- Rules change means former Wallabies flyhalf eligible
- Samoa target Chile clash as most winnable Pool D game
- Former All Blacks Luatua and Sopoaga also feature
FILE PHOTO-Rugby Union – Rugby World Cup 2019 – Pool D – Australia v Uruguay – Oita Stadium, Oita, Japan – October 5, 2019 Australia’s Christian Leali’ifano converts a try REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
TOULOUSE, France, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Samoa have selected 35-year-old Christian Leali’ifano, who scored the most points for Australia at the 2019 World Cup, as flyhalf in their opening Pool D clash against Chile in Bordeaux on Saturday.
Samoa are taking advantage of a relaxation in World Rugby’s eligibility rules, which means players who stand down for three years from appearing for one country can then play for another for which they qualify.
That means they can also field former All Blacks Steven Luatua, who starts at number eight, and the versatile Lima Sopoaga as a replacement back.
Former Highlanders and Wasps player Sopoaga can play at flyhalf or fullback and, while New Zealand-born, qualifies for Samoa through his family background.
Samoa will target Chile, the lowest ranked team at the tournament, as their most winnable game in a pool also containing England, Argentina and Japan as they look to progress from the pool stage for the first time since 1999.
The Pacific Islanders made a hefty impression at some of the earlier World Cups, making the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995, but unlike Fiji have appeared to tread water in recent years.
Samoa are making their bow at the 2023 tournament on Saturday and will be desperate to tick off a win in their easiest game on paper, while Chile will see this as their best remaining shot at a victory after the opening defeat to Japan.
Another name to watch in the starting lineup for Samoa is second row Theo McFarland, who caught the eye with some powerful, rangy running for his English club Saracens last season and can also operate as a flanker.
Samoa team:
1 James Lay
2 Seilala Lam
3 Michael Alaalatoa (c)
4 Chris Vui
5 Theo McFarland
6 Taleni Junior Agaese Seu
7 Fritz Lee
8 Steven Luatua
9 Jonathan Taumateine
10 Christian Leali’ifano
11 Nigel Ah-Wong
12 Tumua Manu
13 Ulupano Junior Seuteni
14 Danny Toala
15 Duncan Paia’aua
Replacements:
16 Sama Malolo
17 Jordan Lay
18 Paul Alo-Emile
19 Sam Slade
20 Sa Jordan Taufua
21 Ereatara Enari
22 Lima Sopoaga
23 Ed Fidow
Reporting by Lawrence White; Editing by Ken Ferris
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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