Today is the All Black's historic first test in Samoa. It's been a long road getting them there.
Photo: Illustration: Toby Morris
Samoa’s Prime Minister is a canny politician. You don’t hold the top job for 16 years if you’re not.
Back in 2011, on the eve of New Zealand hosting the Rugby World Cup, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, took aim at the International Rugby Board, saying it wasn’t doing enough to help smaller rugby nations like those in the Pacific.
He argues that players in Europe should be released to play for their country. And the national rugby unions with all the money should be supporting those in smaller, poorer countries – especially as they kept the gate takings when Pacific nations travelled.
Imagine if they came to Samoa, imagine if the All Blacks played in Apia, he said.
Tuilaepa, who is also the head of the Samoa Rugby Union, told a news conference a few years later that a lack of international matches was a major problem for Pacific teams and they needed more international games to improve their standard of play.
“We come often to your very cold climate and shiver as we play and we would like the All Blacks to come here, enjoy the sun and play,” he said.
“All it needed was to call John Campbell,” he quipped five years later, at a reception welcoming the All Blacks to Apia, ahead of their historic first test in Samoa today.
“For many many years we sought for the All Blacks to come to Apia Park. We asked and the Maori All Blacks came. Then the Junior All Blacks were sent.
“The very things that make us rugby rivals tomorrow are the very things that also make us great friends.
“A passion for the game, a determination to beat the odds, a country of adoring and sometimes demanding fans and an intense pride in our respective colours.”
Crazy scenes in Apia today. Thanks for all the support.
Posted by Dan Carter on Monday, 6 July 2015
Samoa is rugby mad. Drive around the main island of Upolu and you’ll see rugby posts everywhere and, as night falls, trainings and casual games are all around. Say you’re from New Zealand, and likely the first thing someone will ask you will be about rugby.
Many people follow the All Blacks as closely as they do Manu Samoa, as well as Samoan players playing abroad. More than 50 Samoans have played for the All Blacks, so having the New Zealand national team in Apia feels a bit like a homecoming.
It isn't just about rugby. If New Zealand is a Pacific nation, shouldn't we at least occasionally visit the islands?
A year ago, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said there were no plans for the All Blacks to play a test match in the Pacific Islands. The NZRU couldn’t afford it, he said, and it wasn’t the right thing to do for New Zealand rugby.
Then Campbell Live picked up the story, starting a petition and travelling to Apia to officially invite the All Blacks. The show reminded its audience about 20 times that despite both countries being a Pacific nations, the All Blacks had never played in Samoa.
Manu Samoa didn’t let it get to them and were crowned champions in their division of the Pacific Nations Cup that year. By September, the NZRU had announced a test would be played in Apia this year - on a Wednesday, four days after the Super Rugby final.
“Bloody magic,” said John Campbell.
It’s the start of the international season and a World Cup year, so this isn’t any old friendly. They’re taking it seriously. “Yes, there'll be a lot of superstars turning up, but for [Manu Samoa] it just won't mean a thing,” said Michael Jones, who played one test for Samoa and 55 for the All Blacks.
If only they would accept some baskets of pawpaw and if they all ate guava, that would’ve been fine but these boys want steak, so it’s not cheap.
“It'll be just the fact that they can go head-to-head, toe-to-toe, with that most powerful of rugby brands in the world, and it'll be on their soil, on their whenua, on their land.”
Apia Park only holds about 12,000, and ticket prices ranged from $12 to $270. “I wish we could use coconuts to pay for the All Blacks visit,” Tuilaepa told the Samoa Observer. “But that’s not the case. Money is required. It’s expensive.”
“If only they would accept some baskets of pawpaw and if they all ate guava, that would’ve been fine but these boys want steak, so it’s not cheap.”
Having got the All Blacks to Samoa, Tuilaepa has set his eyes back on another target – getting his players back from their overseas clubs.
“Our team comprises of players scattered all over the world, in Europe, Asia and New Zealand.” He told Stuff.co.nz. Putting together these players is not so easy. It is getting more difficult all the time. But it is an issue we do not give up on. We will keep fighting and fighting.
The All Blacks vs Manu Samoa test kicks off at 2pm. For updates, check out radionz.co.nz and follow @rnz_news.
