The realisation of a rugby dream to pull together all the forces of Pacific’s rugby nations comes to fruition on Saturday when the Pacific Islanders take on the Wallabies in their first-ever international.
The best players of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa will pool their immense talents and physiques to test themselves against Australia, who only last week overpowered World Cup champions England 51-15 in Brisbane.
The Pacific Islanders’ concept is viewed as the best chance to halt a drain of playing talent from the Pacific island nations towards Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
The Islanders have launched their inaugural tour in bold style, smashing under-strength Super 12 outfits, Queensland Reds (48-29) and NSW Waratahs (68-21 after leading 49-14 at halftime), and talking up their chances of pulling off something special against the Wallabies.
”That’s always been the dream, we’ve always believed that once you did bring the best of the Samoans, the Fijians and the Tongans together, potentially it has the ability to be something very, very special,” former All Black flanker Michael Jones, an assistant coach, said on Thursday.
”I’ve always maintained that for any given 80 minutes, if you throw 15 Pacific Islanders on the field, anything can happen.
”There’s certainly a lot of self-belief within the camp. The first two games on tour have been tremendous for us, just to build our confidence and just build on what we believe is a real gift to play this game.”
Wallaby coach Eddie Jones knows his team have a match on their hands and he has kept the lineup that put England to the sword six tries to two in Brisbane last Saturday.
”The Pacific Islanders are a very unpredictable side. You don’t know what they are going to do or where they are going to attack, as they throw the ball around quite a bit,” Jones said this week.
”We are going to have to be very disciplined with both our attack and defence.”
Islanders coach John Boe will go in with the same squad that took the Waratahs to the cleaners last Friday.
Boe said the impact of the Adelaide Test could not be underestimated for the Pacific nations.
”It’s a huge occasion for people in the islands,” he said.
”There’s only four countries in the world where rugby is the number one sport — Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand — so it’s extremely important, it’s a historical event and we’re looking forward to it.”
While Fiji dominate the Pacific Islanders’ backline, Tongans populate the forward pack with five selections including the entire front row of Taufa’ao Filise, Aleki Lutui and Soane Tonga’uiha and the team’s captain, Japan-based flanker Inoke Afeaki.
The backline comprises four Fijians and three Samoans with Saracens scrumhalf Mosese Raulini and Scotland-based flyhalf Tanner Vili teaming up.
The islanders also boast an impressive back three with Fijian fullback Norman Ligairi linking with New Zealand-based wingers Lome Fa’atau and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Boe’s major concern is the predicted cold and wet weather for Saturday’s match at Adelaide Oval, which hosted World Cup matches last year.
”It’s a disadvantage, we’re not used to this weather, it is a shame it’s bitterly cold, but that’s an uncontrollable and we just have to do our best under those conditions,” Boe said.
The Islanders team play New Zealand in Auckland July 10 before returning for an international against South Africa in Gosford, north of Sydney, on July 17.
South Africa’s Andre Watson will referee his last test on Saturday. Watson (46) the only man to have refereed two World Cup finals, will quit after his 28th international in control, after a test career which began with a match between Australia and Canada in Australia in 1996.
Teams:
Australia(15 to 1)
Joe Roff, Clyde Rathbone, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain); David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Radike Samo; Nathan Sharpe, Justin Harrison; Alastair Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young.
Reserves: Matt Dunning, Jeremy Paul, Daniel Vickerman, George Smith, Chris Whitaker, Matt Burke, Chris Latham.
Pacific Islanders
Norman Ligairi; Lome Fa’atau, Seilala Mapusua, Seremaia Bai, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Tanner Vili, Mosese Rauluni; Sisa Koyamaibole, Alivereti Doviverata, Sione Lauaki; Ifereimi Rawaqa, Inoke Afeaki (captain); Taufa’ao Filise, Aleki Lutui, Soane Tonga’uiha.
Reserves: Joeli Lotawa, Tevita Taumoepeau, Leo Lafaiali’i, Semo Sititi, Steve So’oialo, Seru Rabeni, Sereli Bobo.
Referee: Andre Watson (South Africa) – Sapa-AFP