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Nasi Manu to captain Tonga in first match back from cancer battle
Nasi Manu will add another chapter to his remarkable recovery from testicular cancer after being named captain of Tonga in his first match back in test rugby against Samoa this weekend.
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The 30-year-old loose forward hasn’t played internationally since being diagnosed with the illness towards the end of last year, with his last appearance for the ‘Ikale Tahi coming against Fiji last June.
He consequently missed Benetton Treviso’s entire Pro14 campaign last season while undergoing chemotherapy treatment, but has since been named in Toutai Kefu’s 31-man Tonga squad for the Pacific Nations Cup, and will skipper the side in this weekend’s opener in Apia.
The opportunity to lead his nation comes as a result of regular captains Siate Piutau and Sonetane Takulua being absent from the team.
Their omissions means Manu will be in charge of an inexperienced lineup, which features three debutants in the starting side, including Scarlets-bound Hurricanes lock Sam Lousi, who has recovered from a pectoral injury which has sidelined him since February.
First-five James Faiva, who plies his trade for SilverStorm El Salvador in the Division de Honor in Spain, and Australian-born Stade Francais midfielder Malietoa Hingano, a squad replacement for Fetuli Paea, will join Lousi in making their first international appearances.
A further two newbies could earn their first caps from the bench, with Bayonne prop Toma Taufa and Auckland midfielder Otumaka Mausia included in the match day squad.
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Those new faces will be accompanied by some familiar names, such as Racing 92 prop Ben Tameifuna, Castres loose forward Maama Vaipulu, and Bath utility back Cooper Vuna.
The Pacific Nations Cup opener at Apia Park marks the first match of 2019 for both Tonga and Samoa in the lead-up to the World Cup in two months’ time.
Following Saturday’s clash, Tonga will go on to face Japan in Osaka and Canada in Lautoka in consecutive weeks, before playing Fiji at Eden Park in Auckland as part of the Pasifika Challenge II on August 31.
A week after that, they take on the All Blacks at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton in their final warm-up match ahead of the World Cup, which kicks off for them against England in Sapporo on September 22.
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Tonga team to face Samoa:
1. Paea Fa’anunu, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Leva Fifita, 5. Sam Lousi*, 6. Onehunga Havili, 7. Maama Vaipulu, 8. Nasi Manu (c), 9. Samisoni Fisilau, 10. James Faiva*, 11. Viliame Lolohea, 12. Cooper Vuna, 13. Malietoa Hingano*, 14. David Halaifonua, 15. Nafi Tuitavake.
Reserves:
16. Sefo Sakalia, 17. Toma Taufa*, 18. Ma’afu Fia, 19. Zane Kapeli, 20. Fotu Lokotui, 21. Sione Vailanu, 22. Leon Fukofuka, 23. Otumaka Mausia*.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments