Miracle Faiilagi of Samoa breaks with the ball as he is challenged by Louis Van der Westhuizen of Namibia during the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 Final Qualification Tournament match between Samoa and Namibia at The Sevens Stadium on 13 November 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Christopher Pike / World Rugby via Getty Images
Samoa v Belgium
Kick-off: 4:30am (NZT) Wednesday, 19 November
Venue: The Sevens 2, Dubai
Manu Samoa have made six changes to their lineup that beat Namibia for Wednesday morning's winner-take-all Final Qualification Tournament clash against Belgium in Dubai.
The Samoans just need a draw to claim a spot at the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup in Australia.
A win will clear their pathway as the top team from the final qualifier, making them the 24th team to join the other 23 confirmed nations.
Both teams are undefeated, winning two out of two in the four-team round-robin competition.
Head coach Lemalu Tusiata Pisi has named six changes to his lineup, in an attempt to balance his starting XV and his bench players.
He told reporters in Dubai on Monday the focus was on getting the work done and securing that World Cup spot.
"There's a few things to be happy about and there's also a few things to work on and learn from [the Namibia game]," Pisi said.
"So we took those learnings and we'll try and correct it for this game."
The statistics from the Namibia game showed that Samoa lost 21 turnovers and won just two.
World Rugby said Belgium, on the other hand, has been dynamic at the breakdown, with captain and flanker Jean-Maurice Decubber leading them.
Decubber has made the most carries (29) and tackles (39) of any player in the qualifying event.
Manu Samoa captain Theo McFarland told reporters after their win over Namibia they would need to work on their execution.
The Samoans defeated Namibia 26-8 at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai early on Friday morning (Thursday, UAE time), but McFarland said there were a lot of things the team did not do.
"It will be a tough game but we need to focus on our system and execution," he said.
A new-look front row has been named to face Belgium.
Hooker Millennium Sanerivi and props Titi Lamositele and Michael Alaalatoa get to start the game, moving last week's starters Sama Malolo, Scott Sio, and Tietie Tuimauga to the bench.
Flanker-cum-lock forward Taleni Seu, makes way for Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves' player Ben Nee-Nee, in the starting lineup, while the experienced Melani Nanai replaces Tumua Manu at centre.
Niko Jones, son of Samoan and New Zealand rugby legend Savae La'auli Sir Michael Jones, will make his first test start, after debuting off the bench against Scotland in June.
Samoa are favourites to win, having won the only Test between the two sides in 1989.
That game saw the islanders win 37-12.
Belgium set for clash
But Belgium have been impressive in their two wins so far, upsetting Namibia in their first game and then pipping Brazil last week.
World Rugby said for Belgium to win and clinch a spot at their first-ever Rugby World Cup, it would be the greatest moment in their relatively short rugby history and one of the greatest moments in Belgium's overall sporting history.
If Belgium do qualify they will become the 12th different European nation to appear at a Men's Rugby World Cup and the first new one since Russia in 2011.
When asked what makes this Belgium team so special after they fought back with 14 men to score a try in the last two minutes to defeat Brazil and set up this winner-takes-all clash with Samoa, Belgium head coach Lauren Dossat said the players just need to enjoy themselves.
"I think maybe sometimes they are crazy and we need to be crazy sometimes," he said.
Dossat has kept faith in his 23-man squad who defeated Namibia. He has made just three changes to the starting XV - one enforced, one positional and one optional change.
The enforced change is prop Charles Henri-Berguet, who has been suspended for four matches, and in his place comes 24-year-old Bruno Vliegen, who plays for Olympique Marcquois in France.
The positional change sees dangerous wing Ervin Muric moving to the left wing.
Scrum-half Isaac Montoisy has been named on the right wing, a move that could mean the Belgians want to use high balls against the Samoans in the game.
Samoa: 1. Titi Lamositele, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 4. Ben Nee Nee, 5. Theo McFarland (captain), 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Niko Jones, 8. Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Rodney Iona, 11. Vaafauese Apelu Maliko, 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 13. Melani Nanai, 14. Latrell Ah Kiong, 15. Jacob Umaga; Bench: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tietie Tuimauga, 19. Taleni Seu, 20. Abraham Papali'i, 21. Connor Tupa'i, 22. Faletoi Peni, 23. Tuna Tuitama
Belgium: 1. Bruno Vliegen, 2. Alexandre Raynier, 3. Jean-Baptiste De Clercq, 4. Toon Deceuninck, 5. Maximilien Hendrickx, 6. Jean-Maurice Decubber (captain), 7. William van Bost, 8. Felipe Geraghty, 9. Julien Berger, 10. Matias Remue, 11. Ervin Muric, 12. Maxime Vacquier, 13. Florian Remue, 14. Isaac Montoisy, 15. Simeon Soenen; Bench: 16. Basile van Parys, 17. Vincent Tauzia, 18. Maxime Jadot, 19. Arthur Smeets, 20. Jeremie Brasseur, 21. Thomas Wallraf, 22. Timothe Rifon, 23. Dazzy Cornez
