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Samoa ring the changes for crunch Pacific Nations Cup match vs Tonga
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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
