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Reigning World Series champions Samoa are still unsure of the squad with the start of the new season just eight days away.

Coach Stephen Betham has already lost the services of the outstanding Uale Mai and impact player Timoteo Iosua.

With some of last year’s winning squad on tour in Europe with the Samoan 15-a-side squad and with the 2011 RWC in New Zealand looming, Betham knows he might have to make do without some of his senior charges. 

“We no longer have the services of Uale Mai - whom we lost to an overseas contract just prior to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi - and he will be greatly missed as he has always been one of the team’s leaders both on and off the field,” said Betham.

“We are also missing Timoteo Iosua, who is unavailable for family reasons, and whom we always relied on in the past to provide that spark from the bench.

“We might also not have the services of those Sevens players picked for 15s in time for the upcoming World Cup (Lolo Lui, Ofisa Treviranus, Fautua Otto, Mikaele Pesamino, Afa Aiono). However, the silver lining is that it gives the chance to other players who are on the rise to prove they have the mettle to make it at this level.”

Despite the changes the coach is under no illusions of the challenges the team faces in living up to the heights of last season, which saw them win four tournaments overall.

Pressure from home

“Compared to this time last year when Samoa never figured in the books to take the overall title, there is definitely more pressure,” added Betham.

“Expectations at home are high. It’s all par for the course and we knew that right from the moment we hoisted that cup in Scotland last May. However, my job with Tausa [Faamaoni Lalomilo – assistant coach] is to ensure that the pressure does not get to the boys and that we play each game as it comes,”.

“Despite missing some of the team’s key players, preparations have been smooth. We have had a few local tournaments which served to reveal some up-and-coming players. Some of these rising players have also had a chance to show their wares in international tournaments like the recent Gold Coast 7s,” said the coach.

Samoa have been drawn with Wales, Kenya and the home team – Arabian Gulf - for the pool stages in Dubai, a tournament they are yet to win. The furthest they have progressed was reaching the final last year, where they lost out to New Zealand.

“Dubai is always difficult being the first tournament of the Series. A lot of teams haven’t had much game time together at that level prior to Dubai. Some teams will field new faces, therefore you don’t really know what to expect from these players. We came close last season but it just wasn’t meant to be.

“I am confident that the boys will go out there and give it their best shot. I must admit that the boys are just itching to get on that field and get the Series off to a good start, not just for themselves but for their families and their country.

“Winning the Series was a milestone for Samoa because it is so difficult to pull off as it involves hard, consistent and composed grafting over several months as compared to a one-off fixture like the World Cup Sevens or the Commonwealth Games.