1
'It's going a doozy': Picking a favourite for the star-studded Pacific Nations Cup
For the first time since 2019, the Pacific Nations Cup will return to action when the 2022 edition of the competition kicks-off in Fiji next week.
ADVERTISEMENT
With it comes an all-star cast of players who bring with them a level quality and talent not seen in the Pacific Nations Cup since its first iteration in 2006.
That’s because of World Rugby’s new eligibility laws, which have enabled test-capped players who haven’t played international rugby for at least three years to represent a second nation that they are qualified for via birthright.
Those rules came into effect on January 1, meaning the upcoming July international window will be the first time most former test players will have the chance to utilise those laws to represent another country.
Many of those dual-qualified players will feature at the Pacific Nations Cup, with Tonga taking significant advantage of the new rulings when naming their squad for the tournament.
Ex-Wallabies star Israel Folau and former All Blacks duo Charles Piutau and Augustine Pulu were all named in the ‘Ikale Tahi squad after becoming eligible for Tonga under the new rules.
They join former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa and ex-Wallabies utility forward Lopeti Timani in Toutai Kefu’s side after they qualified for Tonga by playing for the country’s sevens team at an Olympic qualifying tournament last year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere, ex-All Blacks midfielder Seta Tamanivalu is one of ten new caps in the Fiji squad, while Samoa have picked Clermont loose forward Fritz Lee, who was previously deemed ineligible after having played for the All Blacks Sevens.
Lee is accompanied by former All Blacks squad member Jordan Taufua in being picked by Manu Samoa for the first time.
The selection of those players has substantially boosted the quality of the Pacific Nations Cup, and that has only been further enhanced by the return of Australia A, a second-tier national side that last featured in the tournament in 2008.
Eight Wallabies have been included in the Australia A side to compete in Fiji, giving the Pacific Nations Cup a sense of intrigue, excitement and competitiveness that has rarely been seen in previous editions of the competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
That much was reflected by former All Blacks hooker James Parsons and ex-Maori All Blacks lock Joe Wheeler, neither of whom were able to pick an outright Pacific Nations Cup title favourite in the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
Parsons suggested Fiji and Australia A might have a slight upper hand due to the cohesion within their respective squads, but the former two-test international refused to rule Samoa and Tonga out of title contention.
“It is going to be a doozy of a competition,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“You look at Seta Tamanivalu coming back for Fiji, and they’ve got such a strong, passionate brand of footy that they really love representing that we’ve sort of seen flow through to the Drua.
“We’ve seen the additions of the Samoan squad and the Tongan squad as well. It’s definitely not a deadest ride. I was actually trying to think who the favourite is. I was struggling to pick one.
“If anything, the one thing the Aussies will have, and the Fijians, is they’ve got a little bit more knowledge of each other. They’ve played together a little bit longer, so that may work in their favour.
“But, man, you look at the lineups of Samoa, and especially Tonga, if that forward pack can provide that front-foot ball for some of those livewires out wide for Tonga, they’ll be a real threat as well.”
Wheeler, meanwhile, made particular note of the potential midfield combinations that Tonga will be able to field.
The five-time Maori All Blacks representative identified Fekitoa, Fetuli Paea – both of whom are former teammates of Wheeler’s at the Highlanders and Tasman, respectively – and Solomone Kata as dangerous defensive threats for the ‘Ikale Tahi.
“They are stacked with talent, all these teams, and it’s going to be a great series,” Wheeler told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“You mentioned that Tonga side, I’ll tell you one place where I wouldn’t be running, and that is down the midfield channel.
“Fetuli Paea, Solomone Kata and Malakai Fekitoa, you are running into boulder shoulders, all of them. That is like a worst nightmare for any football player running into any of those blokes.
“I would absolutely hate that, but, yeah, excitement machines across all of the teams.
“I look at the Samoan side, the continuity that they’ve got, the guys that have been playing together throughout the season, the Fijian side with all those players from the Drua, I just think they’re going to be so competitive across the board.
“You mentioned the eight players, ex-Wallabies, that are in the Australian A side, it’s going a doozy of a series and I think there’s going to be some big hits and some highlight reels, plenty of highlight reels, in that series.”
The Pacific Nations Cup kicks-off next Saturday when Australia A take on Samoa at ANZ National Stadium in Suva at 1pm local time. That match will be followed by a clash between Fiji and Tonga at the same venue at 3:30pm.
The competition will then be taken to Churchill Park in Lautoka, where Samoa will play Tonga and Fiji will host Australia A on July 9, before the competition is finishes with matches between Tonga and Australia A, and then Fiji and Samoa, on July 16.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments