News

Samoa announce squad for NZ

Thursday 28th August 2008

Samoan charger: Lock Filipo Levi

Manu Samoa coach Lepale Niko Palamo has named a severely weakened squad to play against the All Blacks next Wednesday in New Plymouth.

The squad is without the vast majority of Samoa's overseas' based players and face the unenviable task of clashing with an All Blacks side in full Tri-Nations swing.

Palamo's team has at least been bolstered by the inclusion of three Japan-based professional players, lock Filipo Levi, and loose forwards Semo Sititi and George Stowers.

With UK and French clubs not obliged, and unwilling to release players for the hastily-arranged encounter that falls outside the International Rugby Board (IRB) window for Test matches, the Samoan team features just one player based in Europe - Exeter Chiefs lock Chad Slade.

There are also three New Zealand-based players - hooker Simon Lemalu (Counties Manukau), veteran Auckland scrum-half Junior Polu'uliuligaga and centre Romi Ropati (a team-mate of Lemalu at Counties Manukau).

The rest of the 24-man squad, which also features Sevens star Uale Mai, consists of Samoan-based players.

Meanwhile, Samoan officials have again urged the New Zealand Rugby Union to finally send the All Blacks on a tour of the Pacific Island.

The All Blacks have never sent a team to play in Samoa and next Wednesday's game will be just the sixth ever Test between the nations.

Samoan Rugby Union (SRU) Chief Executive Peter Schuster said he hoped that next year things would be different.

He added the SRU had pushed unsuccessfully for the match, a warm-up for New Zealand ahead of the Tri-Nations decider against Australian 10 days later, to be played in Apia, Samoa.

"New Zealand had already made that commitment, on where to have it and so on," Schuster told Yahoo!Xtra.

"We gave in to New Zealand, but hopefully to reciprocate, they would come and play in Samoa before the Tri-Nations next year. That would be great.

"It would really sell the stadium, help us with our gates. And it would be good for people to come to Samoa for holidays. Everyone could have a good week.

"We would very much appreciate it if we could have the next one in Samoa. We would always like to have a game against New Zealand. And what we are looking at is having the opportunity for New Zealand to come to Samoa, at a time when everyone is available. It is history in the making."

Samoa:
Hookers: Loleni Tafunai (Apia, Samoa), Simon Lemalu (Counties Manukau)
Props: Heroshi Tea (Apia, Samoa), Lafoga Aoelua (Apia, Samoa), Roysiu Tolufale (A'ana, Samoa)
Locks: Filipo Levi (Ricoh, Japan), Chad Slade (Exeter Chiefs/UK), Maselino Paulino (Tuamasaga, Samoa)
Loose forwards: Simaika Mikaele (Apia, Samoa), Semo Sititi (Docomo, Japan), Alafoti Faosiliva (Apia, Samoa), George Stowers (Kobe, Japan), Misioka Timoteo (Apia, Samoa)
Scrum-halves: Notise Tauafao (Apia, Samoa), Junior Polu'uliuligaga (Auckland, NZ)
Fly-halves: Uale Mai (Apia, Samoa), Roger Warren (Apia, Samoa)
Centres: Jerry Meafou (Tuamasaga, Samoa), Pale Toelupe (Apia, Samoa), Romi Ropati (Counties Manukau, NZ), Gasolo Salima (Apia, Samoa)
Wings: Esera Lauina (Apia, Samoa), Reupena Levasa (Apia, Samoa)
Full-back: Alatasi Tupou (Apia, Samoa)