23 - 17

24 - 10

33 - 31

25 - 23

35 - 26

35 - 31

24 - 20

45 - 14

24 - 20

17 - 21

42 - 17

Tomorrow

05:30

Tomorrow

05:30

Tomorrow

06:00

Tomorrow

07:00

Tomorrow

07:00

Tomorrow

07:00

Tomorrow

07:05

Tomorrow

07:35

Tomorrow

07:35

Tomorrow

07:35

Tomorrow

07:35

Tomorrow

08:00

Tomorrow

09:30

Tomorrow

10:00

Tomorrow

11:45

Tomorrow

12:00

Sunday

07:00

Sunday

12:05

Pacific Nations Cup

Melani Nanai named for Manu Samoa debut against Japan

By Ned Lester

12 Sep 2024

Melani Nanai in action for the Blues. Photo credit: Getty Images.

Manu Samoa are up against the Pacific Nations Cup playoff hosts in Tokyo and have named a side eager to take that challenge in their stride.

Head coach Mase Mahonri Schwalger will celebrate his 46th birthday on game day and has called upon two uncapped players for the contest, including former Super Rugby star Melani Nanai and former Sevens speedster Elisapeta Alofipo.

Rodney Iona comes into the No. 10 jersey after coming off the bench in the win over Tonga, joined by Lalomilo Lalamilo in the No. 13 jersey.

The front row sees one change in the form of Marco Fepuleai, who comes in for Tietie Tuimauga. Tomasi Alosio replaces Afa Moleli at fullback.

Manu Samoa team to face Japan

1. Aki Seiuli

2. Sama Malolo

3. Marco Fepuleai

4. Ben Nee Nee

5. Samuel Slade

6. Theo McFarland

7. Izaiha Moore-Aiono

8. Iakopo Petelo-Mapu

9. Melani Matavao

10. Rodney Iona

11. Elisapeta Alofipo

12. Alapati Leiua

13. Lalomilo Lalamilo

14. Tuna Tuitama

15. Tomasi Alosio

Substitutes

16. Luteru Tolai

17. Andrew Tuala

18. Brook Toomalatai

19. Michael Curry

20. Murphy Taramai

21. Danny Tusitala

22. Afa Moleli

23. Melani Nanai

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

The departures of Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake has only fuelled the sense of anger and uncertainty over the future of Ospreys.

LONG READ

How Glasgow found the bleu-print for beating Toulouse

Extreme precision at the ruck allowed Glasgow to remove the jackaling juggernauts from the Toulouse arsenal.

LONG READ

Josh Macleod: Scarlets captain 'cracking on' as D-day looms for his region

With one Welsh region set to be culled, the four sides do battle over the festive period with their very futures at stake.

Comments on RugbyPass

Jen 45 minutes ago

Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

HAH. I’m not sure but certainly worth some digging, just in case. 😆

10 Go to comments

JW 53 minutes ago

Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

One of our Lomax relatives Jen? Eligible for the All Blacks? :D

10 Go to comments

ED 1 hour ago

Leinster vs Ulster | Ulster vs Leinster | United Rugby Championship Live

12-17….waiting for Ryans card……Yellow oof

1 Go to comments

Hellhound 1 hour ago

Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2025 | Best Rugby Player in the World | RugbyPass

That is a scary looking team yes

100 Go to comments

Hellhound 2 hours ago

Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Now you are just being a woke, jealous fool. With the way things are run in NZ, no wonder he couldn't make a success there. Now that he is out shining any other New Zealanders, including their star players, now he is bitter and resentful and all sorts of hate speeches against him. That is what the fans like you do. Those in NZ who does have enough sense not to let pride cloud their vision, is all saying the same thing. NZ needs TB. Razor was made out to be a rugby coaching God by the fans, so much so that Foz was treated like the worst piece of shitte. Especially after the Twickenham disaster right before the WC. Ad then he nearly won the WC too with 14 players. As a Saffa the way he handled the media and the pressure leading up to the WC, was just extraordinary and I have gained a lot of respect for that man. Now your so called rugby coaching God managed to lose by an even bigger margin, IN NZ. All Razor does is overplay his players and he will never get the best out of those players, and let's face it, the current crop is good enough to be the best. However, they need an coach they can believe in completely. I don't think the players have bought into his coaching gig. TB was lucky to shake the dust of his boots when he left NZ, because only when he did that, did his career go from strength to strength. He got a WC medal to his name. Might get another if the Boks can keep up the good work. New exciting young talent is set to join soon after the WC as dangerous as SFM and Kolbe. Trust me, he doesn't want the AB's job. He is very happy in SA with the Boks. We score, you lose a great coach. We know quality when we see it, we don't chuck it in the bin like NZRU likes to do. Your coaching God is hanging on by a thread to keep his job🤣🤣🤣🤣

38 Go to comments

Jen 2 hours ago

Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

I think he means Zac Lomax, an NRL winger, who is reported to be looking to switch codes.

10 Go to comments

cw 2 hours ago

Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

Simplify. Stop trying to be the smartest in the room. That’s been taken.

Play to our strengths. Simple direct ball in hand rugby at speed.

...

11 Go to comments

Kashmir Pete 2 hours ago

Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

Great article John,

Appreciate optimism you provide. Will be delighted if Wallabies simply make semis of our home WRC, and what your article brings for me, is that is very much doable.

...

10 Go to comments

Hammer Head 2 hours ago

Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Tony Brown is better off at the Boks. And in the long run, if NZ Rugby can get their house in order enough for their to be good enough reason for him getting into the AB setup, the ABs will better for it.

The last four years and next two years buggering around in the wilderness with NZRU would be a waste of his talents and valuable career years and experience actually achieving results.

...

38 Go to comments

Hellhound 2 hours ago

Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Tony is already revered by the SA fans. His influence is as integral as Rassie’s in the team. He may be from NZ, but his blood is green. Long may he stay with the Boks, and with Rassie signing to 2031, it's more than likely that Tony will also resign when his contract is up. What coach wouldn't? The talent he get to work with, the coaching setup that is shared and not a dictatorship, the freedom to express himself. He got everything he wants. I can't see him leaving the Bok setup soon.

38 Go to comments

SB 2 hours ago

Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

Only by ranking. Don’t forget a lot of work was done prior to Razor taking over for them to be there now. It’s highly debatable that the All Blacks are the second best side in the world at the moment, particularly with the way they were turned over by England.

11 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

He’s back in Super isn’t he?

10 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

What’s this?

10 Go to comments

SB 2 hours ago

High-flying Stormers suffer Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu injury blow

Perhaps he was having too much fun.

1 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

That is a list with serious experience and rich form that is missing from this crew, who will undertake the cathartic task of reviewing what was ultimately a disappointing 2025 season ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship Cup games in July.

You hope at least that next year (World Cup year) overseas Wallaby players will be interested enough to tell their clubs they are attending camp.

...

10 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

Springboks rule the skies as access law leads to more kicking

Well, a couple of things. NZRU is not an entity this topic relates to, and the only national team I notice a problem with attackers “getting upto speed” is the All Blacks, I’d think every other team doesn’t have so much of a problem. That is also reflected at the level below.

So while I think the change would be good for a country like New Zealand, and those consequences you list aren’t favorable, no, I don’t think you interpretation makes more sense than mine.

...

36 Go to comments

Hellhound 3 hours ago

Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

That doesn't sound bitter. Go and watch that episode. The truth always hurt. He is saying what others are too scared to. How many times on this same forum have NZ fans complained about exactly that? Numerous times. You are right, the way they handled Foz, there couldn't be any other outcome, but then, the NZRU have proven time and time again that they are useless

38 Go to comments

JW 3 hours ago

Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

What are you talking about HH? Do you think I should be more critical of Pat Lam not being across the situation instead of making light excuses for him?

Personally I don’t blame him for not being aware of the facts given the current media, so thats going to be the tone I take reporting on it.

...

38 Go to comments

Andrew Nichols 3 hours ago

Whitney Hansen: 'The biggest thing I learned' from iconic mentors

Now the first thing you have to do us to go find big women instead of tiddlers the size of Brad Webber to build a forward pack that will own imternational womens rugby..not just Australia. 15s is not 7s with extra players.

1 Go to comments

Hellhound 3 hours ago

Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

You have NEVER been involved with NZRU, yet you claim to know better than those who were and knows galaxies more than you. Maybe you should be the one to shut up.

38 Go to comments

Melani Nanai named for Manu Samoa debut against Japan

{{item.title}}

Comments

Latest Long Reads

'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

How Glasgow found the bleu-print for beating Toulouse

Josh Macleod: Scarlets captain 'cracking on' as D-day looms for his region

Comments on RugbyPass

Search

Melani Nanai named for Manu Samoa debut against Japan

Related

Fiji tweak starting XV for semi-final against USA

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Fissler Confidential: Bears' fight to keep LRZ, England star on the move

Sale Sharks' latest accounts make for grim reading

Hollie Davidson to make yet more history at the 2026 Six Nations

'Huge impact': Owen Farrell's 'stern' talk with 'moping' Noah Caluori

Sione Fukofuka named new Scotland head coach

All Blacks: Five possible targets for the vacant assistant coach role

England and Sale Sharks come to the same conclusion over George Ford

'He is the most respected individual I've ever seen inside the All Blacks'

Comments

Latest Long Reads

'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

How Glasgow found the bleu-print for beating Toulouse

Josh Macleod: Scarlets captain 'cracking on' as D-day looms for his region

Comments on RugbyPass

Search