This June, most of rugby’s attention will be down under in Australia, but let’s not forget that there are international rugby Tests being played all around the world.
I am a Wallabies supporter but am also a devout Manu Samoa supporter and I am definitely anticipating both the British and Irish Lions and Samoa’s upcoming tournament in South Africa.
Samoa have included just two locally-based players, Robert Lilomaiava and Fa’alemiga Selesele, within the squad, with the rest of the players hailing from Europe, Japan and New Zealand.
With the likes of experienced campaigners Census Johnston, Kahn Fotuali’i, Taiasina Tuifua and Maurie Fa’asavalui, Samoa definitely look primed to make some more noise in the international rugby arena.
Six uncapped players have also been named in Manu Leiatua, Jack Lam, Auvasa Faleali’i, Isaia Tuifua, Brando Va’aulu and Alapati Leiua.
A further two players are still yet to be named (loose forward and winger) as well as a captain, rumored to be former Manu Samoa captain and Worcestor Warriors flyer David Lemi.
Samoa will be involved in a four-team tournament which also includes hosts South Africa, Italy and Scotland.
Samoan squad to tour South Africa:
Fowards: Tii Paulo (Clermont – France), Wayne Ole Avei (Bordeaux – France), Manu Leiataua (North Harbour – New Zealand), Census Johnston (Toulouse – France), Logovii Mulipola (Leicester Tigers – England), Sakaria Taulafo (London Wasps – England), James Johnston (Harlequins – England), Kane Thompson (Canon Eagles – Japan), Iosefa Tekori (Castres – France), Daniel Leo (Perpignan – France), Teofilo Paulo (Cardiff Blues – Wales), Taiasina Tuifua (Newcastle Falcons – England), Alafoti Faosiliva (Bristol – England), Ofisa Treviranus (London Irish – England), Jack Lam ( Wellington Hurricanes – New Zealand), Maurie Faasavalu (Harlequins – England), Faalemiga Selesele (Moata’a – Samoa)
Backs: Kahn Fotualii (Ospreys – Wales), Jeremy Sua (Crusaders – New Zealand), Auvasa Falealii (Warahtahs – Australia), Tusiata Pisi (Wellington Hurricanes – New Zealand), Ki Anufe (Marist Auckland – New Zealand), George Pisi (Northampton Saints – England), Johnny Leota (Sale Sharks – England), Isaia Tuifua (Vigo – Spain), Brandon Vaaulu (Tokyo Gas – Japan), Alesana Tuilagi (NTT Shining Arcs – Japan), Alapati Leiua (Wellington Hurricanes – New Zealand), Robert Lilomaiava (Vaiala – Samoa), Paul Williams (Stade Francais – France), James Sooialo (Connacht – Ireland)
Tour fixtures:
Saturday, June 8 (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit): Scotland v Samoa; Springboks v Italy
Saturday, June 15 (Mr Price Kings Park, Durban): Samoa v Italy; Springboks v Scotland
Saturday, June 22 (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria): Team 3 v Team 4 ; Team 1 v Team 2
Do you like this tournament format? What do you think of the selections? And what do you think of Samoa’s chances against some quality outfits this coming June?
Devine
Guest
Dnt knw why IRB makes thngs hard fr Samoa m not a fan of ALL BLACKS. OR RSA H8 dze teams. Never waste my time to watch them. In refs..RSA hve all the top and good wun
Evening David, will not ever agree with you on that. Hard yes, uncompromising yes, one of the dirtiest, no chance.
mania
Guest
no way david, totally disagree with you there. burger is a machine and terminator like but deliberately dirty, no. boks would be better without him? no way. boks are a shadow of themselves when burger isnt leading the way
David Lord
Expert
Evening BB, Burger is one of the dirtiest rugby internationals I've ever seen, even his opponents agree. The Boks would be better off without him.
Jerry, you're supposed to go for the ball(s) Without it you can't play rugby. ;)
mania
Guest
jerry - i didnt say he was a saint
mania
Guest
biltongbek - these kids were great last night. i told them where to hit the ball and explained the theory and application of the "sweet spot". obviously that marked area on your sons ball. (i'm soo going to go looking for a percyMontgomery ball. how simple is it to mark it out ? brilliant!) i explained that every ball has a sweet spot and if u can connect with that sweet spot with the top of your laces then it will make a special sound. well how happy was i to hear that special "thunk" each time they kicked it. the piggies where loving it the most and got better the quickest. u must point out your son when he runs out for the boks
Jerry
Guest
I do recall George Smith accusing Burger of going for the balls, so it's not a completely isolated incident.
That's great to hear mate, my son's team won last weeks match 41-0, so they are not 92-0 for the season. And talking about kicking their fullback a little skinny boy is their goal kicker, last year he didn't make one kick, the first matc he converted 3/9 and this past weeks he converted 3/7, so he is slowly getting better :) My boy takes his rugby ball to school every day (it is a Percy Montgomery ball, with marked hand placements and marked ares where you must strike it with your foot, for the different types of kicks) but sadly they aren't allowed to kick ball at school anymore, don't know why though. Anyway for the youngsters see if you can find somethng similar, it works.
mania
Guest
totally agree biltongbek - u wont get an argument from me. burger is the epitome of honour. that one incident aside he has played with pride and integrity. burger isnt a thug and is far more interested in winning the game than bullying players off the ball. burger has loads of character and is someone i point out to the kids i used to coach as an example of someone who never takes a step back. ps- offtopic but...i'm not coaching at the moment but i had to step in last night and take my sons under 8's team for training. i took them through somefitness, passing, tackling, running and finally kicking drills. u shoulda seen their eyes light up when i said we'd practise our kicking, especially the piggies who had never been taken thru kicking drills before. they had a great time and didnt want the training to end.
Mania think back from that day in 2009, he was never cited again. That tells me the character of the man, he realised he lost control and since then have focused on staying in control.
mania
Guest
i'd like to think like that biltongbek. burger is one of my favourite all time players. he's hard, strong and intelligent. he works on his craft, evolves, shows he can learn and constantly improves himself. i'm just going on the footage and it looked bad. but i would like to believe that burger is a better person than that and he wasnt going for the eye.
No mate, premeditated is criminal, you are suggesting he planned to gouge Fitzpatric, that is simply judgemental. Deiberate is debatable, Schalk is a hard player, he gives no quarter, I have a very vivid pictrue of that incident in my mind, and I agree it looks bad, but I do not believe he was deliberately trying to take an eye out. But then our opinions on this aren't going to match.
mania
Guest
biltongbek - i'm not talking about the outcome of the judiciary, i'm talking about what i saw. and what i saw was pretty blatant. reckless suggests a lack of control or hints at it being accidental. what burger did was premeditated and deliberate...or thats how it looked to me.
Mania he was found guuilty of recklessness. I understand where you are coming from, but it isn't the same thing.
mania
Guest
biltongbek - burger is one of my favourite players but there is no way u could call that eyeGouge alleged. it was pretty blatant and i was really disapointed in burger that he sunk to such a low. still he's a great player that just did something stupid and i'm still looking forward to his return.
Jerry
Guest
Just to clarify, this physical hammering is the same match that featured Brussow flopping onto the ground like a soccer player?
mania
Guest
bokboybullblue - yes and maybe samoa should bite and eye gouge more to even up the playing field. show some respect chump. boks are a great side but one day they will be humbled. all it will take is a bit of time and a good ref. love your attitude tho, i smell ambush a coming
bokboybullblue
Guest
the same organisation that appointed the NZ ref in the bok game against Australia?
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
bokboybullblue perhaps if they were given a full international schedule by the IRB like South Africa, they were allowed the same training time as South Africa instead of having rich clubs refuse to release their players, they didn't lose talent to other countries overseas, and they didn't have biased referees appointed to knock them out of tournaments as the Welsh appointing official appointed a Welsh referee to knock Samoa out by unfairly refereeing them in the RWC pool matches so they couldn't take Wales' quarter-finals place. Even the unpleasant triumphalim of your post is meaningless in the context one nation that is given every advantage by a governing body that does everything to weaken another.