Samoan test prop to beef up Counties Manukau

By CHRIS RATTUE

Samoan test prop Polo Asi is poised to bolster the Counties Manukau front row in this year's NPC campaign.

The 26-year-old Asi - who is also listed sometimes as Samuela Poloasi and Samuela Asi - played his 12th test, a heavy defeat against the All Blacks, at Albany a month ago.

He will be included in the Counties A or B squads named by coach Andrew Talaimanu tonight.

Asi, a tighthead specialist, joins a list of props recruited by New Zealand sides in the past few years.

North Harbour had Australian Rod Moore last season and have now brought in Tongan Tevita Taumoepeau from Bay of Plenty, Auckland have signed Frenchman Christian Califano, Wellington have used Englishman Kevin Yates and South African Morne van der Merwe, and Southland have had Australian Simon Kerr in their ranks.

Asi, who has been playing in Australia, also played for Bay of Plenty two seasons ago when they were pipped by a point in the second division final by Nelson Bays.

The Steelers have lost their most experienced prop, Lee Lidgard, to Italy.

Talaimanu said his side were short in quality tightheads.

The union had talked to Waikato about developing a system of loaning players, but Mooloo coach Kiwi Searancke wanted to keep his four best props - Deacon Manu, David Briggs, Dennis Hazelton and Michael Collins.

Counties Manukau hope Asi becomes a regular in the Steelers line-up, rather than a one-season recruit.

They believe he could develop into a Super 12 quality front-rower.

Talaimanu said Asi was called in late by Samoa at the 1999 World Cup after their scrum was smashed in the loss to Argentina.

He was impressive in the win over Wales when they had to repel a series of five-metre scrums.

"I've had my eye on him since that," Talaimanu said.

The coach said he had asked the player about the confusion over his name.

Asi told him that while he was christened Samuela Asi, he preferred to be known by his nickname, Polo.

Counties Manukau's final warm-up match is against Bay of Plenty at Pukekohe on August 4.