WALES v SAMOA
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Date: 13 November Kick-off: 1930 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC TWO Wales & online, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, plus radio commentary online

George Stowers takes the captain's armband against Wales

Back-row George Stowers will captain Samoa against Wales in Friday's Test at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The islanders are without Stowers' London Irish team-mate, wing Sailosi Tagicakibau, who has an ankle injury.

But Samoa still field a backline that has Seilala Mapusua, another Exile, David Lemi of Wasps, Anitelea Tuilagi of Sale and Clermont's Gavin Williams.

"We'll miss him [Tagicakibau] because he's our in-form winger now in England," Stowers said.

Stowers will line up at blind-side flanker, with Perpignan's Henry Tuilagi at number eight and Ofisa Treviranus - one of only two home-based players in the starting XV - completing the back-row.

The scrummage will also be competitive, with Glasgow's Justin Va'a, Mahonri Schwalger of Sale and Toulouse tight-head Census Johnston forming an experienced front-row.

606: DEBATE Have your say on the Samoa team

Filipo Levi of Newcastle and Iosefa Tekori, who plays for French club Castres, provide the power at lock.

Despite Samoa having won three of their six previous Tests against Wales, coach Fuimano Tafua says they face a battle at the Millennium Stadium.

"We are going to be facing a very tough game, but this is a great opportunity for us to play against a tier-one rugby nation," Tafua said.

"We just want to play good rugby on Friday. We see Wales as one of the best tier-one teams, but we will be trying our best."

After Friday's game against Wales, Samoa continue their tour with Tests against France and Italy.

Samoa: Lolo Lui (Apia); David Lemi (Wasps/ENG), Gavin Williams (Clermont/FRA), Seilala Mapusua (London Irish/ENG), Anitelea Tuilagi (Sale/ENG); Fa'atonu Fili (Wellington/NZ), Junior Poluleuligaga (Bay of Plenty/NZ); Justin Va'a (Glasgow/SCO), Mahonri Schwalger (Sale/ENG), Census Johnston (Toulouse/FRA), Filipo Levi (Newcastle/ENG), Iosefa Tekori (Castres/FRA), George Stowers (capt, London Irish/ENG), Ofisa Treviranus (Apia West), Henry Tuilagi (Perpignan/FRA).
Replacements: Andrew Williams (Apia West), Sakaria Taulafo (Tasman/NZ), Kane Thompson (Dax/FRA), Jonathon Fa'amatuainu (Bath/ENG), Uale Mai (Apia West), Henry Fa'afili (Leeds Carnegie/ENG), Titi Esau (Apia West).

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