Worcester Warriors wing David Lemi is hoping to take his Amlin Challenge Cup try scoring form into the Autumn Internationals as he takes over the captaincy of Samoa for the next month.
Lemi raced in for four tries in the Warriors 90-13 second round win over Rovigo and now has his sights set firmly on helping Samoa beat Canada, Wales and France in November.
Samoa play two matches in Wales before heading across The Channel, starting with tonight's clash with Canada in the opening game in the new IRB Rugby Series in Colwyn Bay. The action kicks-off with a game between Russia and the USA before Lemi's Samoans take centre stage at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay.
"It would be great to grab a few more tries, but Test rugby is a huge step up from the club game. We're just delighted to be getting the chance to play some Tier 1 nations and to get greater exposure on the international stage for our players," said Lemi.
"This is all part of the build-up to the 2015 World Cup and breaking out of our normal boundaries. We play Fiji and Tonga every year, but this will expose us to different teams and styles.
"We can't afford to look past the Canada game because they are going to be very difficult opponents. That game will then lead us into the matches with Wales and France.
"This is exactly what Samoan rugby needs if we are going to improve and become a bigger threat at the World Cup and on the international stage."
Lemi won't be the only Amlin Challenge Cup representative in the Samoan line-up. London Irish back rower Ofisa Treviranus, while Canada boast London Welsh centre Phil MacKenzie.
When the dynamic wing gets back to the Warriors he will have to prepare himself for the back-to-back challenlges of French club Perpignan. The outcome of those battles in rounds 3 and 4 will determine who wins Pool 2.
