Pacific Nations Cup: Tonga and Samoa announce squads for Apia showdown

Tonga have unveiled their strongest possible squad for their opening Pacific Nations Cup match against Manu Samoa in Apia on Friday afternoon.

With a new coaching staff in place and big-name players in the team either unable to play or being overlooked, Tonga is expected to have a tough battle.

Heavyweight prop Ben Tameifuna leads the team and is supported by five Moana Pasifika players.

Also nominated is Patrick Pellegrini, new member of Moana Pasifika.

Inise brothers Lotu and Fine, prop Tau Koloamatangi and midfielders Manu Paea and Aisea Halo are among the experienced players in the squad.

The rest of the players were mostly recruited for the two home Test matches against Spain and Italy during the June/July Test window.

Head coach Tevita Tuifua and assistant coach Nili Latu have had to work hard to recruit players as most of the squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup have either expressed disinterest or are unable to attend due to club commitments in Europe or New Zealand.

Others have also been left out by the two coaches, who now face a daunting task in putting together a squad capable of starting preparations for 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification.

Tuifua said Manu’s match against Samoa will be very difficult.

“It’s not an easy game,” he said.

“They are playing at home and with the support of the local fans, they will definitely put more pressure on us.

“But we will focus on the game and try to play the way we want to play.”

Samoa is celebrating 100 years of rugby and Rakapi Samoa will be leading the celebrations throughout the week.

Tuifua knows that means Friday’s Test match will be one that Samoans look forward to.

Tonga is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of rugby and a win in Apia will also be cause for celebration.

Both teams will be eager to beat the other, especially since the result will determine their chances of advancing to the final playoffs.

This year the PNC event has been expanded to include an Asian region, with participating teams from Japan, Canada and the United States.

After the round-robin matches, the teams will compete in group order, with the third-ranked teams competing for fifth and sixth places.

The top two teams in each group will meet in the semi-finals, with the champion facing the runner-up.

Tuifua said their focus is just to take it one match at a time and work on solidifying their game and combination.

Meanwhile, Manu Samoa will have to win the match if they want to advance to the final.

They lost 42-16 to Fiji in Suva last week.

Consistency is key for Manu

Manu Samoa head coach Masai Mahony Schwalger has retained some of his key players from last Friday’s loss to Tonga in Suva.

The former Samoa captain still has faith in flanker Theo McFarlane and has named him captain once again.

McFarland has eight Moana Pacific Islander players Samar Malolo, Samuela Slade, Malani Matavao, Tuana Tuitama, Iacopo Mapou, Michael Curry, Lalomilo Lalomilo and Alai Dangillo Leila backing him up.

In the match against Fiji, Samoa led 16-15 at halftime but then the team lacked discipline and ended up suffering a heavy blow.

Samoa will have the support of the local crowd, especially as the match forms part of the country’s centenary celebrations of rugby.

Although Schwalger did not reveal much to the media, the Apia side said that victory over Tonga was a must.

Also present at the rugby celebrations was former All Black and one of Samoa’s most beloved rugby sons, Tuifa Asina Sir Bryan Williams, who expressed his desire to see the home team win.

According to the Samoa Observer, Tuifa Asina played for Manu Samoa at three Rugby World Cups, 1991, 1995 and 1999, which brought Samoan rugby worldwide recognition. The team reached the quarter-finals in two of those World Cups: 1991 and 1995.

“My time with Manu Samoa was a very important part of my life and I cherish that time very much,” he said.

When asked about his thoughts on the Fiji game, he said: “It was good to see Samoa leading in the first half but the performance in the second half was obviously not as good so they have some work to do”.

Tuifa’asisina stressed the importance of celebrating Rakapi Samoa’s 100th anniversary and recognising the countless contributions and enduring memories that have shaped the country’s rugby tradition.

History of conflict

Since 1924, the two teams have played 68 Test matches.

Samoa won 38 games, Tonga won 26 and drew 4.

Samoa have won six of their last eight games since 2016, the most recent being a 34-9 home win over Tonga in the PNC last year.

Samoa also won 34-18 in Lautoka in 2022, 42-13 in Auckland in 2021, 37-15 in Hamilton in 2021, 25-17 in Apia in 2019 and 30-10 in Apia Park in 2016.

Tonga has won just two of its last eight Test matches, 28-18 in Suva in 2018 and 30-26 in Nuku’alofa in 2017.

Friday’s Test begins at 5pm Samoa time.

‘Ikale Tahi Team: 1. Tau Koloamatangi 2. Penison Fineanganofo 3, Ben Tameifuna (captain) 4. Harrison Matale 5. Onehunga Kaufusi 6. Tupou Afungia 7. Siosiua Moala 8. Lotu Inise 9. Manu Paea 10. Patrick Pellegrini 11. John Tapueluelu 12. Fetuli Paea (vice-captain) 13. Fine Inisi 14. Esau Filimoehala 15. Nikolai Foliaki (vice-captain); reserve – 16. Solomon Aniseko 17. Jethro Flemi 18. Brandon Televave 19. Tevita Ahokovi 20. Sosefo Sakalia 21. Aisea Halo 22. Tyler Pulini 23. Samuel Tuitupou

Manu Samoa: 1. Aki Seiuli 2. Sama Malolo 3. Tieta Tuimauga 4. Benjamin Petaia Nee-nee 5. Samuel Slade 6. Theo MacFarland (captain) 7. Izalha Moore-Aiono 8. Jacob Petelo Mapu 9. Melani Matavo 10. Alai D’ Amgelo Leuila 11. Tomai Alosio 12. Alapati Leiua 13. Stacey Ili 14. Tuna Tuitama 15. Afa Moleli; reserve – 16. Lutru Tolai, 17. Andrew Tuala, 18. Brooke Tumalatai, 19. Mike Curry, 20. Jonah Mau, 21. Danny Tusitala, 22. Rodney Iona, 23. Lalomilo Lalomilo