Manu Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua is confident of selecting a competitive squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Tonga, but Is already resigned to being without a host of European based stars.
Manu Samoa have not played since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It s been nine months since the former test midfielder was appointed to the top job but almost two years since the Manu last took to the field because of the ongoing impact of Covid-19.
Samoa will play two tests against the Ikale Tahi in New Zealand in July, with the winner to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in France.
After months of patience, planning and preparation, Mapusua was looking forward to actually playing. It s been a bit frustrating but at the same time you ve just got to roll with the punches and deal with what s in front of you, he said.
Moana Pasifika captain Michael Alaalatoa tests the Māori All Blacks defence.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020 www.photosport.nz
Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua are NZR s preferred partners to join the new-look competition, alongside the existing five teams from New Zealand and five from Australia.
But NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said the respective bids still had to finalise how they would be structured, their business/financial models and what their potential playing rosters and facilities would look like. We re very committed to doing our absolute best to see if we can make those teams a reality but there s a huge amount of work to be done and we re all very aware of the various challenges that sit in this area to try and make that happen, he said in an update following the Union s final board meeting of the year.