Here’s your captain, Samoa!

Ofisa Treviranus is the new captain of the Manu Samoa.

He will lead the men in blue out on to Apia Park on Wednesday 8 July when Manu Samoa takes on the All Blacks for the historical test.

The announcement was made during a meeting with Samoa Rugby Union management and the team yesterday.

The announcement took Treviranus by surprise.

“It’s an honour for me to be selected as a leader of this Manu Samoa campaign,” he told the Sunday Samoan.

“When I heard that, I was a little nervous.

I thank God for this opportunity. It’s not going to be an easy one. I didn’t expect this to be honest.

“We have had a great first week together as a team and we are looking forward to getting into our training programme next week.

“It is a great honour to be asked to captain this side as we prepare to host the All Blacks. I know that my primary job is to earn my own selection into the starting team and then from there I will do my best to provide the leadership that’s been asked of me.”

Coach Stephen Betham said that Treviranus was already recognised as a strong leader within the group and the time was right for him to step into the key leadership role for the team.

“Ofisa is a strong force in the Manu Samoa environment and he has the respect of the players on and off the field,” said Betham.

“Ofisa has previously captained the Samoa Sevens team and was a cornerstone player of the Sevens team that won the Sevens World Series in 2010. We congratulate him and we know that he will take this responsibility with great dignity and humility.”

Team Manager, Namulauulu Sami Leota, said Treviranus was a popular choice.

“We believe that Ofisa will be a popular choice among the people.

He will work closely with the senior players in the leadership group going forward,” he said. “We also want to acknowledge the great service done by David Lemi as former captain, and he will continue to be an important part of the team’s leadership group.”

At the meeting yesterday, Treviranus was told by the coaches and management that this was his time to step up and lead the team.

“They gave me those comments and I thought, oh yeah, it’s my time to step up and lead the team,” he said.

For Treviranus, it was a humbling moment. He says it’s a big responsibility as the role means you have to be everything, a leader on and off the field.

As captain, he sees that it is important to work with the team and the boys are working really hard.

But the challenge is for the players to prepare individually before the camp starts this week.

The management has provided feedback to the individual players on performance and their roles in the game. Treviranus has been playing with the London Irish club and just started playing in the last two games of the season in England. He is working on increasing his fitness and strength levels. “We’re working very hard towards a certain level of fitness,” he said. “We have the strength. But we have to work on our fitness and I think were in the right direction now in terms of preparation.”

Treviranus is confident as there are also good senior players to help him lead the team. They include Kahn Fotuali’i, Tusi Pisi, David Lemi, Alesana Tuilagi, Sakaria Taulafo, and Maurie Fa’asavalu.

During the historic match, “I am only the captain, just on the field [it is ] between the referee and myself”.

As for his new responsibilities, Treviranus is quick to praise the support of his wife, Talalelei, and his two children, the youngest, a girl, who was born last month. They are still in England and will join him here next month. “I think this whole process is about family support,” he said.

“It’s really tough but with your family beside you, everything is easy. My wife supports me in everything. We talked before I came over and I said I have a responsibility to go and play for our country’s team. If you agree for me to go, I will go. She said, go! I’ll look after our kids.”

“A big fa’amalo to my wife and our kids. Thank you for supporting me.”

He also thanked his mother, Sautia and his family here in Samoa for their support. He urged the country and Samoans overseas, for support and to wear blue on July 8. “We need your prayers. It’s a big game and it’s not an easy game. This is the first time to face the number one team in the world and we’re playing on our home ground.

“It’s going to be a tough and a really hard game. We’re looking forward to it!”