Wallabies v Samoa: Digby Ioane kicked off Samoan influence on Australian teams
The Wallabies now have seven players of Samoan heritage in their World Cup squad but it was only 12 years ago when former Reds star Digby Ioane became a pioneer.
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With surnames like Lealiifano, Alaalatoa and Toomua in gold jerseys, it’s hard to imagine when there wasn’t a Samoan influence on the Wallabies.
In truth, it’s only 12 years since Digby Ioane broke through to be the first Wallaby of Samoan heritage.
Those powerful Samoan pistons he ran on catapulted him through defences.
If you didn’t learn about traditional tattoos from him you learnt about the rest of his wacky collection.
Ioane remains one of rugby’s most remarkable works of body art complete with the two large angel wings he had inked on his back in 2007 as a show of his religious faith.
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The production line to the Wallabies of those with Samoan heritage has been prolific ever since.
In the Rugby World Cup squad, there are seven...Christian Lealiifano, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, new boy Jordan Petaia, Jordan Uelese, Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio and Matt Toomua.
Of course, it’s part of a broader Pacific islands flavour with 16 players from Samoan, Tongan (five) and Fijian (four) backgrounds.
Compare that to Australia’s victorious 1991 World Cup team when Willie Ofahengaue, the original “Tongan Torpedo’, was the only Pacific islander.
How important it is to break the stereotypes of “crash-tackling centre” and “squat, broad-shouldered powerhouse” is not lost on Lealiifano.
Becoming captain of the Brumbies and a leading voice for the Wallabies backline is huge.
“In a way, being shy and too respectful to speak up to elders at times makes it quite difficult for Pacific islanders to lead because of that barrier culturally,” Lealiifano said.
“It’s massive to break the stereotype and lead.”
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So many Polynesian families live the game of rugby.
Alaalatoa is the perfect example. His father Vili played for Manu Samoa against the Wallabies on a wet day in Pontypool at the 1991 World Cup.
Sio’s father David also played for Samoa in that vintage period.
“With my father’s name being so big in Samoa, there were high expectations (for me) to kick on and to make it,” Sio said.
“The good thing is he’s a big believer in having the same passion for rugby in everything that you do, study and whatever off the field.”
This Wallabies-Samoa Test in Sydney’s west on Saturday night has enormous significance for every rugby-loving Samoan family in Australia.