Former Kiwis Frank Pritchard, David Fa’alogo, Ben Roberts and Antonio Winterstein are all in the Toa Samoa side to take on the Kiwis in Saturday’s Four Nations encounter at Toll Stadium in Whangarei (4.00pm kick-off local time).
Pritchard, who played 27 Tests for the Kiwis from 2005-2013, was in New Zealand’s title-winning 2010 Four Nations squad although he missed the final while Winterstein (Kiwi #764) was in the squad as well but didn’t play a match in the tournament.
Fa’alogo played 13 Tests for New Zealand 2006-2009 including the Kiwis’ momentous 34-20 win over the Kangaroos in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final; he represented Samoa at last year’s World Cup.
Roberts made five international appearances for the Kiwis in 2006 and 2007 before going on to play for Toa Samoa in the 2008 and 2013 World Cups.
Also in the Samoan side are former Vodafone Warriors Pita Godinet, who will start at hooker, and second rower Leeson Ah Mau.
Named on an extended bench is current Vodafone Warrior utility Dominique Peyroux.
The Samoans head into the match on the back of a thrilling but ultimately disappointing first-up encounter with England when they had a 22-20 lead at one stage before losing 26-32.
The Samoans are training in Whangarei today and on Friday while they will also attend a fan day on Thursday.
TOA SAMOA | 1 Tim Simona; 2 Antonio Winterstein, 3 Tim Lafai, 4 Joey Leilua, 5 Daniel Vidot; 6 Ben Roberts, 7 Kyle Stanley; 8 Isaac Liu, 9 Pita Godinet, 10 David Fa'alogo (c); 11 Frank Pritchard, 12 Leeson Ah Mau; 13 Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14 Dunamis Lui, 15 Jesse Sene-Lefao, 16 Sauaso Sue, 17 Mose Masoe, 18 Dominique Peyroux, 19 Penani Manumalealii.
