Rugby: Uniting host's overseas talent 'big challenge'

Alama Ieremia says he is impressed with the commitment from the players as Samoa builds up to the All Blacks game. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Samoa Rugby Union's high performance centre in Tuana'imato is a long way from Northampton, Toulouse, Newcastle or London where many of the Manu Samoa players are based.

But it is here at a modest breeze block gym and two playing fields a 15-minute drive from Apia where the squad will work almost every day on a campaign which starts with a test against the All Blacks and continues with the Pacific Nations Cup, and finally the World Cup which finishes in late October. And, while the players are at home and near relatives, many have partners still working and children at school on the other side of the world.

Being separated from them for up to four months represents a unique challenge and it's one which assistant coach Alama Ieremia, a former All Black, is well aware of.

"It's obviously challenging," he said. "The difference we have here is all our players are overseas apart from a few locals. The logistics of organising a team that is based overseas in different countries, different weather, the travel factor, and just getting them all here away from their clubs is always a challenge for us stuck in the middle of the Pacific.

"To try to bring them all together and start playing Samoan rugby - you need a bit of time. But it's amazing how satisfying it is when you see the commitment from the players and see how much they've sacrificed, I suppose, to be here and wear the blue jersey.

"I suppose there is an emotional attachment to being part of Manu Samoa despite all the challenges. It's very different to other international teams. There's a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment for me to come back here and witness it."

The Manu Samoa players are working hard in training, but 44-year-old Ieremia, who was born in Apia and played 30 tests for the All Blacks between 1994-2000, knows the mental side of the game will become more important over the next few days.

"We've got to front and I know the boys will front. It's about making sure we don't overcomplicate the situation. Yes, we are playing the All Blacks but we've got to make sure we play. We don't want to go into our shells. We have to make sure we enjoy the occasion and play smart footy. We've got enough key guys here to make those decisions."

He added of the expected atmosphere at Apia Park: "It will be great. The whole country has been preparing for this for a long time. The support will reach feverish levels on the Wednesday. This is more than a game to a lot of the people in the country - to have the All Blacks here is magnificent.

"As a rugby team we have to make sure we do our part and have a decent performance to make them proud. That's what we're focused on. I suppose the outcome that we're hoping for from a rugby perspective is that we can host tier one nations, we can actually put up a decent fight, and, with the facilities and the backing of the Government, we can actually host more tests."

Ieremia is also keenly interested in another imminent match of historical significance - tomorrow night's final between a Hurricanes team he played for and coached until recently, and the Highlanders.

"I'm extremely proud of the boys - I was a part of that team for a long time, obviously.

"They're well led, they've got a lot of experience, and they've been through a lot of adversity already ... which means they've matured as a group.

"They've got many styles of game and they can handle pressure collectively as a group rather than individually. It's fantastic, a great bunch of players at the peak of their game ... hopefully they can finish it off."