Sat 6 October 2023, Savaii Samoa. Manu Samoa legend and world renowned hardman Tuilagi Alesana Tuilagi has issued a challenge to his nation’s side ahead of their final pool match against England tomorrow morning.
Asked by Oscar Kightley during their Kava Bowl Media RWC on Island show to comment on the Samoa v England match, Tuilagi challenged the Manu to show pride in the jersey.
“Show some respect for the jersey you’re wearing,” said Tuilagi.
“You know.. because.. it’s not yours.. you’re just borrowing it.”
“That jersey means a lot to all the legends that played the game,” he continued.
“If that jersey means a lot to you.. Show it! Show it in this game,”
Tuilagi was part of the Samoan squad that beat Australia 32-23 on 17 July day 2011 in a pre-world cup test match in Sydney.
Tuilagi made the opening try on that historic day and was instrumental in the win where Samoa ran in 4 tries to Australia’s two.
Samoa earned respect that day outmuscling the Wallabies at the breakdowns while Tuilagi was part of the dangerous backline that outshined the Australians who were No.2 in the world at the time!
As Manu Samoa prepares to play its final Pool D match of the Rugby World Cup against England, Tuilagi, who played eight seasons for the Leicester Tigers, has issued the challenge as a motivator.
Manu Samoa has secured a win in their opening game of the tournament, beating Chile 43-10 in Bordeaux.
Since that first match, the Manu have lost tight contests against Argentina (19-10) and Japan (28-22). The two losses has sealed Samoa’s fate of a pool-stage exit.
Tuilagi Alesana Tuilagi’s youngest brother, Manu Tuilagi, has been named as starting centre for England and will be facing the team he was named after for the first time in his career.
Samoa has not made a Rugby World Cup quarter final since 1995.
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