Samoa want more level playing field

SAMOA team manager Matthew Vaea has called for more Test matches against tier one nations if the Pacific Islanders are to compete on a level footing with world rugby’s big guns.

The Samoans visit the Aviva Stadium today for the first of three autumn Tests in the northern hemisphere with matches against England and Scotland to follow after this afternoon’s game with Ireland.

And while today’s tie sees the Irish, ranked sixth in the International Rugby Board standings, play the 11th-ranked Samoans, the gap in terms of resources represents a far wider gulf between the sports haves and have nots.

Samoa, this year’s Pacific Islands Cup winners, get by on around €400,000 per year - financed by the IRB - while the IRFU cited a €35m annual expense for the cost of the professional game on these shores for the 2009/10 season.

Calling for more funding in order to allow the hosting of more Test matches in Samoa, Vaea said: “It’s the same as it is for the other tier two nations who require more regular exposure against tier one countries.

“They call Samoa the Ireland of the Pacific. We need funding to improve our facilities and stadia so we are able to host the tier-one nations.”

Vaea noted that Pacific neighbours New Zealand had yet not visited his country but is optimistic that the issue was on the table for discussion.

“That’s a question we ask ourselves,” the team manager said when asked why the All Blacks had not played in Samoa. “We believe we’ve a good working relationship and we hope to play them in the next World Cup cycle, but that cycle is predetermined four years in advance.”

How many more Samoans will choose to transfer their allegiance to New Zealand in that timeframe remains to be seen and Vaea said his country’s union would not stand in the way of players seeking All Blacks caps and professional contracts.

In the meantime, Vaea promised that any Samoan who remains loyal to the cause would continue to play more intuitive rugby rather than a develop a more set-piece focused gameplan.

“It’s one of our strengths so why not use it, that flair and ability, to move the ball? Ireland have that ability too in players like Brian O’Driscoll, but why not? By all means attack.”