EDITOR’S LETTER
WRITING ABOUT MOANA PASIFIKA’S POTENTIAL
inclusion in Super Rugby next year sent me off on a wonderful timing-wasting tangent of picking various Pacific Island XVs.
There are so many permutations. Polynesian players who played for the All Blacks; players who have only played for Samoa, Fiji or Tonga; those who are still active; a team that has retired; a team from outside New Zealand and the Islands.
That team would include the likes of Billy and Mako Vunipola who play for England, along with Manu Tuilagi, and Wales No8 Taulupe Falutau.
Closer to home, loose forwards
Daniel Manu and Viliami Ofahengaue are Tongans who played for Australia.
I played with Daniel in Auckland club rugby (and against him in school basketball) and he was a wonderful athlete with speed, agility and spring heels.
And I played against Willie O (as Ofahengaue was nicknamed) at school and he was incredible. He was huge, fast, and brutal.
Other Wallabies who qualify include Toutai Kefu, Will Skelton, Lote Tuqiri, Will Genia (who was born in PNG), Wendell Sailor (a South Sea Islander), George Smith, the Alaalatoa brothers Michael and Allan, and the Fainga’a brothers Saia, Anthony, Colby and Vili.
There will be more, of course, and this doesn’t proclaim to be a complete list, just as there is a glittering array of talented Polynesians who call
New Zealand home.
Some, like Sir Michael Jones,
Sir Bryan Williams, Olo Brown,
Keven Mealamu, Frank Bunce,
Jonah Lomu, Mils Muliaina,
Christian Cullen and Jerome Kaino are among the greatest to have worn an All Blacks jersey.
Others like Richie Mo’unga, are on their way to that status and there are many who were extremely good.
Just think of players like
Jerry Collins, Chris Masoe,
Sione Lauaki, Rodney So’oialo, Eroni Clarke, Va’aiga Tuigamala,
Joe Stanley, Graeme and
Stephen Bachop, John Schuster, Neemia Tialata, Sonny Bill Williams, Tana Umaga, Julian Savea, Bernie Fraser, Pita Alatini, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Joe Rokocoko, Alama Ieremia, Aaron Mauger, Tabai Matson and Doug Howlett.
In the modern era there’s Nepo Laulala, Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sevu Reece, Rieko and Akira Ioane, John Afoa, Steven Luatua and Charles Piutau.
My apologies to those I have missed out.
The challenge for Moana Pasifika is getting some of the huge array of talented players to commit to their team because the biggest carrot remains the All Blacks.
At least 80 percent of the 38 players have to be available to a Pacific Island team (most likely Samoa, Tonga or Fiji) and All Black who wants to play for Moana Pasifika will need a special clearance from New Zealand Rugby if they wish to remain available to the All Blacks.
It is no different to the system New Zealand Rugby has in place. If you want to play for the All Blacks you have to be playing in New Zealand. Super Rugby clubs are allowed only three non-eligible players.
It’s important Moana Pasifika succeeds.
Rugby as an international game is small. The men’s World Cup has been won by just four countries - England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. France are the only other team to have made the final.
Rugby needs more teams to be strong at an international level. For that to happen, teams like Moana Pasifika need to be successful.
And Super Rugby needs a team like Moana Pasifika to add interest to the competition.
This is the expansion team we have been waiting for, but it’s important everyone involved, at all levels, is patient. They will take a while to find their feet, to slowly contract the squad they need and want, and to show they can be competitive.
So let’s not write them off quickly. It took the Chiefs 17 seasons to win the title, the Highlanders 20 and the Hurricanes 21.
So Moana Pasifika should be allowed some grace.
And here’s something for you. If you recommend a new subscriber to NZ Rugby World, you go in the draw to win an H&H Recycled Puffer Jacket sold exclusively at The Warehouse as part of its ever increasing range of sustainable and affordable products. Made from 100% recycled polyester, the sustainable jacket is gentle on your wallet and kinder to the planet.
Make sure the new subscriber mentions you recommended them when they email me at: jim@nzrugbyworld.co.nz
Dear Jim
I would like to compliment you all on some great articles since the magazine first started. I have total empathy for your writer of the article in the current magazine of being a Wellington rugby supporter as I had all of the same challenges during 1989 to 2011 and my bosses being one eyed Cantabs.
Can I suggest that for the future some trivia questions are placed through the magazine as something different. Here are a couple to start with.
Of the world leading first fives listed in your article, which one had a stint playing club rugby in Wellington and at what club?
Who is the only All Black forward post World War II to be selected in the run-on test team in three different positions prop, lock and No8?
As a clue he was a teacher at Rongotai College when first selected and in his class were a couple of useful players called Graeme Williams and Wayne Nicholls who both went on to better things.
Keep up the good work
Wayne Seelen Richmond Nelson
Hi Jim
Nice to see you have taken over as editor of my favourite New Zealand Rugby World.
My greatest All Black Team Christian Cullen
Jeff Wilson
Bruce Robertson
Walter Little
Jonah Lomu
Dan Carter
Dave Loveridge
Wayne Shelford Richie McCaw(C) Ian Kirkpatrick Colin Meads Brodie Retallick Carl Hayman Sean Fitzpatrick Wilson Whineray
My greatest All Blacks team is probably not everybody's but growing up my first rugby beginnings were in1976 with Kirkpatrick and Robertson, and then later Loveridge and Shelford. Whineray and Meads I never saw play but I love the history of All Black rugby and I just had to have them in my team. I prefer backs with more emphasis on skill and guile rather than raw power hence Carter, Little, Robertson, Wilson and Cullen but you just simply can’t go past Lomu in a greatest team.
I have ended up with seven All Black captains in my team.
Regards
Brendon Robertson
Hi Jim
It is so hard, I wanted Jerome Kaino but didn’t want to leave out Michael Jones. I also rated Carl Hayman. Sean Fitzpatrick could easily be there instead of Dane Coles.
Christian Cullen Jeff Wilson
Frank Bunce
Ma’a Nonu
Jonah Lomu
Dan Carter
Aaron Smith Kieran Read Richie McCaw (C) Michael Jones Brodie Retallick Colin Meads
Olo Brown
Dane Coles
Kevin Skinner
Regards
Stephen
Dear Jim,
I am a Kiwi, born in Christchurch in 1939 and am an avid follower of the Crusaders and All Blacks, never missing a game throughout my teenage years at Lancaster Park and Carisbrooke and then once I married, at Eden Park in Auckland. In 1979 I moved to Australia with my wife and young family and I have continued to watch these teams on live TV and to support them when playing at the MCG and Ballymore Stadiums here in Australia.
Now retired and living in Townsville, Queensland, I often think of the good old days and players of those years. Namely Pat Vincent who lived close to my grandparents in South Brighton, Bob Duff, Alex Wiley, Maurice Dixon, Ross Smith, Tony White, Fergie McCormick, Dennis Young and many other great New Zealand rugby players of that era.
I was wondering if you could possibly, from time to time, go back over the years and write about not only the few I have mentioned but of other great players and their football prowess and life after football.
I wish you all the very best in your new endeavours and looking forward to the next edition of the N.Z. Rugby World magazine. Regards
John.
Thanks John, you will be pleased to see there is a piece on the wonderful All Blacks wing of the 1970s, Gant Batty, is this issue. Jim