All Black Sowakula not alone in Hard luck club
Feel sorry for Pita Gus Sowakula? ExABs second-five Ngani Laumape and a few other Pasifika players also deserve some sympathy, writes
Some observers may believe Pita Gus Sowakula was fortunate to be rewarded with two test caps before the All Blacks’ selectors nudged him into the cold.
Others, however, could argue that’s a cynical way to recognise what he has contributed to the sport in New Zealand, whether it be for the All Blacks, the Chiefs or Taranaki.
Once bracketed amongst the top six fit loose forwards in New Zealand, Sowakula may have already reached the end of his international career.
The selectors’ decision to pick 11 other loosies in the All Blacks and All Blacks XV squads for the upcoming tours of the northern hemisphere certainly doesn’t bode well.
What is clear is this: the odds of Fijian born-and-raised Sowakula, who made the pair of appearances for his adopted country against Ireland in July, being included in the All Blacks squad for the World Cup in France have blown out.
And it pays to remember that another talented backrower, Ethan Blackadder, will return from a serious shoulder injury next year. Anyway you look at it,
Sowakula is up against it.
It’s the All Blacks or bust for Sowakula — that’s because World Rugby’s three-year standown rule determines he won’t be eligible to represent Fiji in France.
He won’t be alone. Hard luck stories will fill the sports’ pages ahead of the global tournament. So, too, will tales of redemption. If history has taught us anything, it’s to be prepared for change. There will be winners and losers. There’s no shortage of examples.
Ngani Laumape
After 15 tests for the All Blacks between 2017 and 2020 the second five-eighth joined French club Stade Francais.
Laumape, who has since signed with Kobelco Kobe Steelers club in Japan, now wants to represent Tonga at the World Cup in France next year. Unfortunately that isn’t going to happen.
His mum and dad are Tongan, but Laumape won’t be able to play for that country at the global tournament because he won’t have completed the required standown period. He’s not happy about it, either.
‘‘No, I think I am a month late at the moment, which is kind of annoying,’’ Laumape told the What A Lad podcast. ‘‘I don’t know why you should have to stand down three years if you are going to play for your country of your parents birth.’’
Laumape referred to the lenient laws created by the International Rugby League board, which allows players to swap countries provided they only represent one nation in any calendar year.
This has enabled countries such as Tonga to load their teams with NRL players who otherwise may have played for Australia or New Zealand.
‘‘To me, it just sounds crazy that you have to stand down three years to play for your parents nation. It doesn’t sound right to me,’’ Laumape added.
‘‘But those are the rules. Imagine if there were other players that could jump on board earlier, so that smaller nations could get them in their prime instead of waiting three years.’’
Isa Nacewa
Nacewa has refused to whinge about a brief appearance – about two minutes to be exact – for Fiji in 2003 making him ineligible to represent the All Blacks.
He would have good reason to be bitter, but has accepted it for what it is.
Under the game’s laws at the time, Nacewa’s decision to take the field during a World Cup pool match against Scotland in Sydney meant he wasn’t allowed to play for the All Blacks.
That fact that Auckland-born Nacewa didn’t even touch the ball didn’t matter. That outing in a Fiji uniform was enough to shatter any hope the outside back had of representing his country of birth.
Later he played for the Blues and Auckland, with distinction. But it was with Irish club Leinster that he really proved his value, making more than 180 appearances.
Nacewa couldn’t play for Ireland, though. Those 120 seconds with Fiji put paid to that.
Ben Tameifuna and Jordan Taufua
Both were good enough to be picked for the All Blacks. In fact, they were selected with that goal in mind.
Not that you will find their names on the honours board. They never represented their
country of birth.
Prop Tameifuna was named in an All Blacks squad in 2012. Loose forward Taufua got the call-up in 2018. Both had their photos taken in the black shirt. Both were born in Auckland.
And both made their test debuts for different countries. Tameifuna and Taufua now represent Tonga and Samoa, respectively.
Malakai Fekitoa, Charles Piutau, Vaea Fifita and Augustine Pulu
Fekitoa, Piutau and Pulu – all are backs – have already completed their three-year stand-downs, and are free to represent Tonga.
Fifita, who played for Tonga as a schoolboy and was offered a rugby scholarship when he was scouted during a tour of New Zealand, was the last of these four men to wear the All Blacks uniform.
That was during the 16-16 draw with the Springboks in
Wellington in 2019.
Fifita, a lock/loose forward, was used as a substitute in his 11th and it was to be final test appearance for the All Blacks.
He has since played for several clubs in the northern hemisphere, and is eligible to debut for the Ikale Tahi when they meet Spain in Malaga on November 6.
Atu Moli
The four-test prop could, potentially, join younger brother Sam in the Tongan squad for next year’s World Cup in France.
A few things need to happen for that to be a reality. Atu, who last represented the All Blacks during the World Cup in late 2019, has to want to make the switch. If he does, he then has to be selected.
At 27 years of age the Tasman prop, who can operate on both sides of the front row, may not be in a rush to switch allegiances but he’s currently well off the radar in terms of returning to the All Blacks.
His last outing for the All Blacks was in the bronze medal match against Wales in Tokyo on November 1 in 2019. The threeyear standown period is almost complete.
Sosene Anesi
Remember this guy?
Born in Samoa, Anesi, a former Samoa 7s player, got his only test cap for the All Blacks when they played Fiji in Albany in 2005.
Anesi appeared as a replacement – at fullback – in the 58th minute, and his work was done. The All Blacks celebrated a 91-0 victory, and then it was back to work for the Chiefs and Waikato and the All Blacks
Sevens team.
Anesi popped up for the Waratahs and played for clubs in Japan and Romania. Due to World Rugby’s eligibility rules at the time, Anesi, now 41, couldn’t play for his country of birth. His time on the international stage was already a done deal.