Japan and Samoa want to grab their last chance and hold on to it
Japan and Samoa clash in Group D on Thursday both knowing they need to win to keep their quarter-final hopes alive and both insisting they don't want to fumble their chance.
Both opened with victories over Chile before each stumbled against one of the group favourites.
They are tied on five points, nine behind leaders England, who have played one more game, and one more than Argentina who play Chile on Saturday.
Japan captain Kazuki Himeno has called this stage of the group the "death zone".
Samoa assistant coach Andrew Goodman made a point of side-stepping that sort of phrasing on Wednesday.
"Do or die is not the terminology we have used," Goodman told the media. "We have talked about a performance we can be proud of."
In their last match, Samoa went down 19-10 to Argentina.
Samoa prop Paul Alo-Emile blamed missed chances.
"There's no secret. We were not able to finish certain phases, not able to execute certain skills at the key moments," Alo-Emile said on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately there were too many mistakes. That is what cost us the game."
Japan fell 34-12 to England.
"We were in the fight and we presented ourselves opportunities," Japan's defence coach John Mitchell said on Wednesday. "We didn't execute those big moments.
"That is very important for us against Samoa, knowing the game will go up another physical step because that is a strength of theirs and something that they are very proud of."
In a game that presents contrasts in style, Samoa physicality has been a repeated theme for Japanese players and coaches
"While we're aware of Samoa's physicality and respect that, our focus has been more on our own performance," said Mitchell, a former New Zealand head coach, before adding: "They will definitely try to take us one on one."
He said Japan wanted to stop Samoa gaining what he called "strike momentum" in contact.
"It's really important on both sides of the ball that we really do show our heart and how much it means to us."
Himeno also focused on Samoa's power.
"They have experience and physicality, good game control as well," the No. 8 said. "We have to stay connected and communicate in tough times, make double tackles to win the collisions."
Samoa, for their part, emphasised Japan's pace, energy and discipline.
- 'Never say die' -
With three yellow cards, Samoa are second only to Chile in losing players to the sin bin. Japan have picked up one yellow.
"The Japanese team are well coached, especially on attack," said Goodman. "We have to limit their opportunities in our half. We will be looking to make sure we are really clean with our play."
He echoed his boss Seilala Mapusua, who said earlier in the week: "We are very wary of Japan's strengths in terms of their speed and also their never-say-die attitude.
"We will be looking to counter those strengths... using our physicality and doing the basics well."
Ed Fidow, who has come in on the wing, was relaxed about directly facing Japanese speedster Jone Naikabula.
"I just need to turn up and play my game," said Fidow. "I know they have a fast winger. No pressure on me."
