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Cape Town - As they prepare to face the Springboks, the Samoans are enjoying the tranquil surroundings of the Belfry golf resort in the Warwickshire countryside.
The venue, which has hosted the Ryder Cup four times, is an idyllic choice of headquarters for the Samoans ahead of what's likely to be a brutal Rugby World Cup encounter with the Springboks.
Even non-golfers among the squad have plenty to occupy themselves with when not training for the showdown at Villa Park.
“I’d like to think I am a very good golfer," assistant coach Alama Ieremia said on the Rugby World Cup’s official website.
"I have already sent my challenge out to the team to take me on. Obviously I’ll have lots of work to do first but I can’t wait to get out there. It looks a tremendous course.
“It’s important to get the balance right between working hard with preparations and occupying our down time. We have table tennis competitions, cards competitions and now golf.
“We are happy people. We enjoy each other’s company a lot. You have to get the variety around the team both in the training and the relaxation time. There’s no question of us being bored by being away for so long. I don’t mind if we are here until the end of October. I’ll be very surprised if we are bored by then.”
The Springboks have never lost to Samoa in eight previous Tests, with the South Africans winning the last encounter 56-23 in Pretoria in 2013.
However, the last time the two nations clashed at a World Cup was in New Zealand four years ago when the Boks sneaked a 13-5 win.
Saturday’s clash at Villa Park scheduled for 17:45 (SA time).
