Samoa has named a 26-man squad heavy with overseas-based players for next week’s one-off rugby union Test against New Zealand in Apia.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegao, who is also chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union, announced the squad in the Samoan capital on Tuesday.
The match lineup has yet to be confirmed, but London Irish flanker Ofisa Treviranus was named earlier this week as captain and is likely to combine in an experienced backrow with France-based double international Maurie Fa’asavalu and Bristol No. 8 Jack Lam. Fa’asavalu played rugby league for Great Britain before joining London-based Harlequins in 2010.
Photo: AFP
The Samoa squad is drawn from players based in England, France, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, highlighting the extent of the Samoan rugby diaspora.
At least 24 of the 26-man Samoa squad are permanently based overseas. Among the forwards, hooker Wayne Ole Avei plays in France for Bordeaux-Begles, while of the props, Viliamu Afatia is at Agen, Census Johnston at Toulouse, Anthony Perenise at Bristol and Sakaria Taulafo at Stade Francais.
Lock Kane Thompson is with Newcastle in England, while among his fellow second rowers, Teofilo Paulo is with the Cardiff Blues and Iosefa “Joe” Tekori with Toulouse.
Tusiata Pisi, who is likely to start at flyhalf, is based in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath and might combine with scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali’i, who plays at Northampton.
Fullback Tim Nanai-Williams plays for the Hamilton-based Waikato Chiefs in Super Rugby, while, of the wingers named yesterday, Alofa Alofa is with La Rochelle in France, Ken Pisi is with Northampton and Alesana Tuilagi — brother of England center Manu Tuilagi — is at Newcastle.
The broad professional experience should make the team competitive in Samoa’s first-ever home Test against the All Blacks.
“In the forwards alone it’s a big challenge for us as it’s an opportunity, a one-off opportunity to play against the best,” Fa’asavalu said.
The Samoa players have been in camp for some time preparing for the Test on Wednesday next week.
“It’s about every player gelling together ... getting our plays right and the little things that help us make the improvement,” Fa’asavalu said.
New Zealand were also yet to name their match lineup.
Other players in the Samoa squad are: Ma’atulimanu Leiataua, Fa’atiga Lemalu, Alafoti Faosiliva, T.J. Ioane, Peleifofoga Cowley, Michael Stanley, Johnny Leota, Paul Perez and Ah See Tuala.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
RSS