All Black test was always the dream for Fatialofa

Name: Rugby: Talofa lava! Samoa greets All Blacks
Uploaded: 2015-07-07T08:20:04+12:00
Duration: 65 s
Description: The waiting was endless, the heat relentless until the All Blacks entered the arrivals hall at Faleolo International Airport to greet the hundreds who were waiting. Source: All Blacks TV/Youtube

By Wynne Gray

NZ Herald·

7 Jul, 2015 01:49 AM2 mins to read

The waiting was endless, the heat relentless until the All Blacks entered the arrivals hall at Faleolo International Airport to greet the hundreds who were waiting. Source: All Blacks TV/Youtube

More than 20 years ago Manu Samoa captain Peter Fatialofa championed All Black visits to play tests.

"He spoke about it a lot, it was one of his great dreams," World Cup teammate Tu Nu'uali'itia recalled. "It's such a shame he won't be there. It doesn't seem right that he won't be involved.

"But he will be in everyone's thoughts, he's one of the cornerstones for this game which is happening."

Fatialofa's campaign will become reality tomorrow when Samoa host the All Blacks for the first time at Apia Park with a crowd of 20,000, including his widow Anne, family members and government dignitaries.

Among the revelry of this historic occasion, there will be extensive tributes to the rugby contributions of Fatialofa and Jerry Collins whose lives entwined New Zealand and Samoa. Fatialofa, who played 34 times for Samoa between 1988-96, passed away in 2013 of a heart attack.

"As a captain, he led from the front every time and, unfortunately for some of us, he led just as hard off the field as well," another World Cup teammate Mark Birtwistle said. "I'm sure this game has the backing of everyone in New Zealand and it's just sad Fats is not there to see it."

To'o Vaega, another teammate from Samoa's 1991 World Cup campaign which gripped the tournament, remembers how Fatialofa convinced his men to lift their contributions.
"He used to walk around and stare at you and then wink and ask, 'you ready?' He led by his actions and we knew him as our leader."

Nu'uali'itia said regular meetings of former Samoa players always mentioned Fatialofa's work towards this test which would be another piece to add to his legacy.

"There was always a line Fats always pulled out if we were battling a bit. He reminded us of the time in '91 when Ken Sio was replaced at centre by Frank Bunce. It was a tough decision but Ken spoke to us all and said, 'if your heart is not full, then take mine'.

"Fats always used that to inspire us to be selfless in the way we played, even when he was on the bench at the '95 World Cup. He was like that."