Samoan trials held

The first Manu Samoa squad for 2008 will be revealed late Saturday. Main trials held at Marist stadium Lotopa on 20 May, according to Head Coach, Tuala Niko Palamo, confirmed a number of his shadow squad. The remainder will be looked at during the Pacific Rugby Cup finals where Upolu Samoa will play Tonga’s Tautahi Gold.

“I’ve had a number of players penciled in for a while and yesterday’s trials was a chance to look at a few possibilities in key areas. Final selection chances will be given to the Upolu players during the PRC final on Friday.”

On the trials, Tuala was especially happy with the number of overseas players that paid their own way to be in Samoa. “Their commitment to be here sends the right message that reputation or former performances don’t matter any more. It’s our policy that all positions are up for grab and the overseas interest was very encouraging.”

Using detailed statistics and video analyses, Tuala and his team of selectors is at the business end to select their Manu Samoa team for the Pacific campaign. “Selection is of utmost importance now and the most difficult. It’s crunch-time and one has to make hard decisions. But having the stats and video footage, I will settle on the player that will win us games…and I have no problems in making that call.”

Manu Samoa’s first test is against Fiji at Lautoka on 7 June.

The door to Manu Samoa representation, added Tuala, is still open to overseas players who are still on contract or playing in finals competition and have contacted management about their wish to be selected.

“But for those players who are available to come to the trials but couldn’t make it…well, they wont be considered—simple as that”, says Tuala.

Once the squad is finalized Manu Samoa preparation goes into top gear. “We have a game plan and we will work with what we have. We’ve got areas of weaknesses and strengths and we’ll maximize those as we head to the Pacific Nations.

“We will be calling in some of our former Manu Samoa players like Brian Lima, Matthew Vaea, Taufusi Salesa to work on position specific drills with our players.”

Tuala is quietly confident that his squad has the talent and experience to play his game plan. “Yes, the game plan is there it’s a matter of getting our coaching staff and players to make it happen on the field.

“We’re after to win all the games we play but at the same time the game plan aims at the big picture—and that is to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup; and then to be a tier-1 nation from that tournament”, adds Tuala.