Manu Samoa

The countdown to what the Samoa Rugby Union is calling the Pacifica Challenge was launched at Fale o Samoa in Mangere by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi and Manu Samoa coach, former All Black, Alama Ieremeia.

The Prime Minister says getting reacquainted with Auckland's Samoa community is an important mission for the team.

"It is a great opportunity for the Samoa Rugby Union and our Manu Samoa team to rebuild our connections and support from our Samoan community in New Zealand."

The 35-year-old has been with French giants Toulouse since 2009 but will move to a new club in the Northern off-season.

The 59 test veteran, who played for Samoa at the Brisbane Tens on the weekend, said he was keen to extend his international career.

"I never thought of it at first but after signing a couple of years more and the World Cup being the same year my contract finishes," he said.

The team will be hosted during training camps prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games; and the formal commencement of cultural and sporting exchanges between Iwaki City and Samoa.

The MOU was signed on Friday.

The naming of the squad comes after a month of intense trials in Apia and includes a number of internationals.

The Rugby Union held three rounds of National Ten's play on November before trial squads were announced including Manu Samoa players like Oneone Faafou and Patrick Fa'apale.

This week a 25 man squad was announced and released on the Manu Samoa's official facebook page, before being removed.

Faleomavaega says it’s one of the biggest events for SRU two years away from the next Rugby World Cup.

“It’s a big challenge, but it’s a good challenge. We have faced Wales many times and they’re a formidable side so it’s good to have them here in June and that’s what we’re preparing for,” he said.

With many new faces in the Manu Samoa side, Faleomavaega and the SRU management are hoping coach Alama Ieremia and his boys will make the most of the opportunity.

The Manu failed to make the cup quarter finals in the opening leg of the new World Series campaign, losing to England and New Zealand in pool play and then the United States in the playoff for ninth place.

Interim head coach Stephen Betham said the players showed in glimpses what they are capable off but struggled with consistency and combinations and general fitness.

But he said that won't change their approach this weekend.

Samoa ended their Northern Tour last weekend with a 25-23 victory over Canada - just their second win in six tests this season.

RNZ reports the Manu were thrashed 52-8 by France in their tour opener before a narrow 20-16 defeat in Georgia.

Namulauulu gave 16 players their first tests caps this year and says with an ageing squad it was a risk that had to be taken.

"It's important we blood players with the experience we still have so that the learning is there and they can help develop the young players," he said.

Sakaria Taulafo and Elia Elia start in the front row, with Taiasina Tuifua and Chris Vui the new locking combination.

It will be a just a second test appearance for Vui after the 23 year old made his debut against France.

"It's a lot quicker. You ask any international player - the quality of every player 1-15 on that pitch is top quality and everything is just a lot faster, you've got to think a lot quicker," he said.

The Manu were thrashed 52-8 by France in Toulouse before a 20-16 defeat against Georgia in Tbilisi.

But lock Chris Vui, who made his test debut against Les Bleus, said progress was being made.

"We're starting to build as a team and what we've learnt is that it's going to come with time and patience," he said.

"In this team we've looked to bring back some old boys and a bit of youth mixed in together so the bigger goal is the World Cup. I think (the need for) patience in each game is probably the most key thing we've learnt over those two games.

As the scoreline suggests, this was a tight contest and the home side's forwards deserve plenty of credit for the result as they laid the platform to victory with a dominant display in the tight exchanges.

Georgia outscored their visitors by two tries to one with both their five-pointers coming in the first half when they dominated scrums close to Samoa's try-line.

The visitors opened the scoring via a Patrick Faapale penalty before Georgia were awarded a penalty try in the 12th minute when Samoa's forwards capitulated at a scrum on their five-metre line.