England's World Cup pool is about to get a whole lot tougher
England’s bid for Rugby World Cup glory in France next year is about to become tougher with Samoa aiming to add former All Blacks Lima Sopoaga and Steve Luatua to their Pacific Nations Cup winning squad, although including 103 cap Ma’a Nonu looks unlikely.
Head coach Seilala Mapusua has revealed his plans to RugbyPass as he plots his nation’s challenge in France in 2023 where they are in Pool D with England, Argentina, Japan, and Chile.
Mapusua hopes to have Bristol’s Luatua and Sopoaga, the former Highlanders and Wasps outside half who is now with Lyon in France, available for their November tests which see the Pacific Islands nation take on Italy, Georgia and Romania.
Many Samoan fans would also like to see 40-years-old All Blacks legend Nonu drafted in but Mapusua said: “Ma’a Nonu has been on Samoa’s wish list for about 20 years but he is now 40 years old and we have some great mid-fielders coming through and it is about enhancing what we have started.”
Having beaten hosts Fiji, Tonga and Australia A to win the PNC, Mapusua is eager to test his players against Tier 1 nations but has to be content with just one fixture against Italy who are currently World ranked No14 which puts them three places below Samoa.
The Samoan squad flew under the radar at the PNC as attention was focused on Tonga who were featuring Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malaki Fekitoa who had all switched countries following World Rugby’s new qualification criteria that allows a player to play for another country – if he satisfies the criteria – having not played international rugby for three years.
Sopoaga won the last of his 16 All Blacks caps in 2017 while Luatua won his 15th cap for New Zealand in 2016 against Italy and they would join a Samoa squad that already includes recent arrivals Fritz Lee, who has enjoyed stellar career with Clermont Auvergne and former New Zealand U20 cap Jordan Taufua who plays at Lyon.
The squad has been bolstered by the inclusion of players now part of the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacific squad which has ensured the step up to test rugby is not so daunting.
Adding Sopoaga and Luatua is the next step for Mapusua in his bid to change perceptions about Samoa and make them a viable option for dual-qualified players, particularly in New Zealand. The 33 times capped former Samoa centre told RugbyPass: “Steven Luatua would be a great acquisition for us and it will be a good problem to have him, Fritz Lee, Jordan Taufua, Henry Stowers all available with the guys who are already important members of our squad.
“Lima is a possibility as well and it is about working with the guys who have a genuine desire to be part of the squad. It is not just about throwing ex-All Blacks in there when they are eligible.
“Jordan was always eligible for Samoa and last year he was injured and it was great to finally get him on the pitch. We also have Fritz Lee from Clermont and having those two with their vast experience was awesome because they are class players and with the eligibility changes doesn’t mean everything changes overnight but there are a few more I am speaking to that will be if fit and ready and we will see them in November.”
Mapusua’s aim is to make Samoa the first choice for young qualified players and he believes getting Moana Pasifika into the Super Rugby Pacific tournament has been key to helping win the PNC in Fiji.
He added: “We wouldn’t have gone to Fiji if we didn’t think we could have won the Cup. The key for us was that it would have to be a squad effort to win it and we knew that there was a lot of talk about Tonga and Fiji and that Australia A would be tough and had to make the belief was there for us. We pulled tight really early and got the boys to understand their purpose and it narrow our focus and build into the games.
“The boys are in much better condition than we have been in the past thanks to Moana Pasifika and while that first season was always going to be tough for them having seven months as a professional player and living and breathing that was massive for us. The players weren’t coming straight from club rugby to test rugby and it allowed us to spend less time getting the boys to catch up and more time on how we wanted to play.
“We have tests in November with Italy, Georgia and Romania and between now and the World Cup our only Tier One match is with Italy which is frustrating. We would love a few harder games and we are trying to organise some outside the test windows but bringing all our guys together is tough. I can only focus on how to keep improving our squad.
“The only way to change perceptions about Samoa is through our results and one of the key areas since I took this role was to create something players want to be part of. Pulling on heartstrings, making themselves available for Samoa – I want every eligible player to choose the blue jersey. I hope we are on that pathway where boys chose to represent Samoa before any other country.”
Having won the PNC while New Zealand lost a home test series to Ireland suggests Mapusua could offer under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster a few tips about winning international matches. “I am still contacting him for advice and I haven’t been in the coaching game long enough to give anyone advice. I am just happy to keep learning.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments