England return to Rugby World Cup action this weekend, with their aims set on completing a clean sweep of victories across Pool D. Steve Borthwick’s men take on Samoa in their final pool stage match, where a win will secure them spot at the top of the group ahead of the knock-out stages.
Samoa’s hopes of progressing have all but vanished. The Pacific Islanders have lost two matches at the competition, with defeats to Argentina and Japan placing them at fourth in the pool. Los Pumas and the Brave Blossoms will clash this weekend, to decide who will progress out of Pool D alongside England.
However, England are not anticipating an easy run out against Manu Samoa. Seilala Mapusua’s side has been bolstered by an influx of former All Blacks and Wallabies stars, thanks to the World Rugby eligibility laws. The latest laws allow a player to represent a new nation after a 36 month stand down period, permitting that they have the appropriate ancestral or residency qualifications.
Here are the former New Zealand and Australia internationals in the Samoa squad, that could run out against England this coming Saturday.
1. Charlie Faumuina (New Zealand, 50 Caps)
Former All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina is an experienced head in the Samoa forwards, who knows how it feels to stand at the top of the world rugby mountain. Faumuina was in the All Blacks squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which saw New Zealand make history as the first nation to win back-to-back titles. Faumuina continued to run out for the All Blacks until the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour, with his 50th and final cap coming in the famous 15-15 draw to end the series.
Faumuina then began his three year ‘stand down’ from international duty. A move to Toulouse took him away from the Auckland Blues, and he soon found success by winning the 2018/19 Top 14 title. He followed this up as a double champion in the 2020/21 season, as Toulouse claimed the Champions Cup and Top 14 title to close out the year in style. A cameo run-out for the Barbarians saw the prop make an appearance in the famous black and white stripes against Spain, before his attention turned to the Samoan national team.
The 36-year-old made his Samoa debut in the 2023 Pacific Nations Cup last Summer, with a substitute appearance in a win over Japan. Faumuina would then make his first test match start in a win over Tonga, yet has only featured in one match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The veteran prop played for 26 minutes in the 19-10 defeat to Argentina a fortnight ago. As he approaches the twilight of his career, Faumuina would like nothing more than one last cap at the Rugby World Cup.
2. Christian Leali’ifano (Australia, 26 Caps)
Fly-half Christian Leali’ifano has started all three of Samoa’s Rugby World Cup pool matches, and has racked up a neat points tally of 28 so far at the competition. Samoa’s sharpshooting halfback slotted 16 points against Chile, as he nailed four penalties and two conversions to keep the scoreboard ticking over against the South Americans. Leali’ifano scored a try in the defeat to Japan, and added one penalty against Argentina.
Leali’ifano’s journey to represent Samoa at the Rugby World Cup, is truly an inspiring story. In 2016, The fly half was diagnosed with cancer, and he overcame after a year-long battle with Leukaemia to return to the rugby pitch. “Every day is a blessing so I’m just so thankful to be still running around,” Leali’ifano told Australian broadcasters AAP, ahead of playing for Samoa at the Rugby World Cup.
The incredible halfback achieved 26 caps for the Wallabies, and featured prominently from the kicking tee. The former Brumbies man racked up 171 points for Australia, after his debut against the British & Irish Lions in 2013. Leali’ifano recovered from a now infamous debut, as the fly-half was knocked unconscious after less than one minute on the pitch, in a tackle attempt on Jonathan Davies.
Now, after more than three year’s away from the famous gold jersey, he is eligible to play for Samoa, and Steve Borthwick will have his eyes on the dangerous playmaker this weekend.