Floyd Mayweather Snr plays rugby????The Pacific Nations Cup kicks off on Saturday in Lautoka with the clash of the 'Pacific Titans' when Fiji take on Samoa while New Zealand Maori await their first appearance in the competition
It will be interesting to see how the IRB's funding has made a difference to the likes of Japan and the Pacific Islanders in the game's fastest growing area.
The
Fijians posses some firepower in the likes of Vilmoni Delasau and Sireli Naqelevuki on the wings while Akapusi Qera bolsters the pack after a sensational season for Gloucester. The big absentee is Top 14 centre Napolioni Nalaga who is staying in France to help Clermont Auvergne's push for a title.
Their closest competitiors are likely to be the newcomers,
New Zealand Maori, who have picked a strong-looking outfit with former All-Blacks Daniel Braid and Jason Eaten as well as Super 14 champion, Crusaders centre, Stephen Brett, who will be hoping to stake a claim for a Tri-Nations spot.
Tonga include those household names, Nili Latu, Epeli Taione and Hale T Pole, and after beating Samoa in the World Cup and with Fiji at home, the 'Ikale Tahi' will expect to push towards the to end of the table. Finau Maka will join up with his countrymen after the conclusion of his season with Toulouse alongside the other French players.
Like Tonga,
Samoa will be hoping to make encouraging steps following an indifferent World Cup. Michael Jones is gone and with the majority of the stars still around to break a few bones, including the likes of Alex Tuilagi, Census Johnston and Bath young star, Jonathan Fa'amatuainu.
The second-string
Wallabies have plucked a few wise heads amongst a few unfamiliar names who are probably just there to make up the numbers with a large selection of the creme of the junior crop destined for Wales and the unaugral U20 World Championships. One bolter to look out for is Sydney University prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa who is Waisale Serevi's nephew but prefers to smash it up rather than giving it the goose-step. Old-boys, Morgan Turinui, Mark Gerrard and Guy Sheperdson provide the experience.
John Kirwan wants the
Japanese to illustrate the giant strides he believes they have made since France. Japan narrowly lost out 15-13 to the Classic All-Blacks in their final preparation match before the take on Australia A in their opening match with Hirotoki Onozawa still running the tries in from all angles.
Fixtures
June 7 - Fiji v Samoa, Lautoka
June 7 - NZ Maori v Tonga, Albany
June 8 - Japan v Australia A, Tokyo
June 14 - Japan v Tonga, Sendai
June 14 - Samoa v Australia A, Apia
June 14 - Fiji v New Zealand Maori, Lautoka
June 21 - NZ Maori v Samoa, Hamilton
June 22 - Japan v Fiji, Tokyo
June 22 - Australia A v Tonga, Sydney
June 28 - Tonga v Samoa, Nuku'alofa
June 28 - NZ Maori v Japan, Napier
June 29 - Australia A v Fiji, Brisbane
July 5 - Tonga v Samoa, Nuku'alofa
July 5 - Samoa v Japan, Apia
July 6 - Australia A v NZ Maori, Sydney