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Radike Samo won the Super 12 with the Brumbies in 2001 and 2004, as well as the most recent Super Rugby competition with the Queensland Reds.
He had a bit of a chance at number 7 for the Wallabies in 2004, when he was replacing the great George Smith.
Despite this, Samo was wreaking havoc in the second row for the Brumbies, with the strength of a lock, but the pace and handling skills of a winger.
As well as this, he is, by all accounts, a good bloke, and his hair is second to none.
Following 2004, he left Australia for a successful career in France and England. I’m sure that he had his reasons for this, but imagine what the Wallabies would have been like had he stuck around?
He was good enough to start most of the Tri Nations matches in 2011, so it makes sense to think that he was good enough to do this when he was playing overseas. I can’t help but feel that the years of 2005 -2011 would have been better with a Samo in the side.
Surely, in his prime, he was a better option than for second row than, for example, Mark Chisolm, a man with 50 Wallabies caps; certainly a better player than the overhyped Wycliff Palu, or other players of around that era like Hoiles, Fava or Lyons.
It’s a shame he has only a dozen Wallaby caps when, with a bit of extra love, he could have been a solid part of the squad for the last seven years.
As it is, he’ll have to live with a Tri Nations winners medal, winner of both Super 12 and Super 15 competitions, French Championships and a ‘Try of The Year’ for his pelt through Kiwis last year.
It could be worse, I suppose.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.