Wallabies to play Samoa ahead of World Cup

Mon, Mar 18, 2019, 7:29 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Wallabies star Israel Folau believes September’s Samoa Test will be invaluable for both sides.

UPDATE: Monday's newly-announced Wallabies-Samoa Test will be an especially significant moment for Test duo Allan Alaalatoa and Scott Sio.

Both Sio and Alaalatoa's fathers represented Manu Samoa in the 1991 Rugby World Cup and the pair grew up in Sydney's west before joining the Brumbies.

Sio's name is intricately linked to that campaign, named Scott after Samoa lost to Scotland in the 1991 World Cup quarter-final.

"A lot of people know my father and Allan's father were both part of the 91 world cup squad so we're carrying on a bit of that lineage in our own pathway and our own journey with the Wallabies," Sio said.

Alaalatoa's brother Michael has also represented Samoa at an U20s level, before going onto play Super Rugby for the Crusaders, and though Allan's representative path has always been with Australia, September's game will be a big one.

"It's going to be a special game if given the opportunity to play against Samoa," he said.


"history there with my old man playing in the 91 World Cup alongside Scotty's dad for Manu Samoa and also my brother playing for Samoa 20s. I think the whole vibe around that game come September's going to be exciting and whether I'm playing, I'm sure the whole family will be out there watching that game.

The tighthead prop was at the last Australia-Samoa game in 2011, when the pacific Islanders beat the Wallabies ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but this time around there won't be any split allegiances.

"I still expect them all to wear yellow but you can't promise anything," he laughed.

"We just have to see. I can remember going to that game in 2011 that they played before the World Cup and kind of sitting on the fence but now you've just to tell the whole family just be supporting the Wallabies."

EARLIER: A newly-announced Wallabies Test set for Parramatta will be a critical chance to bring international rugby to Sydney's Pacific population, according to Wallabies stars Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau.

The Wallabies on Monday announced a September 7 Test against Samoa at BankWest Stadium, which will be their final Test before leaving for the Rugby World Cup.

Folau said the move would be an important one for the Wallabies to take a Test to the fans in the west, an area of Sydney that has a large Pacific Island population.

"It's so important for the overall growth of the game," he said.

"I think it'll be a packed out stadium, no doubt, there'll be plenty of Samoans and Pacific Islanders in general turn up to watch the game and support it.

"From our point of view, it's a great thing for the game to be able to first of all play a game against them but also in preparation for us before we head off to the World Cup."

It will be the first rugby Test to be played in the new Parramatta stadium and Beale said it would hopefully be the first of many.

The Wallabies are set to play Samoa in September. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyBeale and the Waratahs are slated to play three Super Rugby matches there this season before the Test year begins on July 20 in Johannesburg.

"I think the new stadium, I think it'll be a really good opportunity for the fans to be able to be more engaged with the players, a lot more closer to the action," he said.

"I hear that it's a bit of a similar feeling to what Suncorp brings to rugby and that's one of my favourite stadiums to play.

"So, hopefully going out to the west and to this new stadium we'd be able to bring that type of atmosphere and allow everyone to enjoy the game."

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It's a departure from the move the Wallabies made ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup when the squad spent more than two weeks in the USA, playing a test against the Eagles on before travelling to the UK for the September tournament. 

This time around, Australia will likely be keeping their preparations a bit more local before playing their Samoa Test and Folau said the team would embrace the chance to play another Test at home ahead of the quadrennial tournament.

"Obviously it'll be a bit different this time around but a great opportunity for us to play in front of our families and also our friends and the fans of Australian rugby," he said.

"Also, get a bit more extra time at home with the people that you're close to. I think it works out well for us but in the end, we're just happy to be able to get that game against Samoa and look forward to preparing well and then heading off to World Cup."

The Wallabies' first World Cup match is on Saturday September 21 against Fiji in Sapporo.

SCHEDULE

2019 The Rugby Championship fixtures (full schedule TBC)

Saturday July 20

South Africa vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Saturday July 27

(Likely) Australia vs Argentina, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

New Zealand vs South Africa, Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Saturday August 10

Australia vs All Blacks, Optus Stadium, Perth

Argentina vs South Africa, TBC

Saturday August 17

New Zealand vs Australia, Eden Park, Auckland

South Africa vs Argentina, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

International

Saturday September 7

Australia vs Samoa, BankWest Stadium, Parramatta

To register for the exclusive pre-sale list for the Qantas Wallabies match against Samoa at Bankwest Stadium, click here.

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