By Paul Eddison 

It will be winner-takes all when France face Samoa in Warrington for arguably the biggest remaining group game of the Rugby League World Cup. 

With both teams having beaten Greece and lost to England, it will all come down to Sunday’s encounter to secure second place in Group A and a likely quarter-final against Tonga. 

And France coach Laurent Frayssinous has been boosted with the news that skipper Benjamin Garcia should be closer to full fitness after playing against England while still recovering from an infected cut that meant he was dealing with a fever in the build-up to the encounter. 

Perhaps just as important is the return of Fouad Yaha on the wing, with the Dragons standout having missed the defeat to England. 

Samoa, meanwhile, welcome back Anthony Milford from suspension after he missed the win over Greece, leaving Matt Parish with a decision over whether to stick with Chanel Harris-Tavita alongside Jarome Luai. 

Samoa stepped up

The star-studded side put on a show tonight against a battling Greece team who never gave up.

See the full highlights#RLWC2021 | #SAMGRE pic.twitter.com/74XFnjacPJ
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 23, 2022

Samoa: 4 Stephen Crichton, 20 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 15 Royce Hunt, 23 Oregon Kaufusi, 25 Tim Lafai, 16 Spencer Leniu, 9 Danny Levi, 6 Jarome Luai, 2 Taylan May, 7 Anthony Milford, 8 Josh Papali’i, 10 Junior Paulo (captain), 11 Ligi Sao, 26 Ken Sio, 12 Jaydn Su’a, 1 Joseph Sua’ali’i, 17 Martin Taupau, 5 Brian To’o, 22 Kelma Tuilagi 

France: 6 Arthur Mourgue, 7 Arthur Romano, 3 Samisoni Langi, 4 Matthieu Laguerre, 5 Fouad Yaha, 23 César Rougé, 7 Tony Gigot, 8 Jordan Dezaria, 9 Alrix Da Costa, 16 Gadwin Springer, 11 Benjamin Jullien, 12 Paul Séguier, 13 Benjamin Garcia (captain), 15 Justin Sangaré, 14 Eloi Pélissier, 17 Mickaël Goudemand, 10 Lambert Belmas, 21 Maxime Puech, 24 Louis Jouffret 

READ MORE: Wane will be ruthless in knockout stages

Head-to-head 

France and Samoa meet for the fifth time in their history, with Samoa having won three of the previous four meetings. Crucially, those three victories are also the three previous World Cup head-to-heads, with Samoa triumphing most recently in Perpignan in 2013, winning 22-6. 

Think you know the France men's squad?

We caught up with Les Bleus' Centre, Matthieu Laguerre, to get the inside scoop on the players in the France team.#RLWC2021 | @FFRXIII pic.twitter.com/LtJwCCgum9
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 25, 2022

Fun fact 

France have lost just three times since the 2017 World Cup, always to England. However, their recent record against southern hemisphere opposition reads played nine, won one, with the sole success a 9-8 victory over Papua New Guinea back in 2013. 

READ MORE: The team of Round 2

Samoa record 

After their heavy opening defeat to England, 60-6, Samoa bounced back in style against Greece to get their campaign up and running, claiming a 72-4 win. 

They have won three of their last five internationals and know that a win would clinch a spot in the quarter-finals for the fifth World Cup running. 

France record 

France were hoping for a first win over England since 1981, but after a promising first half, fell to a 42-18 defeat. That leaves them needing a first-ever win over Samoa at a World Cup to earn a place in the quarter-finals. 

Players to watch 

• Brian To’o (Samoa) has run for the most metres at this World Cup, and the most metres after contact. France will have to keep him quiet if they are to have a chance of winning. 
• Arthur Mourgue (France) has kicked ten goals from as many attempts at this World Cup, the most of any player not to have missed, while he has also chipped in with two tries. 

 The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available via rlwc2021.com/tickets