Manu Samoa team to play Wales

Manu Samoa team to play Wales
Source: eventpolynesia.com

Manu Samoa head coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua has announced Tusiata Pisi to start in its 22-man squad to play Wales in Hamilton in the next few hours. Samoa first five Pisi limbed off with a troubled hamstring in Manu Samoa’s opening match with Namibia last week.

Taiasina Tuifua who has overcome a rib injury is also named but lost his place in the starting side to Maurie Fa’asavalu. The only other change is uncapped Jeremy Su’a in the reserves bench.

1. Sakaria Taulafo
2. Mahonri Schwalger (Captain)
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Kane Thompson
5. Daniel Leo
6. Ofisa Treviranus
7. Maurie Faasavalu
8. George Stowers
9. Kahn Fotuali’i
10. Tusiata Pisi
11. Alesana Tuilagi
12. Seilala Mapusua (vice captain)
13. George Pisi
14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
15. Paul Williams

RESERVES
16. Ti’i Paulo
17. Census Johnston
18. Iosefa Tekori,
19. Taiasina Tuifua
20. Jeremy Su’a
21. Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono
22. Tasesa Lavea

Hulking Samoa sensation Alesana Tuilagi has become the Rugby World Cup's early cult hero after his barnstorming hat-trick on the left wing against Namibia, earning the nickname ‘bulldozer’ from the New Zealand media.

A repeat of last week’s flash mob ‘Le Manu’ dance which saw hundreds of Manu Samoa fans taking over Britomart in Auckland and downtown Wellington and Dunedin before the Namibia game is unlikely today, being Sunday.

Instead the sermons will be short and most Samoan churches in Auckland where 70 percent of Samoans in New Zealand reside will be finishing early for Manu Samoa fans to descend on Hamilton.”

Most Samoan’s in America continue to support the team of their homeland despite America having a team in the rugby world cup.

Su’a Peni Mene serving in Iraq writes, “Go Manu.”

Leota Saipai Adams also writes, “Go Manu from Jacksonville, Florida.”

While Falanai Ala writes from Long Beach, California writes, “Best of luck to the Manu, "Goooo Manu."

Phil Gillford who has reported at every World Cup since 1987 writes in today’s Sunday Star Times, “Samoan heavy hitters a joy to watch’

According to Phil, “In the 1988 Samoa's first tour to Europe, Keneti Sio, a midfielder so fierce his glare could leave bruises, spot tackled an unfortunate Irish fullback, sending him wobbling off the ground.”

“The referee said to Fatialofa. "Could you tell your man not to tackle so hard?" Fatialofa asked if the tackle was fair. Yes, the referee said, it was quite fair, but could Sio tone down the severity?”

“Fatialofa called out, "Hey Keneti, the ref says not to tackle so hard." Sio replied, "Tell the ref I don't speak English."

“In 1991, at Samoa's first World Cup game, I sat in a press box in Cardiff, next to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden, both of us unable to not laugh out loud as poor Welsh players, needing a try to win late in the game, tried to avoid being the man to take the ball up from tap penalties, into what had become the rugby equivalent of a giant shredding machine.”

“Samoa that day introduced a sturdy teenage wing, Brian Lima, later nicknamed the Chiropractor, to the world stage, as well as flanker Apollo Perelini, the Terminator.”

Last night Loau Keneti Sio, Papaliitele Peter Fatialofa, Muliagatele Brian Lima and members of the 1991 and 1995 Manu Samoa team travelled to Hamiton to attend evening prayers with the Manu Samoa team ahead of the ‘RWC trilogy’ against Wales.

Former Manu Samoa captain Papaliitele Peter Fatialofa said, “It was a special and emotional time for everyone as we said farewell. It’s now up to the 2011 Manu Samoa to deliver for country and Samoans around the world.”

Many of the Manu Samoa rugby greats are in Auckland this week to attend a special reunion marking Manu Samoa’s entry to the rugby world cup scene in 1991. Manu Samoa supporters have the opportunity on Monday during cocktail at Guada and dinner on Friday at Manhattan to meet Too Vaega, Sila Vaifale, Mark Birtwistle, Mata’afa Keenan, Danny Kaleopa, Frank Bunce, Stephen Bishop, Saini Lemamea, Fred Tuilagi, Potu Leavasa and the list goes on. Tickets to the two events are available from Haley-Belle Smith on (+649) 263-6540.

© Scoop Media