Inexperienced Samoa head to Americas Pacific Challenge

Samoa will send a young ‘A’ team with very little international experience to Montevideo to take part in the Americas Pacific Challenge. The squad is comprised entirely of domestic-based players coming from a new regional tournament dubbed the Super 9, which replaced the old national provincial competition. It’s an important step for the country that ensures the best local players face each other on a weekly basis, and one that has seen several young players graduate from the national u20 side to the senior ‘A’ team.

A minimal traveling team of 26 players will attend to be coached by former Manu Samoa lock Potu Leavasa. With capped veterans Patrick Fa’apale and Malu Falaniko late withdrawals from the team along with uncapped forwards Koroseta Veni and Fagu Malloy, only midfielder Kaino Thomsen has any test experience with a solitary cap won as a replacement against Japan in 2014.

In Fa’apale absence the captaincy is handed to returning loose forward Suamalie Tuiletufuga, who will look to keep his team on the front foot with his powerful running game from the back of the scrum. Other forwards returning from 2016 include lock or blindside flanker Mikaele Tapili, who splits his time between Samoa and New Zealand, and flanker pair Lester Sefo and Joshua Fuimaono. Tighthead prop Rodney Tapu and 34-year-old hooker Ripine Fualau are the only players over the age of 24 in the tight five.

Leading the backs will be vice-captain Aukuso Fruean, who is now set to slot in at No 10 with Fa’apale missing out. Thomsen and 20-year-old Tagaloa Fonoti provide plenty of bulk in the midfield and there is no lack of speed out wide with the likes of HSBC Sevens Series reps La’aloi Leilua and Elisapeta Alofipo. Leilua and 21-year-old scrumhalf Melani Matavao are the only backs who return from last year’s tournament that saw Samoa finish in third place with a record of two wins and one loss.

Samoa will face the USA, Argentina, and Tonga beginning on October 7. All matches will be played at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, with streaming details from World Rugby to be confirmed in the coming days. A detailed roster can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Setu Enoka (Chiefs), Alofa’aga Sao (Vikings), Rodney Tapu (Vaiala), Tuaniu Tuaniu (Navigators), Tiama Viliamu (Navigators), Ripine Fualau (Eels), Noel Sanft (Chiefs), Ikifusi Matamu (Eels), Mikaele Tapili (Chiefs), Aukusitano Ulugia (Vikings), Joseph Fuimaono (Vikings), Lester Sefo (Legends), Fili Setu (Vikings), Suamalie Tuiletufuga (capt., Navigators)

BACKS
Melani Matavao (Chiefs), Ionatana Tino (Eels), Ricky Pauli Ene (Vikings), Aukuso Fruean (Navigators), Tagaloa Fonoti (Eels), Leia Saofaiga (Tornadoes), Kaino Thomsen (Eels), Elisapeta Alofipo (Vikings), La’aloi Leilua (Moata’a), Taimua Malielegaoi (Chiefs), Iafeta Purcell (Legends), Paulo Scanlan (Eels)

FIXTURES
Oct 7 – 11:30 local / 10:30 ET / 07:30 PT – vs USA Select XV
Oct 11 – 14:00 local / 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT – vs Argentina XV
Oct 15 – 11:30 local / 10:30 ET / 07:30 PT – vs Tonga ‘A’