"50 Cap All Black" - Samoa's Ex-New Zealand and Australia Players to Take on England

Samoa's hopes of progressing have all but vanished. The Pacific Islanders have lost two matches at the competition, with defeats to Argentina and Japan placing them at fourth in the pool. Los Pumas and the Brave Blossoms will clash this weekend, to decide who will progress out of Pool D alongside England.

However, England are not anticipating an easy run out against Manu Samoa. Seilala Mapusua's side has been bolstered by an influx of former All Blacks and Wallabies stars, thanks to the World Rugby eligibility laws. The latest laws allow a player to represent a new nation after a 36 month stand down period, permitting that they have the appropriate ancestral or residency qualifications.

Former All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina is an experienced head in the Samoa forwards, who knows how it feels to stand at the top of the world rugby mountain. Faumuina was in the All Blacks squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which saw New Zealand make history as the first nation to win back-to-back titles. Faumuina continued to run out for the All Blacks until the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour, with his 50th and final cap coming in the famous 15-15 draw to end the series.

Faumuina then began his three year 'stand down' from international duty. A move to Toulouse took him away from the Auckland Blues, and he soon found success by winning the 2018/19 Top 14 title. He followed this up as a double champion in the 2020/21 season, as Toulouse claimed the Champions Cup and Top 14 title to close out the year in style. A cameo run-out for the Barbarians saw the prop make an appearance in the famous black and white stripes against Spain, before his attention turned to the Samoan national team.

The 36-year-old made his Samoa debut in the 2023 Pacific Nations Cup last Summer, with a substitute appearance in a win over Japan. Faumuina would then make his first test match start in a win over Tonga, yet has only featured in one match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The veteran prop played for 26 minutes in the 19-10 defeat to Argentina a fortnight ago. As he approaches the twilight of his career, Faumuina would like nothing more than one last cap at the Rugby World Cup.

Fly-half Christian Leali'ifano has started all three of Samoa's Rugby World Cup pool matches, and has racked up a neat points tally of 28 so far at the competition. Samoa's sharpshooting halfback slotted 16 points against Chile, as he nailed four penalties and two conversions to keep the scoreboard ticking over against the South Americans. Leali'ifano scored a try in the defeat to Japan, and added one penalty against Argentina.

Leali'ifano's journey to represent Samoa at the Rugby World Cup, is truly an inspiring story. In 2016, The fly half was diagnosed with cancer, and he overcame after a year-long battle with Leukaemia to return to the rugby pitch. “Every day is a blessing so I’m just so thankful to be still running around,” Leali'ifano told Australian broadcasters AAP, ahead of playing for Samoa at the Rugby World Cup.

The incredible halfback achieved 26 caps for the Wallabies, and featured prominently from the kicking tee. The former Brumbies man racked up 171 points for Australia, after his debut against the British & Irish Lions in 2013. Leali'ifano recovered from a now infamous debut, as the fly-half was knocked unconscious after less than one minute on the pitch, in a tackle attempt on Jonathan Davies.

Now, after more than three year’s away from the famous gold jersey, he is eligible to play for Samoa, and Steve Borthwick will have his eyes on the dangerous playmaker this weekend.

Considered amongst one of the most unluckiest players to miss out on a Rugby World Cup, Lima Sopoaga finally got his maiden run out in the 2023 competition. The halfback replaced Leali'ifano for a 25 minute run out against Chile, and rightfully earned his long awaited first World Cup cap.

The fly-half missed out by the narrowest of margins for a spot in the All Blacks squad, for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, as he had worked his way into Steve Hansen's side throughout the preluding Rugby Championship. Sopoaga made his New Zealand debut in that competition, as he started the 27-20 victory over the Springboks in Johannesburg.

However, the All Blacks selectors preferred the halfback trio of certifiable legend Dan Carter, versatile playmaker Colin Slade, and break-through superstar Beauden Barrett for the tournament in England. Following Carter's retirement as the All Blacks won the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Sopoaga had an extended run in the All Blacks fold.

Starring performances in the Rugby Championship, Autumn Internationals and Summer Series, saw Sopoaga accrue his additional caps for a two year run with the All Blacks. However, Sopoaga would depart the Highlanders after agreeing a move to Wasps, which hindered his selection hopes outside of New Zealand. Sopoaga's last All Blacks cap was against Wales in the 2017 Autumn Internationals.

Like Lima Sopoaga's tenure with Wasps, England fans of the Gallagher Premiership will be more than familiar with hard-hitting back-rower Steven Luatua. A mainstay in Pat Lam's Bristol Bears side, Luatua has been a revered opponent across the English top flight since arriving at Ashton Gate in 2018. The 32-year-old's future has since been confirmed to stay in Bristol, as Luatua re-signed with the Bears at the end of March.

However, before his time in the English West Country, Luatua was tearing up the scene down in New Zealand. A product of the Auckland provincial side, Luatua's talents were quickly identified, as he progressed into the Blues' Super Rugby set-up. Luatua racked up 75 caps across five Super Rugby seasons, whilst progressing through the New Zealand U20s, and into the All Blacks senior squad. Luatua made his All Blacks debut against France, in a 24-9 victory in the Summer of 2013.

The back-rower then went on to play his first full 80 minutes for the All Blacks, as they retained the Bledisloe Cup in a 47-29 win over the Wallabies. Injuries hindered Luatua's New Zealand test career, yet he marked his final match in the black jersey with a try against Italy, in the 2016 Autumn Series. Luatua's move to Bristol ended his intentions with the All Blacks, with his Samoa test debut coming some seven years later. Luatau ran out for his new side in the latest Pacific Nations Cup, as he started on the blindside flank in a defeat to Fiji.

The Bristol stalwart has since gone on to make seven caps for Samoa, and presented his versatility by starting at number eight and lock so far in the Rugby World Cup. Luatua could line up against his Bristol teammates Ellis Genge, Kyle Sincker and Max Malins this Saturday, with the perfect end to his Rugby World Cup journey being an upset victory over England.

Chris Vui - (Lock - Bristol Bears)

Sam Slade (Lock/Flanker - Moana Pasifika)

Jordan Taufua (Back Row - Lyon)

Jonathan Taumateine (Scrum Half - Moana Pasifika)

Ere Enari (Scrum Half - Moana Pasifika)

Danny Toala (Fullback - Moana Pasifika)

Ben Lam (Winger - Montpellier)

Seilala Lam (Hooker - Perpignan)

Sama Malolo (Hooker - San Diego Legion)

Paul Alo-Emile (Prop - Stade Francais)

Duncan Paia’aua (Centre/Fullback - Toulon)

Ulupano Junior 'UJ' Seuteni (Centre - La Rochelle)