Manu Samoa RWC 2011 Campaign

Samoa announce team for Fiji

Samoa announce team for Fiji

Samoa head coach Fuimaono Titimaea Taufua today announced his team with Tusiata Pisi returning to the starting fifteen. A win over Fiji is the least that needs to happen if Samoa is to progress to the quarter-finals. Fiji beating Wales on October 2 is probably the other half of the most likely equation for Samoa to progress.

Earlier this week, members of the Manu Samoa 1991 and 1995 teams that took Samoa to the quarterfinals assembled in Auckland for a week long reunion. To have all of these legends of Samoa rugby come together after twenty years must have been a special moment for their captain Papaliitele Peter Fatialofa who was the co-organiser of the reunion.

Another proud moment was to see Tuifa’asisina Brian Williams who was the 1991 Manu Samoa Technical Advisor wearing his Manu Samoa blazer on the night as the players pay tribute to his current position as president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, host union of the 2011 rugby world cup.

On Tuesday the Manu legends descended on Western Spring where the Manu Samoa team were training to provide encouragement ahead of their must win game; a surprise treat also to the hundreds of faithful Manu Samoa supporters who were there.

Fiji have beaten Samoa 25 of the 44 times the island nations have played each other, but Samoa are two positions higher in the IRB World Rankings, where the teams are 12th and 14th respectively.