This is the third and final article in RNZ Pacific's series on the three Pacific island teams competing at the Rugby World Cup in France. In this piece, we look at the Manu Samoa side.
Photo: Samoa Rugby Union
Manu Samoa have the Toa Samoa rugby league team to look up to for inspiration.
While the Manus had reached two quarter-finals at previous Rugby World Cups - in 1991 and 1995 - their rugby league counterparts took the world by storm last year when they reached the final of last year's Rugby League World Cup.
They became the first Pacific team to achieve that feat.
Former Manu star centre Seilala Mapusua, now head coach of the side, has been in France with his warriors for the last month.
Not far from their mind is the achievement that Samoans all over the world celebrated last year when Toa Samoa made history.
That is enough inspiration for Mapusua's charges, who meet Chile on September 17 in their opening pool match.
The Samoans are in a pool that also includes Japan, who they defeated 24-22 in a close encounter during the Pacific Nations Cup series in July, sixth-seeded Argentina and eighth ranked England.
While current form puts Argentina as the hot favourites ahead of an English side that has struggled in their build-up campaign, Mapusua knows that all their opponents will be on fire on match day.
That will include Chile who ousted the United States from qualifying.
This is the South Americans first-ever match at a Rugby World Cup and they will be determined to put on a show.
Having come through a planned campaign that has seen big improvements across the team, Manu Samoa won two out of three Tests during the PNC Series in July, beating Japan and Tonga while going down to Fiji.
They then defeated a Barbarians outfit in their first of two final warm-ups in France in August before going down fighting to No.1 side Ireland in a tough, physical encounter that saw them stand up against their Irish opponents.
Lima Sopoaga Photo: Samoa Rugby Union
But Mapusua knows that counts for nothing as the real deal is about to start.
The big focus is to qualify for their third quarter-final, and Mapusua believes it can be done.
One game at a time is how they are going to approach it.
He has professional players from the European competitions and Moana Pasifika talents.
The professionalism the players have brought into the squad has helped in their build-ups, which started in Apia on July 1.
Like Fiji and Tonga, the Manu Samoans went home to their people, got re-connected and received the blessings of their leaders before they flew out.
In France they have been working on their game plans and combinations, reviewing their opponents' performances while focusing on what they will need to be doing.
The players
Manu Samoa have been blessed by two major factors: the change in World Rugby's eligibility rules, and the ability of local players to gain top-level competition in the Super Rugby Pacific series through Moana Pasifika.
The rule change meant that players like former All Blacks Lima Sopoaga, Charles Faumuina, Steven Luatua, and former Wallaby pivot Christian Leali'ifano are able to play for them.
Miracle Failangi, Luteru Tolai, Alamanda Motuga, Neria Foma'I, Danny Toala, Alai D'Angelo Leuila, Leali'ifano and Ereatara Enari are the Moana Pasifika players in the squad.
The Samoans love to be physical upfront - it's a style that fits them well.
That, combined with some great techniques in scrummaging and the lineouts, will be key to their campaign.
Co-captains Michael Ala'alatoa and Chris Vui will be key players in their tight five, along with Faumuina, who has a lot of experience playing Test rugby for the All Blacks.
His influence in forward play, especially in the set pieces, has shown well during their warm-up matches.
Luatua, Sa Jordan Taufua, Lee Fritz, Failangi and Motuga would be key players in the battle for loose balls off the ground and the ruck-tackle ball situations.
Mapusua has two of the world's best exponents in the critical flyhalf position in Sopoanga and Leali'lifano.
Both have fitted in well into the Manu Samoa team and have proven that they can not be underestimated.
Mapusua said he is having headaches selecting his first 15.
Good headaches this is though as he has a lot of strong players to choose from.
His outside backs on any given day will have to come from Tumua Manu, Junior Seuteni, Nigel Ah Wong, Ed Fidow, Fomai, Lam and Toala.
They are all players who can break tackles, have speed and power plus the ability to tackle well.
Toa Samoa generated massive street celebrations in Apia after reaching the final of the Rugby League World Cup last year. Photo: Anric Sitanilei/RNZ
Chances of success
Manu Samoa has proven themselves in the past.
They can beat most teams on the day if they play their game right.
There will be a big Samoan contingent following them around in France.
Beating rookies Chile will provide the ideal start to their campaign.
There is silent confidence in Apia that the Manu can replicate their Toa Samoa brothers.
* Our senior sports reporter will be travelling to France to follow Fiji, Samoa and Tonga at the RWC2023.
