A month of exciting and brutal rugby

INTERNATIONAL Test rugby surely steals the show. Fiji will host the Pacific Nations Cup, which will feature Tonga, Samoa and Australia A, while the All Blacks and Wallabies prepare to host Ireland and England.

Many are anticipating a month of exciting and brutal rugby where one will see hard hits, runaway tries and the best emotions from the travelling and home fans.

This year’s Pacific Nations Cup is the fifteenth edition of the Pacific Nations Cup annual international rugby union competition and the first since 2019, with a twoyear lay-off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the All Blacks and Wallabies will get time to take revenge for their losses during the international Test matches late last year.

The Wallabies lost to England 32-15, while the All Blacks lost to Ireland 29-20. The time is nearing as fans will sit back and enjoy a rugby feast. Thanks to Super Rugby, The Guardian, Rugby World and Sky Sports, let’s take a look at the rugby squads that the various rugby unions have released for July’s sizzling Tests.

Drua players dominate

After their inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season, the Fijian Drua players dominated the Flying Fijians side with 16 players named for the competition against Australia A, Tonga and Samoa. Explosive Drua winger Vinaya Habosi was one of ten debutants named, joined by teammates Kalaveti Ravouvou and Apisalome Vota.

Force winger Manasa Mataele also earned selection, with former Crusaders teammate and star All Black Seta Tamanivalu making his nationality switch official. Test rugby returns to Fiji after three years and there will be fierce rivalry on the field as players go head-to-head.

Definitely, it will be a fantastic occasion with brilliant, power rugby, as fans get to witness their favourite Flying Fijians and Australia, Tonga and Samoa stars. Haereiti Hetet, Eroni Mawi, Sam Matavesi, Tevita Ikanivere, Tevita Ratuva, Mesulame Dolokoto, Luke Tagi, Mesake Doge, Manasa Saulo, Temo Mayanavanua, Isoa Nasilasila, Albert Tuisue, Ratu Leone Rotusolia, Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, Mesulame Kunavula, Levani Botia, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Rusiate Nasove, Frank Lomani, Simione Kuruvoli, Peni Matawalu, Ben Volavola, Teti Tela, Vili Botitu, Setareki Tamanivalu, Apisalome Vota, Waisea Nayacalevu, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Vinaya Habosi, Manasa Mataele, Setareki Tuicuvu and Ilaisa Droasese made the cut.

Star-studded Samoan squad for PNC

Manu Samoa’s head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua selected a star-studded squad, 12 of them uncapped players for the Manu including Ereatara Enari, Danny Toala, Jordan Taufua and Lolagi Visinia.

Ereatara Enari is no stranger to rugby. He is a former NZ U-20s captain who led the side when they were crowned champions of the Junior RWC in 2017.

The 25-year-old played for the Crusaders during their five-year Super Rugby Championship run and played 11 matches for the Moana Pasifika. Joining Enari in the blue jersey is his Moana Pasifika team mate, Danny Toala.

Lolagi Visinia made the allegiance switch from NZ to Samoa. Visinia, like Toala and Enari, represented NZ at the U20s level and currently plays his NPC rugby for Hawkes Bay.

He also played for the All Blacks 7s in 2012 and fulfilled the required stand-down period to swap the black jersey for the blue, under amendment to World Rugby’s Regulation 8.

Visinia played quality level rugby with the Blues and the Hurricanes. Mapusua named powerful loose forward Jordan Taufua in the squad.

The 30-year-old is a well-established footy player having played 100 plus Super Rugby matches for the Crusaders. Despite being uncapped, Taufua isn’t a stranger to the blue jersey, having represented Samoa at the U20 level.

Mapusua named a strong forward pack ahead and joining Taufua in the engine room are Saracen’s regular starter Theodore McFarland, Captain Michael Alaalatoa and Moana Pasifika’s loose trio in Jack Lam, Alamanda Motuga and Henry Time-Stowers.

Ikale Tahi squad rope Folau and Piutau

The Tonga Ikale Tahi national rugby union side announced a strong side, which includes recalls to former Wallaby Israel Folau, and former All Blacks Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa, as well as others who can remold Tonga’s future.

The inclusion of Folau, Piutau and Fekitoa marks the return to international Test rugby for all three players under World Rugby’s new eligibility laws introduced in January. Tonga has also brought in Augustine Pulu.

All players completed World Rugby compulsory stand down periods from their previous national teams which would be a boost to Tonga, as they seek RWC qualification. The likes of Siegfried Fisiihoi, Tau Kolomatangi, David Lolohea, Sam Moli, Siua Maile, Jay Fonokalafi, Siate Tokolahi, Ben Tameifuna, Joe ‘Apikotoa, Sam Lousi, Leva Fifita, Veikoso Poloniati, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Viliami Taulani, Lotu Inisi, Solomone Funaki, Sione Tu’ipulotu, Sonatane Takulua, Augustine Pulu, Manu Paea, William Havili, James Faiva, Malakai Fekitoa, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Fetuli Paea, Fine Inisi, Solomone Kata, Charles Piutau, Tima Fainga’anuku, Israel Folau and Anzelo Tuitavuki made the cut.

Australia ‘A’ ready for PNC

Wallabies Reece Hodge and Fraser McReight will represent Australia A next month after being named in the squad to play hosts Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Hodge and McReight were among the more surprising omissions from the Wallabies squad Dave Rennie announced for the July Test series against England. Other recent Wallabies included in the squad are Feleti Kaitu’u, Tom Robertson, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Lalakai Foketi and Filipo Daugunu.

Tane Edmed continued his rise after a stellar standout first season in Super Rugby for the Waratahs with his inclusion, while Ned Hanigan was called up after returning from Japan.

The team has a good combination of experienced and young players and will get a lot out of the upcoming tournament where they are expected to add thrust and excitement.

Wallabies add ‘steel’ to face Roses

Dave Rennie named the squad for the three-Test series against England. Michael Hooper will captain the Wallabies squad, which includes six uncapped players - Pone

Fa’amausili, Nick Frost, Jed Holloway, Suliasi Vunivalu, Cadeyrn Neville and David Porecki.

Neville gets his first international call-up at 33, while Vunivalu was selected, having impressed for the Reds following his switch. Rennie’s overseas-based picks are Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and wing Marika Koroibete.

Reece Hodge is arguably the most high-profile omission, while Izack Rodda is ruled out with a foot injury. Rennie’s ‘steel’ to face the Roses include Jed Holloway, Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Banks, Angus Bell, Quade Cooper, Pone Fa’amausili, Folau Fainga’a, Nick Frost, Jake Gordon, Michael Hooper, Jed Holloway, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Rob Leota, Noah Lolesio, Lachlan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Cadeyrn Neville, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia, Matt Philip, Scott Sio, David Porecki, Pete Samu, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Harry Wilson and Tom Wright. Rennie will face a great England side led by former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.

Shock omissions as All Blacks named

The 36-player All Blacks squad was notable for the inclusion of former rugby league international Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the omission of TJ Perenara.

This will be the biggest home series Test since the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour.

There are massive expectations and it will be immensely competitive. The 2023 RWC in France is just 15 months away and Foster is keen to try his new selections against Ireland, who have won three of their last five Tests against the All Blacks, but have never won in NZ.

Tuivasa-Sheck captained NZ’s league team before returning to rugby union.

The other uncapped players are Leicester Fainga’anuku, Stephen Perofeta, Folau Fakatava, Pita Gus Sowakula and Aidan Ross.

Fakatava and Finlay Christie are back-ups for Aaron Smith, as veteran Perenara and the experienced Brad Weber were omitted.

Bulk of the squad is provided by the Blues and Crusaders who will contest the Super Rugby Pacific final.

Three experienced candidates - Joe Moody, Ethan Blackadder and Anton Lienert-Brown - are unavailable because of injury, while Japan-based Damian McKenzie and Patrick Tuipulotu were ineligible.

Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Scott Barrett, George Bower, Sam Cane, Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke, Dane Coles, Jack Goodhue, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Folau Fakatava, David Havili, Akira Ioane, Reiko Ioane, Will Jordan, Nepo Laulala, Josh Lord, Richie Mo’unga, Dalton Papalii, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Brodie Retallick, Aidan Ross, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Hoskins Sotutu, Pita Gus Sowakula, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor, Angus Ta’avao, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Quinn Tupaea, Ofa Tuungafasi, Sam Whitelock and Tupo Vaa’I will fly the All Blacks flag against an impressive Irish side.

is a regular contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are his and not of this newspaper.