Friendships are going out the window

Fukuoka – Ireland’s final pool match at the Rugby World Cup will be special for Bundee Aki (right) as he faces friends in the Samoa team but the rugged inside centre can expect no favours out on the field, Samoa’s captain Jack Lam said yesterday.

Of Samoan descent, Aki was born and raised in New Zealand where he played for Super Rugby side Chiefs before transferring to Irish side Connacht and qualifying for Ireland by residency.

The Samoan bond remains strong with Aki, who was coached at Connacht by former Samoa international and coach Pat Lam, who is also Jack Lam’s cousin.

However, those connections will mean little on Saturday at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, said the Samoa captain.

“We have no special presents for him, he’ll get the same treatment as everyone else,” Lam told reporters yesterday.

“Most of the boys are pretty close with Bundee, a couple of boys have seen him during the week, so we are still friends off the field but when we cross the line we are exactly the same.”

Samoa are out of quarterfinal contention after losing to Pool A rivals Japan and Scotland but they are hopeful of beating a tier one team before they leave Japan, having seen fellow Pacific islanders Tonga push France close and Fiji give Wales a fright in Oita.

“For us as players, we want to leave with a bit of pride in the jersey,” said Lam.

“We’ve been together for a good eight weeks and it’s pretty much been my family for the last two months, a great family.”