13 New Zealand-based players have been named in the latest Manu Samoa squad to face the Maori All Blacks and Tonga in June and July.
Simon Hickey celebrated his milestone provincial match with two tries as Auckland responded from last week's deflating defeat to trounce Manawatu 50-12 at a deserted Eden Park.
Aaron Smith’s long-awaited return to the green and white jersey will be via the bench when the Turbos take on Northland in Whangarei on Sunday.
Stuttering Ireland have made multiple changes to their team for the must-win encounter versus Samoa on Saturday, a selection that includes a first appearance at the finals for one midfield missing link.
Evergreen five-eighth Pisi is the only Manu Samoa survivor from the team who stunned a largely second-string Wallabies team 32-23 in 2011.
Tusi Pisi will make his third World Cup appearance at the age of 37, while prop Michael Alaalatoa will complete a compelling family story after both were named in Samoa's squad on Saturday.
The good news is that Todd Blackadder had a very good holiday in Italy and Greece. The bad news for New Zealand rugby is that Blackadder is now back at work and looking for “six or seven” new players to ensure Bath become serious English Premiership contenders again.
