To’osavili responds to Tuilaepa’s challenge

New Zealand Prime Minister, To’osavili John Key, will be among thousands of people who will be watching the Manu Samoa take on the All Blacks at Apia Park.

To’osavili is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday for the test match. He returns to New Zealand on Wednesday night.

According to Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, To’osavili’s visit is in response to a challenge from him to attend the event.

“I dared him to come and watch our boys give the All Blacks a good run,” Tuilaepa told the 2AP radio programme on Friday.

“He will be watching the match alongside with his other members of Parliament.

"This is good for us because 200 other participants for the fruit picking conference will be here to watch the game…it will benefit our hoteliers.”

Eleven days away from the game, the chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U) is encouraging the players to give it their all.

The Prime Minister has been visiting the players during their extended squad camp at Tofamamao. The 26 players to take on the All Blacks will be named tomorrow.

“I reminded them that this is their chance to bring down the All Blacks,” Tuilaepa said.

“We have a very good chance of defeating them.

“The All Blacks haven’t selected their World Cup team only their team to play against us.

But if we can win by one point, rest assured this will be recorded in history that we conquered the All Blacks.”

The Chairman of S.R.U. also spoke about the importance of being fit.

“They have the experience and talent,” he said. “But there is only one way they can guarantee a win is to have enough fitness and that can be done if they are committed to training.

“If they can accomplish that with a strong will, they will own the game.”

One of the problems faced by coaches is building the players’ courage.

Tuilaepa said some teams are defeated before the game because players lack mental toughness.

“But they need to remember the All Blacks (players) are also men just like them,” he emphasised.

“If your tackles are good, the other player will fall on the ground and will feel pain.

“They will panic if we give them a good fight at the start. They must remember that even if they are good players, if don’t have fitness, there is nothing you can do.”

In comparison to the World Cup, the Prime Minister said this game is different.

While a reward of a million is promised to the boys in blue if they make it to the final of the World Cup, the home game with All Blacks gives much more than that.

“This game is being eyed by the world,” said Tuilaepa.

“If they win, it’s just another All Blacks game. If we defeat the All Blacks, all the international clubs will eye each player in blue and they will be offering higher contracts for those that don’t have any.

“That is why it’s important that our team sees that our roads are being decorated with flags. It will build up their confidence and remind them every day when they pass by, it that the whole nation is behind them.”

Speaking of the support from the nation, Tuilaepa thanked the villages from Faleolo heading to Apia for putting up the decorations.

“The players will always be reminded of the support and pride from their people when they go past the decorations. So I thank the villages for that.”

As for the players, Tuilaepa said the boys are in good shape.

Pointing to Kahn Fotuali’i, the Prime Minister said he looks fit from afar.

“When you stand close to him, he’s quite small – you’re probably taller than him,” he said.

“The important thing is he’s fit. The same goes to the Tuilagi brothers, Alesana and Vavae and other players.

“That is why the support from the country is very crucial at this time to build the confidence of the boys and their courage.”

If there is one challenge that the All Blacks will have to conquer – it would be the boiling heat.

According to Tuilaepa this is an advantage for our boys.

“That is another reason why the Union wanted to bring them here and play in this hot weather,” said Tuilaepa.

“We always play in the freezing weather so let them play in the heat. If we start the game at 3pm an hour would be enough for them to feel the heat. That is why it’s important for our players based overseas to get here early so they can get used to the heat.”