Samoa halfback Scott Malolua will miss the World Cup after a shoulder injury sustained in Saturday's test against the Wallabies has ruled him out of play for at least eight weeks.

Pelefofoga Cowley has instead been brought into the team's squad, it was announced on Tuesday morning.

Manu coach, Vaeluagaomatagi Steve Jackson, spoke to media this morning prior to the team’s departure for Japan:

“Scott suffered a dislocated shoulder on Saturday night and he’s now facing an eight week recovery period – which unfortunately rules him out of the World Cup,” said Vaeluagaomatagi.

“We’re all gutted for Scott. He was playing some good rugby. But we all understand that this is the nature of our game. So we just need to push forward to Japan. And that is why we’ve brought Pelefofoga Cowley into our squad. He spent the [Pacific Nations Cup] with us and so he’s familiar with the playing group and how we want to play the game".

In a media statement this morning, the team said Cowley was on Mount Ruapehu for a family skiing holiday when Vaeluagaomatagi contacted him with the news. 

“It’s an unfortunate circumstance in which to be called up. I really feel for Scotty. I actually know what it’s like because the same thing happened to me in 2015 when I did my [anterior cruciate] joint in the last game of the [Pacific Nations Cup] against Canada – which ruled me out of the World Cup,” said Cowley. 

The Manu Samoa flies out of Auckland on Tuesday morning.

The team will undergo a one week pre-tournament camp before the Cup starts on September 20.