Boe plea for IRB to relax rule on players

By WYNNE GRAY

Samoan coach John Boe will campaign for a change in rules which prohibit him picking many players who want to play test rugby for the island nation.

Just as Boe is given a dispensation to coach Samoa while still being eligible to shoot for an All Black job, he argues that a similar scheme should apply to Samoa's scattered rugby resources.

"I hear the catchcry from the [New Zealand Rugby Football Union] and the [International Rugby Board] that they want to grow a global game, but some of their policies do not encourage that," he said.

"If they want a global game they should allow us to pick players whose days with the All Blacks are obviously over."

He cited overseas-based players such as Andrew Blowers, Ofisa Tonu'u and Dylan Mika, or others still in New Zealand but out of the All Black frame, like Eroni Clarke, as examples of unused test talent.

"I was talking to Isitolo Maka and he would love to play for Tonga, but he is not allowed. The same with Joeli Vidiri and Fiji. It seems a shame and something which needs changing."

Under IRB law, once players have represented one country they cannot play for another.

Boe said the pool of players available to him, assistant coach Michael Jones and technical adviser Va'aiga Tuigamala, was dwindling, as shown by the fact that only Afato So'oalo and Tanner Vili were available from the Super 12 competition.

"We understand why many are choosing to play for New Zealand and we would never touch young players such as Jerry Collins or Rodney So'oialo, but once they have done their time with the All Blacks it would be great if they could play for us.

"In that way they could contribute to make world rugby even stronger," Boe said.

He and his coaching staff are training their 25-strong squad in Auckland before they leave for two PacRim matches against Tonga and Fiji, then return for the June 16 test against the All Blacks at Albany.

Loose forward, Semo Setiti, has been named captain again, but the rest of the side will not be put in place until the squad get to Samoa.

They have been through trials in Auckland, Wellington and Samoa, and advisers around the globe such as Pat Lam, Matthew Vaea, John Ah Kuoi and Peter Fatialofa made their recommendations.

"It is most unusual selecting players from France, Italy, Japan, Britain and all round New Zealand," Boe said. "For example, we have Brian Lima joining us in a couple of weeks from France."

Other experienced men who return this season are Junior Paramore, Sene Ta'ala and Earl Va'a. Lock Leo Lafaiali'i is available for the first time.

"They unite very quickly, though," Boe said. "There is no problem there, that part is easy. On the field it is tougher and we are training twice a day."

Samoa won the PacRim last season and Boe felt the main difference from last season was that his pack were bigger and more aggressive.

Talk among his players about the All Black test was banned.

"All our preparation has to be about Tonga, no other team is in our sights," Boe said.

However, as coach, he looked forward to mixing it with the All Blacks.

It would have been great to have had that test in Apia, but there would be a huge amount of Samoan support at Albany next month.