Fukuoka (Japan) (AFP)

More face-to-face with the world's leading nations, and more efforts to draw players into the selection: the Samoa coach has set his sights for the future after a disappointing new World Cup for this Pacific nation, as well as for his neighbors Fijians and Tongans.

The troublemaker is Japan! For this 2015 edition, the organizing nation, winner of Scotland Sunday, arrogated the role of "small" team qualified for the quarter-finals. The three nations of the Pacific will come back.

The heavy defeat on Saturday against Ireland (47-5) has concluded a new disappointing Rugby World Cup for Samoa whose players, like the Fijian and Tongan neighbors in the Pacific, are scattered around the world. .

Samoa's last qualifier for the quarter-finals is 24 years old, while Tonga have never reached this stage and Fiji arrived there for the last time in 2007.

Asked after the loss to the Welsh, Samoa coach Steve Jackson has issued some warnings for the future. According to him, more help from World Rugby (supreme body of the game) is essential to allow Pacific nations to become more competitive for the next World Cup in 2023 in France.

"We have to make sure that we are really playing against the best teams in the world, so in order to compete with the best, we have to play against the best, which is what develops world-class players," said the coach. Samoa since last year.

The 10 teams that make up the Six Nations Tournament and the Rugby Championship ("Tier 1") each played up to 50 tests against teams of their level between the end of the 2015 World Cup and their arrival in Japan. The Pacific nations played a combined total of 18 against "Tier 1" teams in the same period.

In these developing islands, players travel abroad to support their families, and many sign a contract that makes it more difficult for the national team.

Many players are also selected by other national teams, having become eligible thanks to the rules of stay.

- "Everyone is poor" -

If Steve Jackson wants more help from World Rugby, he is also convinced that the governing body of rugby in Samoa must do more to persuade young rugby players to play for their country.

"We all know what's going on (with the European clubs), there's no need to talk about eligibility, availability, and all that stuff, we have to watch at home," he said.

"We need to retain these players before they are chosen by other nations, make sure they play for Samoa, and that they taste that jersey, with all the Pacific Island players playing for them. other nations, there are plenty of good rugby players (in Samoa), and you have to keep them early, "he continued.

The idea resonated in the spirit of the Newcastle pillar in England, Logovi'i Mulipola.

"It's hard enough to come home because everyone there, especially my family, is poor," said the 32-year-old.

"I would love to be part of the rugby development project in Samoa, especially in my post, I know that in Samoa, few want to play a pillar, and I would love to come back and just work to try to help the young pillars" added the first line to the 29 selections.

© 2019 AFP