Written by Tony Smith for Stuff.co.nz

The Canterbury Bulls are buzzing ahead of the greatest challenge of their careers against a Samoa national team brimming with NRL stars such as Manly’s ex-Kiwis prop Marty Taupau.

Toa Samoa plays the Bulls at Christchurch’s Nga Puna Wai stadium on Friday night in a warm-up to their Oceania Cup clash with Fiji at Eden Park.

Canterbury coach Andrew Auimatagi said it would be the biggest game most of the Bulls would play and was particularly exciting for nine Bulls players “and myself” with Samoan heritage.

Bulls centre Matt Sauni, who was born in Christchurch but grew up embracing his Samoan culture, can’t wait to get a chance to tackle a team containing Taupau and other NRL regulars such as Canberra Raiders grand final centre Joey Leilua, Dragons centre Tim Lafai, Manly wing Jorge Taufua, Warriors prop Bunty Afoa and New Zealand-born Newcastle Knights Danny Levi and James Gavet.

“It’s really good to play against a team that you’ve always wanted to play for, but there will definitely be mixed emotions,” Sauni said.

“They will definitely test us out, mentally and physically.

Many visiting players were in the Samoa squad which made the semifinals at last weekend’s World Cup Nines tournament in Sydney.

Sauni said it was an honour to play against a team “stacked with NRL players”.

The 28-year-old is joined in the Bulls squad by his brother Erwin, with brothers Jiordan and Thoren Fidow-Kele, Danny Latu, Caius Fa’atali, Ben Ilalio, Roger Tafua and Alani Kakoi other players with Samoan heritage.

Fa’atali, a Year 13 student at St Thomas of Canterbury College got a chance to see Taupau and some of teammates first-hand on Thursday morning when a Toa Samoa contingent visited his school, where coach Auimatagi teaches.

“It’s really special just to have the Samoan players in Christchurch,” Auimatagi said.

“Like I said to our boys, ‘they are probably the first Samoan rugby or league team to play in Christchurch, so you are part of history’.

“Our families are all very proud.”

The Bulls lost the national provincial premiership grand final after finishing the round robin with three wins to earn a home final, and they also beat a touring New South Wales Country team 17-16 after a late field goal by loose forward Michael Butson.

Auimatagi has total faith in the character of his team, but admits it will be a step up against a Samoan side comprising fulltime professionals.

“It’s just the fact it’s their job and their bodies are well used to the physical demands [of the NRL]. Rugby league is a simple game, but they are just used to playing at a higher intensity.

“Our guys need to do their best and do the simple things well and try and stay with them and maybe surprise them a few times.”

While the odds are heavily weighted in favour of Samoa, Auimatagi said the Bulls could draw inspiration from one of their own. Canterbury co-captain Tevin Arona was part of a Cook Islands team which upset Tonga at last weekend’s World Cup Nines.

Auimatagi has also reminded his players that “Lebanon beat England, so it cn be done”.

Arona was “pretty banged up” with a sore shoulder after the Nines tournament and may have to be managed carefully against Samoa. He is one of six Bulls in the New Zealand Residents team, coached by Auimatagi, which will play an England XIII in Auckland next Friday.

​The Samoan team are coached by former NRL players Matt Parish and Geoff Toovey.

Canterbury Rugby League chief executive Duane Fyfe said Samoa were the first international team to play Canterbury for 15 years, since Russia in 2004.

“A South Island selection played France a few years before that.”

Canterbury has had success against international teams in the past, beating France 24-12 in 1955 and Great Britain 18-10 in 1990.

AT A GLANCE

Canterbury Bulls v Toa Samoa

When: 7.30pm, Friday

Where: Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch.

Teams

CANTERBURY BULLS: Jordan Coleman, Ben Ilalio, Matt Sauni, Jope Tagicakibau, Regan Stanton, Tevin Arona (co-capt), Brad Campbell, Alex Todd (co-capt), Alani Kakoi, Jiordan Fidow-Kele, Danny Latu, Caius Fa’atili, Michael Butson. Interchange (from): Justin Lynch, Thoren Fidow-Kele, David Tongo Tongo, James Baxendale, Vinnie Paul, Erwin Sauni, Roger Tafua, Rangi Thompson. Coaches: Andrew Auimatagi, Jed Lawrie, Jamie Lester.

TOA SAMOA: Tim Lafai, Joey Leilua, Jorge Taufua, Brian Too, Jarome Luai, Danny Levi, Lalotoa Mata’afa, Marion Seve, Junior Paulo, Dunamis Lui, Marty Taupau, Moses Leota Luciano Leilua, James Gavet, Bunty Afoa, Michael Chee Kam, Ligi Sao. Coaches: Matt Parish, Geoff Toovey. Coaches: Matt Parish and Geoff Toovey.

The Canterbury Bulls’ caused an upset win over reigning premiers, Akarana Falcons, coming away with a 28 – 18 victory, showing they’re one to watch in this year’s competition.

Co-captain Tevin Arona scored a hat-trick and scrumhalf Brad Campbell and loose forward Michael Butson also had standout games. Canterbury’s 17-year-old second rower, Caius Fa’atili, impressed on the day with pace and a dominant defensive performance.

Eiden Ackland opened the scoring for Akarana early in the game which was soon followed by an impressive long-range intercept try as Akarana’s, Simon Luafaleao ran almost 80 metres to score.

The Bulls rebounded from a 12-0 deficit to score 26 unanswered points against Akarana, despite being without two of their team leaders, captain James Baxendale and Rulon Nutira.

The Bulls unleashed four tries in the second half, after some impressive approach play by Fa’atili, Ilalio and Danny Latu.

Game one saw the Counties Manukau Stingrays score 11 tries to beat Waikato 62-16. Counties were dominant across the park with Prop Connor Taurua-Purcell grabbing a hat-trick for the Stingrays with second-rower Nicholas Halalilo and wing Geronimo Doyle both scoring twice.

At a glance:

Canterbury Bulls 28 (Tevin Arona 3, Ben Ilalio, Justin Lynch, Regan Stanton tries; Caius Fa’atalii 2 goals) Akarana Falcons 18 (Eiden Ackland, Simon Luafaleao, Sam Fa’apito tries; Francis Leger 3 goals).

Counties Manukau Stingrays 62 (Connor Purcell 3, Nicholas Halalilo 2, Geronimo Doyle 2, Erin-Wayne Clark, Junior Tukinga, James Dowie, Richard Holani tries; Drew Radich 9 goals) Waikato 16 (Pawhare Brown, Duane Sykes, Caleb McLean tries; Hayden Karena 2 goals).

Played Win Lost Draw Scored Against Points Pts  diff %
NATIONAL PREMIERSHIP
AKARANA FALCONS 1 0 1 0 16 28 0 -12 57%
CANTERBURY BULLS 1 1 0 0 28 16 2 12 175%
COUNTIES MANUKAU STINGRAYS 1 1 0 0 62 16 2 46 388%
WAIKATO 1 0 1 0 16 62 0 -46 26%

 

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Round 2 NZRL National Premiership – Sunday 22nd September 

Waikato v Canterbury Bulls – 1pm, FMG Stadium, Hamilton

Akarana Falcons v Counties Manukau Stingrays – 3pm, Pulman Park Auckland

All NZRL Premiership matches will be televised on SKY Sport 4.