Kia Kaha All Blacks; Opro Donates $5,000 Pounds

Kia Kaha All Blacks; Opro Donates $5,000 Pounds
Source: eventpolynesia.com

The countdown to rugby world cup supremacy is three games away with the semi finals this weekend. However, the excitement and buoyant atmosphere created by colourful and vocal fans have dwindled with the departure of the Pacific teams Ikale Tahi, Manu Samoa and the Flying Fijians.

For the staff of Health Star Pacific, a Pacific health organisation, it’s now the All Blacks all the way. During the rugby world cup pool games, staff interchanged red, blue and white rugby colours in support of all three Pacific teams.

Being based in Panmure, green was the next choice of colour during quarter finals in support of Ireland as part of the rugby world cup ‘adopt-a-second-team’ program. For Tiki Tuakeu, it was the closest to having a Cook Islands in the world cup whose national colour is also green with a lighter shade.

Semi final time and ahead of the Southern Hemisphere battle between New Zealand and Australia, this time Health Star Pacific is united behind the All Blacks – Kia Kaha!

Reported in the New Zealand Herald, injuries to Dan Carter and Mils Muliaina and form of Piri Weepu, Cory Jane, Dagg and Kahui have changed the scene with the All Blacks naming a predictable lineup to take on Australia with Israel Dagg, Richard Kahui and Aaron Cruden all starting in a game coach Graham Henry describes as the biggest of their careers.
“Crucially, captain Richie McCaw will start in the No 7 jersey. He has barely trained in the past couple of weeks because of his troubling foot injury but he will play.”
Alongside Vito in the reserves is Sonny Bill Williams, with the selectors preferring Kahui on the left wing and Williams' impact off the bench and ability to cover a number of positions.
Starting XV: (1) Tony Woodcock, (2) Keven Mealamu, (3) Owen Franks, (4) Samuel Whitelock, (5) Brad Thorn, (6) Jerome Kaino, (7) Richie McCaw – captain, (8) Kieran Read, (9) Piri Weepu, (10) Aaron Cruden, (11) Richard Kahui, (12) Ma'a Nonu, (13) Conrad Smith, (14) Cory Jane,
(15) Israel Dagg, Reserves (16) Andrew Hore, (17) Ben Franks, (18) Ali Williams, (19) Victor Vito, (20) Andy Ellis, (21) Stephen Donald, (22) Sonny Bill Williams.

Last week-end, the Samoa press secretariat come out firing “It is time the IRB governed with some maturity. That playing field can never be level if the United Kingdom continues to send three ‘national’ teams to IRB tournaments while every other country sends one. In fact, the biggest facade in world rugby is how the IRB and British unions managed to pull the wool over our rugby eyes that England, Wales and Scotland are different countries.”

A march is being organised for tomorrow inviting Manu Samoa, Ikale Tahi and Flying Fijian supporters to “bring your flags, paint your faces, don't forget your whistles & signs” to coincide with Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu’s IRB hearing. According to the organisers of Samoa Tulai, “we have all been ill-treated by the IRB and all of us have so much to celebrate and be proud of.” The march assembles at 48 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD at 7.30am for 8am start, finish at 10.30am. Dress code, “come in your country colours.”

In other rugby news, Alesana Tuilagi’s mouthguard that grabbed Rugby World Cup headlines failed to reach the reserve price by one dollar when the charity auction on TradeMe expired yesterday morning. But this morning, Samoa promoter Pa’u Fereti Puni was contacted by Tuilagi’s agent from England that OPRO’s managing director, Anthony Lovat, when heard of the ‘auction’, today donated £5K to the Samoa boxing fundraising. The British company have also offered to supply OPRO custom fit mouth guards for all the Samoan boxers in the program, at no cost.

Pa’u said, “This is great news and we’re very thankful. It’s been hard for Samoa with the early exit of Manu Samoa from the rugby world cup then there’s uncertainty with the Toa Samoa end of year UK tour. We have water crisis in the Pacific and fire still burning in Savaii.”

“We are hoping for a good win tonight for both Vaitele Soi and Warren Fuiava. It will surely put a smile on the faces of many Samoan supporters.”

The Tuilagi signed mouthguard and rugby boots are now relisted on TradeMe till Monday due to new interest for the 2011 rugby world cup ‘collectors’ items. An online donation facility is to be set up for people who wish to donate to the development of professional boxing in Samoa. More than 30,000 views were attracted to the initial auction.

ENDS

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