Rugby: Samoa hope for NZ boost

Fresh from winning the Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa are hopeful of persuading more eligible New Zealanders to commit ahead of the World Cup.

Former Blues players Paul Williams and Jamie Helleur have already declared allegiance to Samoa and coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafu is confident that Kahn Fotuali'i, Ti'i Paulo and Serge Lilo could yet follow suit.

Promising players Chris Lowrey and Peter Saili'i of the Blues are Samoan-eligible but have committed to staying in New Zealand and set their sights on being All Blacks.

The Samoans are working through an extended database of potential players ahead of next year's World Cup.

Ranked No 12 in the world, Samoa are determined to climb into the top 10 and make the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1995.

They have South Africa, Wales, Namibia and Fiji in their group - presenting them with a first World Cup clash with their Pacific neighbours and an opportunity to replicate their heroics of 1991 and defeat Wales to make the knockout rounds.

Paulo would be most welcome, as Samoa need quality tight forwards. They used former Auckland lock Joe Tekori, former Southlander Kane Thompson and former Highlander Filipo Levi throughout the Pacific Nations Cup, where they beat Tonga and Fiji but lost to Japan.

"We are a little bit short of height at lock," says Tafu. "We had a good mix for the Pacific Nations Cup - maybe about 40 per cent local players and the rest from around the world.

"I am hoping some more players in New Zealand will want to play for Samoa, particularly Kahn, Ti'i and Serge. We are heading to Japan at the end of October and then play tests against England, Ireland and Scotland in November. These will be very important as we prepare for the World Cup and we would like those players to have committed to us by then."

Having stolen the show in 1991 and followed it up with more memorable rugby in 1995, Samoa have since flat-lined.

They have battled to gain access to their best players - most of whom are with European clubs - and have been unable to build a meaningful fixture list. Their exposure to tier one nations has been limited and they have seen more of their eligible players commit to the All Blacks.

Jerome Kaino, Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Chris Masoe were born in Samoa but moved to New Zealand at a young age, learned their trade here and became All Blacks.

With significant numbers of Samoan-eligible players in New Zealand and growing numbers in Australia, the challenge for Samoa is to maintain strong contact to win them before they commit to better-resourced national teams.

The other problem is that as soon as a New Zealand-based player commits to Samoa, his potential earnings drop significantly. The New Zealand Rugby Union is reluctant to pay true market values to those players who are not eligible for the All Blacks - which is why the likes of Isa Nacewa and Rupeni Caucaunibuca left.

That's the dilemma for Fotuali'i - if he says yes to Samoa, he'll almost certainly have to leave the Crusaders to ensure he is fairly paid. Williams made that double choice last month when he played for Samoa and left the Blues to join English club Sale.

"I am aware we have Samoan-eligible players in Auckland but I'm not aware of any in our current group who are thinking about shifting allegiance.

"I know we have been talking a lot recently with Chris Lowrey and Peter Saili'i, but they both have set their goals around the All Blacks," says Tafu. "That's where their ambitions lie at this stage."

Tafu would prefer to have players committed before the end of year tour but the door is open to the likes of Fotuali'i right up to the World Cup.