[2014 EOYT] Samoa

[Darwin]

Samoa squad (to play Italy, Canada, and England):

Props: Sakaria Taulafo (Stade Francais, France), Logovi'i Mulipola (Leicester Tigers, England), Anthony Perenise (Bristol Rugby Club, England), James Johnson (Saracens, England), Albert Anae* (Benetton Treviso, Italy).
Hookers: Ti'i Paulo (Clermont, France), Wayne Ole Avei (Bordeaux, France). Locks: Daniel Leo (London Irish, England), Kane Thompson (Newcastle Falcons, England), Teofilo Paulo (Cardiff Blues, Wales), Faatiga Lemalu (Sanix Blues, Japan).
Loose forwards: Ofisa Treviranus (London Irish, England), Piula Faasalalele (Castres, France), TJ Ioane* (Otago, NZ), Jack Lam (Bristol Rugby Club, England), Maurie Faasavalu (Oyonnax, France), Taiasina Tuifua (Bordeaux, France).
Halfbacks: Kahn Fotuali'i (Northampton Saints, England), Jack Taulapapa* (Wellington, NZ), Pele Cowley* (Auckland, NZ).
First five-eighths: Tusiata Pisi (Suntory, Japan) Michael Stanley * (Counties Manukau, NZ).
Midfielders: Alapati Leiua (London Wasps, England), Johnny Leota (Sale Sharks, England), George Pisi (Northampton Saints, England), Rey Lee Lo* (Counties Manukau, NZ),
Wings: Alofa Alofa * (La Rochelle, France), Ken Pisi (Northampton Saints, England), David Lemi (Bristol Rugby Club, England).
Fullbacks: Faatoina Autagavaia (Nevers Rugby Club, France), Ahsee Tuala* (Counties Manukau, NZ).

8 new caps, with a couple of interesting inclusions. Albert Anae is a good pick-up. He is young, but was on the fringes of the Australian squad last season, and importantly can cover both LH prop and hooker. This could potential give Samoa a bit more flexibility at RWC time. TJ Ioane will add another good option to their loose-forwards. I've never been a fan, but he can be an asset off the bench with his pace and power.

Lee Lo adds another reliable midfield option (though they are pretty strong in this area). Alofa Alofa is a pretty good pick-up on the wing. I thought he showed a lot of promise for the Waratahs this season, so was surprised to see he left Australia rugby so early. Ashee Tuala is a solid fullback/wing option (who can cover 10), but I don't think he has ever quite lived up to his potential.

 

[nickdnz]

Interesting squad, should get the win against Canada and Italy, could manage an upset against England.

Four or so years ago I thought Ahsee Tuala was going to be a strong Super Rugby player at the least. He seemed to have buckets of pace, was strong in contact and a massive boot. He seems to have slowed down a bit and is being used a bit at 10 this season for CM. Probably a good move for him as he's still young enough to make a difference for Samoa, but probably would never make the ABs.

TJ Ioane has improved in recent seasons, particularly his handling which was abysmal. Not a bad option to bring off the bench as that's where he seems to make the most impact.

I agree Alofa Alofa is a good pickup for Samoa, I think it was the only choice he had after leaving Australia.

 

[Blackdevil]

EXCLUSIVE: Samoa strike threat to England Test
Posted on November 12, 2014 by admin in Autumn Internationals, Featured with 0 Comments

Samoa's rugby players are threatening to boycott next week's Test match against England at Twickenham unless concerns over governance issues are addressed.

The Rugby Paper can reveal that senior Samoan players have written to the International Rugby Board (IRB) expressing concern over various matters relating to the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU), including misuse of funds and interference in team selection.

In their letter to the IRB, which was sent on October 29 and a copy of which has been obtained by The Rugby Paper, Samoa's players claim:

*Our coaches are not given complete rein to pick whom they deem as the country's best players

*Our team gets announced on Social Media sites before players are notified

*There is no financial transparency within the organisation

*Funds that were suspected to be misused were followed up by a questionable audit process

*Players who ask questions are made examples of and black-listed

*Tour 'allowances' have been frozen at NZ $1000 since 1990. Any requests to have this reviewed have been ignored

*Players are expected to pay their own airfares back to Samoa for end of year tours

*The coaching level in between World Cups has been poor

The players also state in the letter: "As players, we are unhappy with the incompetence of the Samoan Rugby Union in its current shape and under its current leadership. We would like to notify you that we have called for the resignation of a number of senior officials within the Samoan Rugby Union and will be boycotting our game against England on the 22nd of November should our feelings not be addressed.

"As a unified players group, it is felt that these issues are affecting our success on the field and we can no longer play under such poor leadership."

Samoa's players, who are currently in France ahead of Friday's Test against Canada in Vannes, are understood to have also enlisted the help of the International Rugby Players' Association in an effort to resolve their dispute with the SRU.

Failure to do so would result in players taking strike action by refusing to participate in the Test against England. Matches at Twickenham are worth up to £5m to the Rugby Football Union and cancellation costs would be enormous.

Samoa's players are serious. A source close to the camp today told The Rugby Paper: "This has been coming for years. We're so poorly managed and poorly governed at the top and the players have had enough. There's heavy stuff going on.

"There's no communication between the SRU and the players, no transparency over funding and rugby in Samoa is dying out. The players are unified that the England game will not happen and that it's the only way to make the big-wigs take notice."

EXCLUSIVE by NEALE HARVEY

 

[William18]

These seem like fair enough demands but boycotting the game against England would probably only make things worse.

 

[Mumbles119]

From discussions on other threads where this came up... I thought this had been addressed and resolved?

What is the latest on this?