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'It clearly shows where the intention is' - All Blacks accused of poaching

Levi Aumua of Moana Pasifika sits on the sideline after receiving a yellow card from Referee Damon Murphy during the round 10 Super Rugby Pacific match between the Moana Pasifika and the Western Force at Mt Smart Stadium on May 24, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Manu Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua believes New Zealand rugby’s selection of Moana Pasifika’s Super Rugby Pacific centre Levi Aumua proves the All Blacks can still cherry-pick players who are qualified for Islands nations.

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Mapusua is convinced Aumua’s selection in the All Blacks XV squad “diminishes the purpose” of the Moana Pasifika franchise. Aumua is eligible for Manu Samoa, Fiji, the All Blacks and Australia.

Aumua, 28, was selected for the All Blacks XV for two games against Ireland A and the Barbarians in November. Mapusua, who is preparing Samoa for their November tests with Italy, Georgia and Romania, ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in France, told Stuff: “We waited a long time for a team like Moana Pasifika to be established. I’d like to think it’s our team but this is a not so gentle reminder that yes we can have our team but the best players will still get picked up by, in this case, New Zealand.

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“What Moana Pasifika are saying is not untrue but at the same time all it takes is one. If we are looking at things in principle, it should be 100% (eligibility for the Pacific Islands teams). The establishment of this team(Moana) was to benefit Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.

“We looked at Moana Pasifika as our team. It is frustrating seeing guys like Levi being picked up by the All Blacks. Obviously it sends a message to all the other midfielders in the five (New Zealand) franchises. Frustrating is a nice way to put it.”

NZ Rugby granted the licence for Moana Pasifika to participate in Super Rugby Pacific, and it is understood that the All Blacks can select up to three players from the franchise. While the All Blacks XV is not a “capture” team, meaning Aumua could still play for Samoa or Fiji, Mapusua says it signals the centre is on New Zealand’s radar and could be elevated to the senior squad.

Mapusua said. “While everyone is saying it’s not a capped team it clearly shows where the intention is and where players are being viewed.

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“There’s a chance that Levi could go on and be a key player for the All Blacks and go to the World Cup. There’s also a very real chance that he might not.”

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Comments

13 Comments
K
Kerry 834 days ago

The choice belongs to the man himself, they might find they'll lose players if they think they'll lose the opportunity to make packet loads of money.

C
Chris 835 days ago

They should be happy for him. Rassie supported Duan van der Merwe when he got selected for the Lions and Scotland. It's a huge honour for him to make that selection. If he was from Samoa, living in Samoa his whole life that would be weird though. Saying that NZ rugby has an obligation to support the Island nations. Like SA rugby took Argentina under their wing. Don't poach, grow the beautiful game. What is shameful is how Eddy Jones is trying to poach the SA U/19 captain. They (England and Australia) also tried poaching Bryan Habana back in the day.

m
matt 835 days ago

This team was really just an expansion franchise to give more players ah opportunity to play. Levi took it and flourished enough for the best team in the world to take notice of a kid from their backyard. And the problem is?

R
Ruby 835 days ago

So what I'm hearing is that regardless of what country someone is born in or what country they want to play for they should have to play for a country that reflects their ethnic background? So European teams should be 100% white and the only Polynesian players in the All Blacks should be Māori.

I'm sure that there's a few white supremacists that would love this policy.

M
Michael 835 days ago

Is this a joke? He was born in Auckland.

P
Pecos 835 days ago

28 year old Kiwi qualifies for multiple nations, okay, got it.

T
Tayhlor 835 days ago

I'm bloody sick of these islanders complaining about shit like this , none of them even live in samoa , tonga or fiji. What's so wrong with someone BORN in New zealand playing for an NZ team ?

d
darth 835 days ago

Moana P should have been based in Tonga /Samoa and limited to indigenous players. at the very least , kiwis and oz players who pin their colors to the Samoan/Tongan mast.

T
Tristan 835 days ago

Not really sure what the complaint is. It's not like NZR lured a teenager from the islands, Samoa appear to have had every chance to select the player over a number of years themselves but haven't.

L
Lio 835 days ago

Nzs 6th franchise, always has been, the rules states that the Abs can select 3 players from this Moana team

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R
RedWarrior 9 minutes ago
Many England fans echoing the same gripe following Six Nations loss

The English defense was excellent in the first half. This is considering Ireland's attack has improved significantly since the Autumn with former Leinster attack coach Goodman. Ireland were beaten by NZ in the Autumn, are behind SA and arguably behind France so de facto 4th in order (rankings take time to catch up) As Eddie Jones said Ireland are still in that elite group so England's domination in the first half is noteworthy.

I believe they have spent the time since the Autumn largely on defence. On broken play they were relying on Smiths instint along with some jiggery pokery. For Smiths early line break a Twindaloo blocked Baird which left the gap for smith. It looked like he did Aki, but Baird was a little late arriving and clever play by Tom Curry allowed the gap for Smith. Earls line break was Smith spotting Baird coming out and beating him with a beautiful pass to Earl.

We saw the rehearsed plays for a couple of Ireland's tries. The Aki try was just identifying that England tended to hide Smith on the wing creating a vulnerability which Ireland exploited with one of Akis great finishes.

Although Ireland were relaxing at the end the two English tries were good enough quality and we may see more of it next week (Scotland will also have taken note).

Although on the easier side of the draw Borthwick almost took England to a RWC final.

But in common with the top4 you need to have firepower to get those tries in big games. Can Borthwick manage that? I don't think so.

Next week even if England have a great first half again, you would be looking at France converting 3 of those Irish chances and pushing on after the break.

Can Borthwick develop a plan to beat France in the next few years. If the answer is no England need to find someone who can.

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