Samoa call up Crusaders star
Samoa named a near full-strength side for Sunday’s Test with Australia, including one of the nomadic Crusaders’ Super Rugby stars.
All the players in the Samoan matchday 22 for the Sydney Test are based abroad.
Eleven players in the 22 have Super Rugby experience – with prop Anthony Perenise (Hurricanes), scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali’i (Crusaders) and captain Mahonri Schwalger (Highlanders) all appearing with New Zealand franchises in 2011.
Fotuali’i stayed on in Australia after playing for the Crusaders against the Reds in last Saturday’s Super Rugby Final.
While 15 players have been training together in Sydney since Sunday, the remaining squad members only arrived on Thursday – following the completion of the IRB’s Pacific Nations Cup tournament.
None of the team that played in Samoa’s final Pacific Nations Cup match against Tonga on Wednesday have been named in Sunday’s run-on side, but five of them have been listed on the bench.
Samoa lost to 19-29 to Tonga on Wednesday, after earlier recording a strong win over tournament winners Japan in Tokyo and a loss to Fiji in Suva. Japan won the IRB event after surprising Fiji 24-13 in the deciding round-robin match.
Tafua said he’s using the next few months to find the best team to compete at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September and October.
“The defeat by Tonga, will not affect the team’s preparations against the Wallabies in the weekend,” Tafua said.
“Manu Samoa’s preparations for PNC, the Test against Australia and two home fixtures against Western Force is all part of the selection for a RWC team for Samoa.
“There will be a slight change to this weekend’s selection, but so far preparations for the Wallabies Test is all good and we look forward to the Test this weekend.”
During his time at the Crusaders, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had five of the squad under his tutelage – prop Sakaria Taulafo, flyhalf Tusi Pisi, fullback Paul Williams, son of All Blacks great Bryan Williams, reserve hooker Ti’i Paulo and playmaker Fotuali’i
Samoa: 15 Paul Williams (Sale Sharks), 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau (London Irish), 13 George Pisi (ASM Clermont Ferrand), 12 Seilala Mapusua (Ricoh), 11 Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester), 10 Tusi Pisi (Suntory), 9 Kahn Fotuali’i (Crusaders), 8 George Stowers (Ospreys), 7 Maurie Fa’asavalu (Harlequins), 6 Taisina Tuifu’a (Counties,), 5 Daniel Leo (Bordeaux Begles), 4 Kane Thompson (Hawkes Bay), 3 Anthony Perenise (Hurricanes), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Highlanders, captain), 1 Sakaria Taulafo (Wasps).
Replacements: 16 Ti’i Paulo (ASM Clermont Ferrand), 17 Census Johnston (Hawkes Bay/Toulouse), 18 Filipo Lavea Levi (Free Agent), 19 Manaia Salavea (Narbonne, Samoa)’ 20 Brenton Helleur (North Harbour), 21 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu (Gloucester), 22 James So’oialo (Wellington).
Date: Sunday, July 17
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 14.00 AEST (04.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
