International rugby: Samoa coach Betham expects tough test against England
Friday 21 November 2014 18:03, UK
Samoa coach Stephen Betham says he is expecting England to be at their strongest when his side visit Twickenham on Saturday.
England are without victory in five Tests – losing four times to New Zealand and one against South Africa – but Betham believes they can bounce back.
Betham said: "Although they had five losses, those losses were very close and could have gone either way.
“We are expecting a really fired-up English team this weekend. We are expecting England to be at their strongest.”
Samoa have not visited Twickenham since November 2010 when they were beaten 26-13, having led at the end of the first half.
Questions
And although recent performance of England’s back-line has raised questions, Betham insisted they must focus on themselves if they are to win.
“We can get carried away with what England are doing," Betham said. "We can be our own worst enemies so we have concentrated a lot on what we can do better.”
England head coach Stuart Lancaster will be looking to make amends for a disappointing defeat against the Springboks on Saturday and has made six changes to his starting XV.
Fly-half George Ford is set to make his full international debut alongside Owen Farrell at inside centre, a decision which Betham found strange.
"Playing Ford and Farrell together is unusual’ he said. “Although they've had some positional changes, I'm sure the coaching staff have some tricks up their sleeve."
