Samoa Name Strong Squad For November
Manu Samoa Head Coach Stephan Betham has named a strong 30 man tour squad for November, including the Guinness Series clash with Ireland in Aviva Stadium on November 9th.
Tickets for that opening game in November are on sale from ticketmaster.ie
The 30 man squad was selected from a pool of 60 players that Head Coach Stephen Betham and management identified that includes some of the Super 15 players in NZ and Australia.
According to Betham Faifili Levave of the Wellington Hurricanes has committed for the November window campaign to join his other Super 15 team mates of Alapati Leiua, Jack Lam and Tusi Pisi .
The 30 man squad saw the return of some senior players like Maurie Faasavalu, Kahn Fotualii, Joe Tekori, George Pisi and Captain David Lemi who were not available in the Manu Samoa South African Tour in June.
Fotuali’i will be very familiar to Irish fans as he put in a Man of The Match performance when Ireland beat Samoa by 20 – 10 in 2010.
Manu Samoa will play 2 tests and a game against the French Barbarians while on tour. The first being Ireland on the 9th of November in Dublin, French Barbarians in Clermont France on the 16th November, and its second test match on the 23rd in Tiblisi facing the Eastern Europe current champions Georgia.
“There is no easy game on this tour, with Ireland being the first one and a tier one nation, as well as a member of the six nation’s championship. They have had a lot of games together this year and we have to prepare well and fast for this test, knowing that we will have one week to put the team together before our first kick off” Betham pointed out.
The second game against the French is likely their shadow test team, and the French will be no easy push over. Georgia on the other hand had a good season this year and renowned for their hard forwards and good scrimmaging, Most of their players are also playing in some of the top clubs in the UK and France. They are the current champions of their league in that side of Europe and with a home game in Tbilisi, no home team wanted to lose on its own territory”
Manu Samoa will assemble in London for a 3 days camp in the end of October, and they will all come back on board in Dublin on the 3rd November to prepare for the Ireland test.
Manu Samoa Touring Squad
Hookers: Ole Avei, Tii Paulo, Props: Census Johnston, Sakaria Taulafo, Logovii Mulipola, James Johnston, Viliamu Afatia, Locks: Teofilo Paulo, Daniel Leo, Piula Faasalele, Joe Tekori, Faatiga Lemalu, Loose Forwards: Maurie Faasavalu, Ofisa Treviranus, Jack Lam, Taiasina Tuifua, Faafili Levave, Halfbacks, Kahn Fotualii, Jeremy Su’a, First Fives, Tusi Pisi, Patrick Faapale, Midfields: George Pisi, Johnny Leota, Paul Williams, Isaia Tuifua, Wings : David Lemi, Alapati Leiua, Sinoti Sinoti, Fullbacks: Brando Vaaulu, Faatoina Autagavaia.
Guinness Series 2013
Ireland v Samoa, Aviva Stadium, November 9th – Buy tickets online
Ireland v Australia, Aviva Stadium, November 16th – But tickets online
Ireland V New Zealand, Aviva Stadium, November 24th – Buy tickets online