Head coach Matt Parish says he’s paid no attention to England’s progress as Samoa booked a World Cup rematch with Shaun Wane’s side with a thrilling 20-18 quarter-final win over Tonga.
Samoa were never behind in a fiercely contested game watched by 12,674 absorbed fans in Warrington, and will head to the Emirates Stadium next weekend confident of avenging their opening-day thumping by England in Newcastle.
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Samoa were under-prepared and out of sorts a month ago as Wane’s men ran out 60-6 winners, but have looked a completely different beast since.
“This tournament was never about the first game it’s about the last game,” Parish told the assembled media in a tense post-match press conference.
“You guys made it about the first game. We were never going to be at our best first game. Obviously the scoreline wasn’t great and England were unreal but we’ve moved on.
“I’ve only watched one England game and that that was the first one (against us). They are the home nation and are in the last four so going pretty well.
“I don’t worry about criticism I’ve received, I’m just proud for this group for what they have done. We have improved as the competition has gone on.”
The win for Samoa marked the final game in England for Tonga coach Kristian Woolf who heads back to the NRL after delivering three titles in three seasons for champions St Helens.
“We weren’t quite at our best and it is a missed opportunity for us which is disappointing,” he told The Sportsman.
“I’m not quite sure if the occasion got to us a bit at the start. Samoa beat us to the punch a bit, defending with more speed and ran harder. That got them on the front foot.
“We showed our class to stay in the game but we need to be better than we were.
“I feel like we have underachieved. We expected to be playing in a semi final and have come up short.”
Woolf believes Samoa will now give England a real test next weekend in London.
“I think they will be a lot more competitive than what they were. They are going to put themselves in the contest.
“I would have backed us to go and win next week so I’ve no doubt Samoa can give themselves a chance too.”
Samoa now have the perfect opportunity to banish the memories of that awful afternoon at St James’ Park where England ran riot. The team has strengthened each week and has real attacking threat out wide where Salford centre Tim Lafai excelled once more.
“Tim Lafai has been great,” Parish added of his Super League star who will now come up against opponents in the England side whom he goes up against every week.
“He’s probably in career-best form. He is a good guy and has slotted straight in from day one. I’ll lean on him this week.
“I think if we improve on this match we will be in next week’s match for sure.”
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