Seilala Mapusua

The former Highlanders and London Irish midfielder, who played 26 tests in the blue jersey, was appointed to the top job in August and has spent the past four weeks assessing the local talent on island.

The Manu did not take the field this year because of Covid-19 but Mapusua said the lack of international rugby had allowed him to dedicate more time to the grass roots.

New Zealand Rugby have said they're keen for a Pasifika side to join a new Super Rugby competition but are yet to make any concrete decision on where the team would be based or whether it would be run by national unions or a private group.

Mapusua, who was appointed earlier this month, said that one of his key messages to the selection panel was to increase the local player pool and focus on improving pathways to the national team.

"Development on the island is massive for me," he said from Dunedin.

"That's a big part of the foundation of the national team.

The Moto'otua-born midfielder played 26 tests in the blue jersey and was part of the team that famously upset Australia in 2011.

But recent seasons have been a hard slog for Samoa, with the Manu slipping to 15th in the world rankings, below Pacific neighbours Fiji and Tonga, and winning just seven of 28 test matches over the past four years.

Mapusua is light on head coaching experience - having led the Otago Under 19s over the past two years - but felt now was the right time to put himself forward.

A current member of the Pacific Players’ Association, Seilala Mapusua told TVNZ1’s Breakfast this morning the unlevel playing field faced by Tier Two nations is more dire than World Rugby acknowledges.

“Until we see some real change and movement from the north, it’s going to carry on being this way,” said Mapusua who was speaking after Fijian born Sevu Reece impressed for the All Blacks in their win over Australia.

Israel Folau will front a code of conduct hearing in Sydney on Saturday after being charged by Rugby Australia's Integrity Unit last month for posting on Instagram that gay people and others he considered "sinners" were destined for "hell" if they did not "repent".

Mapusua said Folau has the right to express his religious faith but it should never to be the detriment of another human being.

"There's always been players of different ethnicities, beliefs, religions and the common thing has always been being able to come together and that was through rugby," he said.