Islanders set to test England - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Islanders set to test England

By Julian Guyer 06/11/2008 07:25:03 AM Comments (0)

The Pacific Islanders side for Saturday's Test at Twickenham may be well-known to their hosts but that still leaves Martin Johnson's revamped England team with the problem of stopping some of the best attacking players in the English Premiership.

Known for their free-running and tough-tackling style, the backs in the combined team from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will pose a particular threat given any sort of ball.

Behind the scrum are London Irish duo Seilala Mapusua, considered one of the leading centres in the English game, and wing Sailosi Tagicakibau.

Both Samoans were signed for the Exiles by England's new attack coach Brian Smith, himself a former Australia and Ireland back.

They will be up against their London Irish teammates and England debutants Delon Armitage, the full-back, and lock Nick Kennedy.

Seru Rabeni, the Islanders' other centre, was one of the stars of the Fiji side that knocked Wales out of last year's World Cup in thrilling style, as was right wing Vilimoni Delasau, now with French side Montauban.

Johnson will need no reminding about Rabeni, given he plays for the England 2003 World Cup-winning captain's old club, Leicester.

Saracens scrum-half Mosese Rauluni captains the Islanders with his Premiership club-mate Kameli Ratuvou one of the quickest full-backs around.

Togan outside-half Pierre Hola is only the Islanders back not playing for a European club.

Up front, coach Quddus Fielea has also been able to select forwards of proven international quality.

Tongan back-rows Finau Maka and Nili Latu caused both England and eventual champions South Africa problems at the World Cup.

And the Islanders' front-row all play for British clubs with Worcester hooker Aleki Lutui flanked by Saracens giant tight-head prop Census Johnston and Glasgow's Justin Va'a.

Saturday's match is the first of a three-Test tour for the Islanders, who then face France before playing Italy on November 22.

For all their undoubted talent, the problems with putting together a multi-national side to take on well-drilled opponents, especially limited training time, means the Islanders have yet to win a Test.

This is only their third Tour following Tests against southern hemisphere countries in 2004 and a trip to Europe in 2006.

Pacific Islanders team to play England in Saturday's rugby union international at Twickenham (15-1): Kameli Ratuvou (FIJ); Sailosi Tagicakibau (SAM), Seru Rabeni (FIJ), Seilala Mapusua (SAM), Vilimoni Delasau (FIJ); Pierre Hola (TGA), Mosese Rauluni (FIJ, capt); Finau Maka (TGA), Nili Latu (TGA), Semisi Naevo (FIJ); Kele Leawere (FIJ), Filipo Levi (SAM); Census Johnston (SAM), Aleki Lutui (TGA), Justin Va'a (SAM)

Replacements: Sunia Koto (FIJ), Kisi Pulu (TGA), Hale T Pole (TGA), George Stowers (SAM) Sililo Martens (TGA), Seremaia Bai (FIJ), Epi Taione (TGA)

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