Danny Levi replaced by former Featherstone hooker in shock Samoa squad change for England clash

Samoa have seemingly suffered a setback ahead of Saturday’s World Cup semi-final.

After Matt Parish named his squad for the game against England at the Emirates Stadium, there was one obvious change.

Hooker Danny Levi, who has played in all four games to this point, has been replaced by Fa’amanu Brown.

It is unknown why Levi has been left out at this stage, with the man who helped Huddersfield Giants reach the Challenge Cup Final this season to be unavailable to Parish and the Samoan team.

His replacement Brown spent the 2021 season in the Championship with Featherstone, scoring 16 tries in 25 games.

He returned to the NRL this season for the Wests Tigers and has featured 13 times, but Saturday’s game will be the biggest of his career as he aims to help Samoa into their first-ever World Cup Final.

Penrith Panthers prop Spencer Leniu also returns to the squad after missing the victory over Tonga in Warrington, the only other change to Samoa’s squad.

Samoa 19-man squad: Joseph Suaali’i, Taylan May, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Jerome Luai, Anthony Milford, Josh Papali’i, Junior Paulo, Ligi Sao, Jaydn Su’a, Royce Hunt, Spencer Leniu, Marty Taupa’u, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Fa’amanu Brown, Kelma, Tuilagi, Oregon Kaufusi, Tim Lafai, Ken Sio.

England 19-man squad: Sam Tomkins, Tommy Makinson, Kallum Watkins, Herbie Farnworth, Jack Welsby, George Williams, Tom Burgess, Micky McIlorum, Luke Thompson, Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman, Victor Radley, Dom Young, Morgan Knowles, Mike Cooper, Chris Hill, Mike McMeeken, Marc Sneyd, Kai Pearce-Paul.