FILIPO LEVI: “If we lose this we’re out and it’s the same for them. It is a sudden death game for both of the teams and that’s an added pressure in the game.”

(stuff.co.nz) – For Fiji and Samoa there’s not just a potential place in the World Cup quarterfinals at stake on Sunday at Eden Park, there’s also the requirement to reward the fans.

It is a 60,000 sell out in Auckland with both countries’ communities coming out in force for the game.

Samoa lock Filipo Levi says because there will be so many Fijians and Samoans at the game there is extra pressure on the players not to let their supporters down.

“There is going to be an extra incentive for us to win this game,” Levi said.

“Fiji on their day can beat anyone, but we can take the positives out of the game against Wales, which were that we attacked well.

“It will be tough and we know that because we play them every year and this time it’s going to be even tougher.”

Another factor of the game is that it’s a sudden death decider, the winner lives to fight another day, while for the loser their World Cup dreams are over and they’ll be playing just for pride in their final pool game.

“If we lose this we’re out and it’s the same for them,” said Levi.

“It is a sudden death game for both of the teams and that’s an added pressure in the game.

“It’s the team that takes their chances that will win. As we saw against Wales last Sunday, they took their one chance and they scored. We had three guys on that one guy (Shane Williams) and we missed him and that led to their try.

“We can’t make those mistakes again because we know Fiji have even more fire power in their backline.”

Levi had a long and distinguished career with the Highlanders before he moved to the UK a few years ago, first playing for the Ospreys in Wales and then English side Newcastle.

While with the Highlanders he achieved plenty playing wise and he also made a fair few headlines for his huge punch up with Justin Harrison while playing against the Waratahs in 2004.

At 32, Levi the Huntly born Levi has no intentions of hanging his boots up after the World Cup, but is still looking for a new deal.

“I came back and played in the ITM Cup for Tasman this year and enjoyed that,” he said.

“It was faster than northern hemisphere rugby, it wasn’t as physical, but it was quite fast.

“I’m playing it by ear at the moment, God willing something will happen.

“I’m just waiting for the agents to tie up where I’ll be next year.”

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