My Selection Samoan Team

The NZSS/Barbarians squads have been named over this past week or so and good player have missed out and good players left behind because you cant take everyone, but I think with all the talent we have here in NZ we could create more higher Rep teams Program. I have always felt that when the NZSS go away to Australia every other year and the Barbarians play other selected sides I dont think they are selected the right way in terms of everyone being included onto the “selection sheet” of players. So as I do all the time, I make up my own Rep teams or give my own opinion on players that were left behind and dont know why they werent selected either. So Im going to share my selections with you of the players not picked up by the Maori Team and also my thoughts on the Samoan and Tongan players we have here.

The Rugby Unions for Samoa and Tonga have not capitalized on the players they have here in NZ and that are coming out of High School. Samoa and Tongan in my mind should be setting up camps and running camp for the players to be brought into their own systems for the next 2 years in their U20’s Program. We all know that Samoan and Tongan players get picked up by NZSS and then onto U20 but what about those that just miss the cut. For me I would pick them up right NOW and say “we are holding a camp for selected Tongan or Samoan what ever Union your apart of and we want to invite you to come” then bring them through our system over the next few years after High School then onto the Pro stage. Now I dont know any kid who has not been picked up in the NZSS and Barbarians who would deny that opportunity. Look at the Samoan U20’s over the past 3 years and how many of them are from NZ, I would say 80% of them were, so for me I would jump into those opportunities as a Rugby Union and get the kids started early in your Rugby System and Program. The Samoan and Tongan Rugby Unions need to work out how they can do that and to keep boys looking at that “Red” or “Blue” Jersey and not the “Black” one through out their Teens and 20’s.

Just so that you know I have thought about this a lot and have done some home work as well, this is how I would organize and fund it. In South Africa, Grey College have brought in French Club Montpellier as a source of income and opportunity for players and it is going to pay off, boys have coaching clinics and another place to look to if South African rugby doesnt pick them up. If you are Samoan or Tongan you know our players are all based overseas and we select mostly from those players. I personally would find 3 Clubs one from each UK, EURO or Asia based to fund the Camps here in NZ for U16,U18 and U20 and they can be the “Feeder Clubs” by which our players to go into their U20 sides but still sign with the Samoan and Tongan Unions to play in our U20’s. Those Clubs will get an up close and personal relationship with our Nations as well with the players coming through if they see them every camp, every year. We know as Samoan’s and Tongans that counting on Island based players wont get us anywhere cause the talent level is to low and there is no money in it for them, the money is not really even in NZ but Europe, Asia and UK, so why not Network with them, right ?

The Reason I say 3 Clubs from different Regions is to spread out players so that that one area doesnt get to many players of the same skill set that they flood that comp and then the next wave become the “norm” and not a weapon, as we see here in NZ all the time. The money side would be great for both Unions and that could lead into Samoa or Tongan U18 and U20 Tours for our Nations if handled right and by business minded people. Our Nations always have money problems within the Unions and as a Proud Samoan that supports “The Manu” after the “AB’s” we know as “Manu” supporters where our Money Problems “LIE” and that’s for another platform to vent on.

These are the selections I have made and I think that my Tongan and Samoan teams would give the Barbarian team a good run and if the 2 Maori teams came together it would be a lot stronger with way more depth BUT this is my Maori selection team anyway.

My Samoan Team Run Down

There are so many boys in this squad that you might even take it for a Barbarians team in itself. There so many Region Rep players in this team and they are class players that I thought would make the NZSS and Barbarian but just missed the cut. I think this team is full of quality players that are specialists in what they do on the field for example Matthew Letoga one of the hardest running No.8’s around and then you have Andrew Viane that was running over everyone at the Top 4. To have a loose trio with guys like that is not something to be taken for granted. Then having and Open side like Xavier English who I thought had a real strong year I think ties it together. I couldnt really decide out of Xavier or Alex Faifailoa but I saw it like the AB’s with Cane and Savea. Xavier get in there do all the hard stuff like Cane and then Alex come on and just be exciting and explosive and score tries all day like Alex did this year. Miracle Lolofie could also be back next year because he is a young Year 13 and he would be such a solid player next year as he was this year. Michael had some bad injuries but I thought closed it out near the end of the season.

I wanted some real power in this back line and having 4 guys that should have been in the NZSS and Barbarians in this Samoan backline is a “Trip”. So look, a Super Star in Lalomilo at Center, JayJay who is very underrated but very creative with the ball and is so strong and unselfish. Patrick Elia who is another guys I would trust with the No.10 Jersey, I really liked Nigel and Albert and so they went on the wings and then Tai at Fullback cause I couldnt leave anyone out. My bench I have Theo who I would play as a halfback and not in the midfield but if you see him run and his foot work I think he would steal a lot of meter from the ruck. Tala and Josh were guys that are just to talented to leave off and offer a team a lot of around skills.

Samoan Team (My Selections, Not Original)

1. Michael Ioane (Palmerston North BHS)
2. Miracle Lolofie (Hastings BHS)
3. Hayes Okesene (Kings College)
4. Braedyn Collins (Rosmini College)
5. Jesse Simi-Tuiala (Papatoetoe High School)
6. Andrew Viane(St Peter’s School
7. Xavier English (St Pats Town)
8. Matthew Letoga (Tokoroa HS)(VC)
9. Malo Manuao (Scots College)
10. Patrick Elia (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
11. Nigel Satherley (Marlborough Boys’ College)
12. JayJay Su’emai (Aorere College)
13. Lalomilo Lalomilo (De La Salle College)(C)
14. Albert Polu (St Pats Silverstream)
15. Tai Neli (Scots College)
16. Bob Letiu (Christchurch BHS)
17. Stanley Paese (St Pats Silverstream)
18. Millenium Saneviri (Kings College)
19. Kalin Felise (St Peter’s College)
20. Alex Faifailoa (Wainuiomata College)
21. Theodore Steffany (St Peters College)
22. Tala Potifara (Manurewa HS)
23. Josh Setu (New Plymouth BHS