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Almost four years after representing the Wallabies at the 2019 World Cup, Christian Leali’ifano looks set to appear in his second straight tournament later this year.
But it won’t be with Eddie Jones’ Wallabies, but Samoa.
The 35-year-old, who was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2016 and missed almost a year of action on the field, revealed he is set to gain approval to play for Samoa at the World Cup after World Rugby changed its eligibility laws on January 1, 2022.
“I think I’m close. I think we’re just waiting on the form or the documents. I’m not too sure but I think it’s been signed off,” Leali’ifano told reporters following Moana Pasifika’s upset win over the Waratahs on Saturday.
“You’ve still got to get picked but to have the opportunity or to be available is nice. To try to get in there will be good.
“I think it’s looking pretty positive and we’ll just wait and see.”
Leali’ifano rewound the clock on Saturday night, as he put on a masterclass against his great rivals.
Years after pulling the strings for the Brumbies, Leali’ifano’s well-taken try midway through the second half at Allianz Stadium put the cherry on top of their drought-breaking win.
The playmaker, who pulled on the gold jersey, showed more than enough pace as he sliced through the Waratahs’ defence to score untouched.
“What about the life in the old dog,” Morgan Turinui said in commentary for Stan.
“Don’t worry about him. The speed’s in his brain, ball in two hands waving the wand.”
His starring role in Moana Pasifika’s final match of the season also gave Leali’ifano the confidence he wouldn’t just be making up the numbers by putting his hand up for selection.
“As a whole, I think it will be really, really special just to be able to represent my family and my blood,” he said.
“Then I guess footy wise hopefully it will be a bit of an experience and some quality footy. I don’t want to just be a token selection because I’m available.
“I want to be playing some high quality footy because it’s not an easy tournament, a World Cup and all those kind of things.
“So hopefully I could provide a bit of that, a bit of leadership and a bit of experience.”
Having made his debut for the Wallabies against the Lions in 2013, World Cup selection would also bookend a phenomenal career that has seen one of rugby’s most respected figures ride the highs and lows of life.
Asked whether he could have imagined the possibility of putting on the blue Samoan jersey at a World Cup, Leali’ifano acknowledged it wouldn’t have entered his wildest dreams.
“Absolutely. Every day is a blessing so I’m just so thankful to be still running around. Ten years ago you could never think, because you were playing for the Wallabies and all that and you were aspiring to play there, and to have these laws and eligibility opportunities is pretty cool,” he said.
“And I guess it’s exciting for the next generation coming through too, that they can aspire to not only play for tier-one nations but tier-two as well and you can sort of jump over if you like.”