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Mapusua faces uncertain future as Samoa start new coach search
Lakapi Samoa have advertised for a new Manu Samoa head coach, leaving the future of Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua uncertain. The decision is believed to be based on results at Rugby World Cup 2023 and has been met with some surprise.
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Manu Samoa finished second-from-bottom in the Pool D standings in France with a 43-10 win over Chile their only victory of the campaign.
With the presence of former All Blacks such as Lima Sopoaga and Steven Luatua in their squad, the union felt Manu Samoa had underperformed.
However, their biggest margin of defeat against teams higher than them in the World Rugby men’s rankings was just nine points. The games against Argentina (10-19), Japan (22-28) and England (17-18) could have easily fallen the other way.
Mapusua, who won 41 caps as a player for Manu Samoa, is undecided at the moment about whether to apply for his own job, which was advertised on Facebook on Monday.
When contacted by RugbyPass, Seilala pointed out he was “contracted until the end of 2024 and working still on the programme for this year”.
Mapusua was appointed as Manu Samoa’s head coach in August 2020 and had to wait 10 months before taking charge of his first game because of the pandemic.
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The former London Irish centre, who is 44 next week, won eight of his first 11 Tests in charge leading up to the World Cup and felt progress was being made.
However, Mapusua will be the first to acknowledge that Test rugby is a results-driven business and the union are eager to usher in change before the new-look World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup gets underway in August.
In terms of candidates to replace him, Samoan legend Pat Lam would be a real fans’ favourite. But the former back row forward is on a lucrative, long-term contract at Bristol Bears that runs until the end of the 2027/28 season.
Manu Samoa’s schedule for 2024 has not yet been announced but what is known is that they will face Fiji and Tonga in Pool A at the Pacific Nations Cup. Japan, USA and Canada, meanwhile, will play against each other on a round-robin basis in Pool B.
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All six teams will be involved in a final series in Japan this summer and in the USA in 2025 where the annual champions will be confirmed.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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