By WYNNE GRAY
Malakai Alatini has one wish for tomorrow's test between the All Blacks and Tonga when his boys Pita and Sam make international rugby history.
"I just hope the rugby is better than the game between the same two teams at the World Cup," he said.
Last year at the same Albany venue, the Umaga brothers Tana and Mike competed against each other for the All Blacks and Samoa but in different positions.
Tomorrow, the Alatini brothers go one better when both play at second five-eighths, with the extra dimension that their father, Malakai, who played 21 tests for Tonga, will be watching from the stand.
The dream coincidence became reality yesterday when Sam, the elder brother by several years, was chosen as Tonga's second five-eighths after missing their World Cup campaign.
The day before, Pita was picked for the same job in the All Black midfield scramble.
"It is just fantastic," said Malakai, a utility back who toured New Zealand twice with Tonga in 1969 and 1975.
A few years later Malakai, after finishing test rugby, decided his chidren would receive a better education in New Zealand.
Both Pita and Sam, two of seven children, ended up with scholarships to King's College while also excelling at their rugby.
"I trained the boys, ran with them and told them I would like one of them to play for the All Blacks," recalled Malakai.
Sam played test rugby first, for Tonga, and then Pita, having rejected overtures from the island nation, made his All Black debut last year.
"Having Sam follow me into the Tongan team was great," said Malakai, "but when Pita made it with the All Blacks it was the best because you can't get any better team in rugby, can you?"
Aside from the regular backyard sporting scrapes, the brothers have played just one game against each other.
Some years ago at Western Springs, Tonga played a development side and Pita lasted only 20 minutes before retiring after a midair collision with a bulky prop.
It is that fear of injury that will keep the boys' mother, Hilita Alatini, away from North Harbour Stadium tomorrow night.
Her father, Samiu Fotu, played for Tonga, also as a second five-eighths, but even that connection cannot persuade her to go to any games.
"She doesn't like going to rugby. She doesn't want to see her boys hurt," Malakai said.
The Alatini brothers will not be the only family connection at Albany tomorrow night.
Hooker and captain Fe'ao Vunipola joined the side here yesterday, and will link up with his brother, first five-eighths Elisi, for the one-off test.
It's a test of brotherly love
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