with Herman Ese'ese promoted to start in the front row and Sam Lisone dropping to the bench.

Mate Ma'a Tonga have tweaked their backline for the clash.

Solomone Kata comes in for Konrad Hurrell in the centres, alongside three-try hero Michael Jennings, while David Fusitu'a replaces former Warriors teammate Manu Vatuvei on the wing.

Samoa squad:

After trailing just 10-4 at the break on Saturday night, Samoa made 11 second-half errors, one of which led directly to a New Zealand try, to suffer their second largest loss on record against Kiwis.

"You can't toss garbage up and expect to compete, especially against a team that good," Parish said.

"Our second half performance, and look the Kiwis played very well, but we were our own worst enemies.

"We tried hard but we made schoolboy errors.

Canberra Raiders Centre Joseph Leilua will go up against his team mate Jordan Rapana who will be playing for the Kiwis. 

Leilua says he’s ready to put relationships aside and put everything on the line for Samoa.

“Me and Rapana have a close bond but when we get out on the field we’re enemies, so I can’t wait. Good luck to him and good luck to myself."

Young Warriors player Bunty Afoa will be making his World Cup debut tonight with the Toa Samoa team. 

The 21-year-old says he's looking forward to a big clash.