Fans at the Rotorua International Stadium watching Fiji and Manu Samoa clash in this Pacific Nations Cup match on Saturday. Photo: Supplied / Manu Samoa
Manu Samoa has suffered a blow ahead of their 2027 Rugby World Cup clash against Chile this weekend.
Captain Michael Alaalato'a has been called back to France by his club Clermont.
Alaalato'a left the team this week, after playing in the first round of the two-match qualifier against Chile last weekend.
Manu Samoa are already without winger Tuna Tuitama and flanker Taleni Sau, due to suspensions from red card infringements during the Pacific Nations Cup.
Initial captain Theo MacFarland also returned earlier to his English Premiership club Saracens, following the first Pacific Nations Cup clash against Tonga in August.
While attempts to get information from the team in Chile have been unsuccessful, the Manu Samoa Facebook page stated the team is training well for their return clash against the home team this weekend.
The two teams draw 32-all in Salt Lake City, Utah last weekend.
That means whoever wins this weekend's second match will qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
If the two teams draw again this weekend, the winner on points aggregate will secure the spot.
The loser drops to the final qualification tournament in Dubai in November, alongside Belgium, Namibia and either Brazil or Paraguay
20,000-strong crowd expected
Meanwhile, Chile will have the support of a sold-out 20,000-strong crowd at the Viña del Mar on Sunday morning.
Rugby Pass reported initially the capacity of Estadio Sausalito had been restricted to 12,000 for security concerns.
The crunch game clashes with the FIFA under-20 Football World Cup, which is being hosted by Chile, placing an extra demand on police numbers.
However, local authorities have bowed to public pressure and have agreed to allow the ground to be full to capacity.
Fans have snapped up the extra tickets as interest in the team continues to grow, with locals eager to see Chile's Los Cóndores make it to Australia, for their national team's second-ever World Cup appearance.
They played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Rugby Pass reported Saturday's crowd will be the second-largest in the team's history.
Fourteen months ago, the attendance for Chile's game against Scotland, a 52-11 defeat at Estadio Nacional in Santiago, was 28,000.
