Sef Hao'uli: PI boys deserve genuine respect

COMMENT

Forget the talk of big hits and threats of a physical encounter.

Put away any thoughts that giving George Gregan a haircut when he didn't need one, or bear-hugging Clyde Rathbone until his nose hurt - look that's how we do it in the Pacific, okay? - is going to set up Pacific rugby for the future.

The future of the Pacific Islanders as a concept and the hopes of our three biggest Island unions depend to a large extent on whether John Boe's XV can play quality international rugby for 80 minutes.

For that reason, we don't really care who wins tonight's game, because I guess we all know the answer to that one.

No, the real test for us today will be how well our boys lose to the best team in the world today.

For this is not just a rugby tour for the Pacific Islanders Rugby Alliance. For chief executive Charlie Charters and his aloha-shirted officials are on a mission from God. That mission is to save the unique brand that is Pacific Island rugby. Hard, physical, full of flair and athleticism, and completely unpredictable.

That brand hasn't been in the best of health since the advent of professionalism and the poaching of our best talent by other nations. It is in dire need of a life-saving infusion - the kind that only big bucks and huge gates can deliver.

The first part of that mission is to win respect and, if there's any justice, international recognition.

Some of us are still looking to wipe away the nightmares of recent history.

We'd like to stop reaching back into ancient rugby history (the 1991 World Cup when Manu Samoa got all the way to the quarter-finals) to have something to smile about.

We've almost deleted from our memories that horrific scoreline at the North Harbour Stadium when a woefully under-prepared Tongan team met the All Blacks before the World Cup.

We've also forgotten Manu Samoa's recent limp effort against Scotland on a cold, wet night at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. We really have.

But combining our strengths is offering a different proposition.

On the strength of the Islanders' showing against Queensland A, the Waratahs and the Wallabies, we think it's time to break out the kava again.

Certainly, the boys have shown in the last three weeks that they deserve respect and international recognition - not the condescension bestowed by many commentators last week. How is it that our boys could perform better against the Wallabies than the current world champs and still be considered only "potentially" world class?

Charters says the Islanders inhabit the "economy class of world rugby". Back here in the cheap seats, where the glamour and big bucks of the pampered first-class boys don't much feature, it's all riding on pride and passion.

And that, as we all know, can only take you so far.

But there is good reason to be optimistic. Ten years ago, no one envisaged that two of the world's best loosies would come together with some of New Zealand's coaching talent to hold together what is left of Pacific Island rugby.

And there are plenty more helping hands where they came from.

In five years' time, Michael Jones and Willie Ofahengaue could be joined by BeeGee Williams, Inga Tuigamala, John Schuster, Joe Stanley, Joeli Vidiri, Jonah Lomu, Toutai Kefu, George Smith, Tana Umaga, Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina and Doug Howlett.

* Sef Hao'uli produces a sports programme for Radio 531pi, a Pacific Island radio station in Auckland.