Timothy Lafale

Lafaele reflects on his 'special' match against Manu Samoa

For Timothy Lafale this game was different.

The Japanese midfielder had played 20 test matches prior to last weekend. He'd played against England, France and Ireland. He'd played against the Wallabies, the Springboks and even scored two tries against the All Blacks.

But never against Samoa, the country where he was born 28 years ago and spent the first few years of his life. The country his birth parents still call home.