London Irish duo backbone strong Samoan side

SAMOA yesterday named a strong team to face Ireland tomorrow, including nine players based in England and France.

Samoan head coach Fuimaono Tafua will send out a starting side, including London Irish duo George Stowers at No.8 and centre Seilala Mapusua, who will still be fresh in the thoughts of Ireland’s Munster contingent following his man of the match display against them in the Heineken Cup group opener a month ago.

Leicester’s Alesana Tuilagi, who played against Leinster in the 2009 Heineken Cup final, is set to start on the left wing with Wasps’ David Lemi on the right wing and full-back Paul Williams one of four Clermont Auvergne players in the 22-man match-day squad.

Another Clermont player, 30-year-old Tasesa Lavea, will orchestrate the Samoan game-plan from fly-half on his union debut for his country having represented New Zealand at rugby league.

Taranaki hooker Mahonri Schwalger captains a team completely different from the one which started Tuesday’s 26-22 defeat to Connacht in Galway, while former Connacht flanker Ofisa Treviranus is the only member of the starting team currently based in Samoa.

“Our selection is based on the players available, not only from New Zealand but also the players that play their rugby here in Europe,” coach Tafua said yesterday.

“We want to play the best we can. Ireland are one of the best teams, we have to be prepared for that. They played well last week and they had a chance to beat South Africa.”

However, Samoa’s plans were disrupted last night when hooker Ti’i Paulo was cited for two incidents of foul play, following the side’s loss to Connacht on Tuesday night.

The player is ineligible to play until a hearing, which is expected to take place early next week. Paulo had been named on the replacements bench for the Irish clash, but Samoa have yet to confirm who will now take up that berth.