Arizona Tribune - Harrison challenges England to 'front-up' against Samoa

The Pacific Islanders are traditionally known for their physicality and have promised to show that on Saturday in Lille.

"Players have to front-up. physically you can't step backwards you have to step forwards," Harrison told reporters.

"You have to be smart with how you play. You don't want to be running straight into them," he added.

Earlier in the week, Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua said he wanted his team to play an "unapologetically Samoan" style and lock Brian Alainu'u'ese defined it as "doing your job as best as you can, being physical in everything you do with a smile on your face."

In northern France, Mapusua's side will face compatriot and fluent Samoan speaker Manu Tuilagi, who starts for England at centre against his country of birth for the first time.

"As the boss said, we want to be unapologetically Samoan and Manu understands that," Samoa assistant coach Tusi Pisi said.

"The way he plays, he plays like that. We want to be the same.

"We'll give him a gift, then he'll give us a gift, back and forth," the 41-year-old added with a wry grin.

- 'Phenomenal players' -

England prop Dan Cole has featured alongside Tuilagi at Test level and with club Leicester Tigers for more than a decade.

Tuilagi's older brothers Freddie, Henry, Andy and Alesana also played for the English outfit.

"Manu's been a big part of England since he got capped," Cole said.

"The way he plays on the front foot and the deftness of touches around the field.

"He and his family are really looking forward to this occasion.

"He's a great guy to have in the squad and he makes great coffee too," the 36-year-old added.

England have already secured their quarter-final spot before this weekend.

Captain Owen Farrell can surpass Johnny Wilkinson's record points haul of 1,179 for the country with a conversion in northern France.

"They're both two phenomenal players," said Cole.

"Hopefully tomorrow or some point in the tournament he'll get the chance to break that record.

"It would help if the wingers didn't score in the corner all the time, go under the sticks!" added Cole.

Samoa, who maintain a slim hope of reaching the quarter-finals, have never got the better of England despite playing them eight times.

To reach the knockout phase, Samoa need to score four tries and win by a healthy margin as well as hope Argentina and Japan draw when they meet on Sunday.

"We're ready for a good battle. It's an opportunity to make history," Pisi said.

"We've never beaten England, so if we do what we've trained (to do) and win against England, that's first and foremost the main thing," he added.

D.Johnson--AT