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Samoa ring the changes for crunch Pacific Nations Cup match vs Tonga
By Jon Newcombe
Head coach Mahonri Schwalger has made six personnel changes and one positional to last weekend’s starting XV as Samoa look to sign off their centennial celebrations as a test-playing nation with a victory against Tonga.
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Samoa, who are defending a 44-year unbeaten record against Tonga at Apia Park, need to win to keep their Pacific Nations Cup title hopes alive after they were beaten 42-16 by Fiji in the competition’s curtain raiser.
The four changes to the pack include a first Test start for New Zealand club player, No.8 Iakopo Petelo Mapu.
Hooker Sama Malolo and tight-head Tietie Tuimauga are the new additions to the front row and Izaiha Moore-Aiono comes into the XV at openside.
Pacific Nations Cup
Pool A
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Fiji
1
1
0
0
5
2
Tonga
0
0
0
0
0
3
Samoa
1
0
1
0
0
Pool B
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Japan
1
1
0
0
5
2
Canada
1
0
1
0
1
3
USA
0
0
0
0
0
In the backs, Afa Moleli is promoted from the bench to play full-back, which results in Tomasi Alosio shifting to the left wing, while the other change comes at outside-centre, where Stacey Ili is preferred to last week’s debutant, Lalomilo Lalomilo. Lalomilo has to settle for a place on the bench.
Former Brumbies fly-half, Rodney Iona, now with NOLA Gold in the MLR, returns to test rugby nearly two years after his last appearance, a 49-17 defeat to Italy in November 2022.
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The recently-turned 33-year-old will win just his eighth cap if he comes on, having made his debut in 2018.
SAMOA:
1. Aki Seiuli
2. Sama Malolo
3. Tietie Tuimauga
4. Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee
5. Samuel Slade
6. Theo McFarland (capt)
7. Izaiha Moore-Aiono
8. Iakopo Petelo Mapu
9. Melani Matavao
10. Alai D’Angelo Leuila
11. Tomasi Alosio
12. Alapati Leiua
13. Stacey Ili
14. Tuna Tuitama
15. Afa Moleli
Replacements:
16. Luteru Tolai
17. Andrew Tuala
18. Brook Toomalatai
19. Michael Curry
20. Jonah Mau’u
21. Danny Tusitala
22. Rodney Iona
23. Lalomilo Lalomilo
