With 7 squad members having Samoan heritage, the Wallabies’ family ties will be put to the test this weekend
Seven members of the Wallabies have Samoan heritage, including two whose fathers played for Samoa at the 1991 World Cup, ensuring their family’s loyalties will be tested this weekend.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE family loyalties of almost a quarter of the Wallabies’ World Cup squad will be put to the ultimate test this weekend when Australia takes on Samoa in their final warm-up before heading to Japan.
No less than seven members of the Australian squad have Samoan heritage and while there’s no question about where their allegiances lie, they all know their families will be divided over who they want to win.
“It’s a tough one,” said Wallaby prop Scott Sio, whose father David played for Samoa at the 1991 World Cup.
Live stream the Wallabies v Samoa in their last RWC warm-up match with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
“I think he’ll say he’s always supporting his son but deep down inside he always says he doesn’t mind each way but I don't think he’ll be that sad if Samoa pull off a win as well.
“I’ll support the Wallabies no matter who we play but he represented Samoa so it makes sense for me that he has a soft place for them in his heart. It’s a win for him either way.”
Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jordan Uelese and Jordan Petaia also have Samoan heritage while Allan Alaalatoa’s father Vili was a teammate of Sio’s dad at the 1991 World Cup.
That was the same tournament where the Samoans first made the World sit up and take notice of their incredible natural ability, beating both Argentina and Wales to make the quarterfinals against Scotland.
Sio was born in Sydney three days before that quarterfinal, unaware that the result of that match would determine his name.
“My parents said if Samoa win they will call me Manu and if Scotland win they call me Scott so obviously Scotland won,” Sio said.
“It’s something pretty special to tell people when they asked why I’m named Scott.
“It’s not a very common name for Samoans but it has a lot of significance for me and my family.”
A prop like his dad, Sio made his Test debut in 2013 and has been a regular ever since, chalking up 58 international caps, though none against Samoa.
MORE NEWS
Patty Mills on why he sings the national anthem
Smith back on top of the world
‘You have to take the big dog out’
The last time the teams met was in the lead-up to the 2011 World Cup, when the Samoans pulled off a famous upset and while Sio doesn’t want to see a repeat of that at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday night, he knows it’s an important match to the entire Pacific Island community.
“It’s super special, especially being able to play in Western Sydney where a lot of the island community resides,” he said.
“I think we’ll see a lot of Fijians and Tongans there as well which you can see is heavily represented in the Wallabies squad so it sort of shows the growth of Pacific Islanders in Australian rugby.
“It shows the growth of rugby in Australia. We’re taking on board a lot of what we’ve grown up with and incorporating that in rugby and getting the most out of it which is something very special.”
Originally published as With 7 squad members having Samoan heritage, the Wallabies’ family ties will be put to the test this weekend
Reds primed for Super season
The Reds don’t want to waste their good work on a successful pre-season tour of the United Kingdom when they kick-off their Super Rugby Pacific season later this month.
Two-man showdown for Wallabies job as succession plan revealed
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has laid out the plan to replace Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt – with two leading candidates emerging amid Waugh’s non-negotiables and the deadline to land Schmidt’s successor.