An inspection team from the New Zealand Rugby Union arrived in the country yesterday for a site visit and to discuss other matters related to the Manu Samoa-All Blacks game this year
The media spokesperson at the Samoa Rugby Union, Rula Su’a said that there would be no media allowed at the time of their arrival at the airport nor at the site inspection at Apia Park.
She said that the media ban was confirmed during the Union meeting last Friday.
“There will be a press release that will be prepared for the media afterwards,” she said The Samoa Rugby Union Interim Chief Executive Officer, Faleomavaega Vincent Shuster also confirmed the visit last Friday during his press conference.
“Some of the issues that will be discussed during their time in the country include the tickets sales and other matters.”
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Those other matters, are sure to include a drain age problem according to an article by New Zealand journalist, Liam Napier.
He said that the problem at Apia Park was recognized in an earlier trip by World Rugby officials a week or so ago and that the officials will assess the problematic drainage system that encroaches on Apia Park field.
He also noted, “The build-up to the All Blacks' historic test in Apia on July 8 has been far from smooth and NZR will be keen to avoid any controversy around a momentous occasion for both countries.
“The main concern was a newly constructed drain that shortens the in-goal area and borders the sideline.
As part of a reconnaissance trip, NZR will now inspect the drain themselves and also check on medical facilities before All Blacks manager, Darren Shand ventures over to Apia “closer to the test.”
Shand will focus on transport and hotels details, he said.
"There is a concrete drain that's being laid as part of an athletics track," NZR chief executive Steve Tew said.
"Some remedial work will be necessary.
"We don't think it'll be a significant concern but it will have to be fixed.
"It narrows down the field.
There's either going to have to be some way of covering it, which we think is unlikely, or we'll require it to be ripped up and re-laid after we've gone.
Meanwhile Faleomavega said that he has no doubt the game with the All Blacks will go ahead.
“There will be a game and the only thing that is left is the selling of the ticket.”
Interim General Manager of the High Performance Unit, Namulauulu Alama Ieremia is also very confident that the game with the All Blacks will go ahead.
“I wouldn’t have come to help the team if I didn’t think they could win.”
“They will be a chance…. a big chance” Namulauulu pointed out that there will be some advantage to Samoa with Super Rugby games happening around the same time as the game in Samoa.
“And if two teams in New Zealand will make it to the final - there is a chance for us to really work on the All Blacks who will be coming.”
“Whether it’s an A or B All Blacks team, it is still the All Blacks.”
A previous report shows that the multi-million-tala facelift to the park is being carried out by Shanghai Construction Company.
The renovations started in September 2014 with a workforce of some 100 Chinese and 40 local workers.
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