Sunday’s encounter will be the sixth between the two nations with the Kiwis winning all of them, including their past meeting, a 50-0 victory in their opening game of the 2023 tournament at Eden Park, although Samoa will be fielding a much more formidable side with Murray Taulagi, Junior Paulo and Terrell May returning from that side two years ago.
Their side includes Deine Mariner and Payne Haas from the Broncos’ premiership-winning team, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is at fullback and Jerome Luai at halfback.
Meanwhile, Patricia Maliepo, Shakira Baker and Tysha Ikensio will all become the latest dual-code internationals after being named to make their debuts for the Kiwi Ferns.
Five-eighths Maliepo and second rower Baker played 10 and 13 tests for the Black Ferns respectively, while Ikensio was a member of New Zealand’s gold medal-winning Sevens team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Patricia Maliepo will make her Kiwi Ferns debut against Fetu Samoa. Photo / Getty Images
Ivana Lauitiiti, daughter of former Kiwis forward Ali Lauitiiti, has been named on the interchange for her debut, with halfback Raecene McGregor and lock Georgia Hale named as co-captains.
The Kiwi Ferns kick off against Fetu Samoa at 3.35pm, followed by the Kiwis v Toa Samoa at 6.05pm.
Kiwis: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Isaiah Papali’i, 13. Joseph Tapine.
Interchange (from): 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 18. Xavier Willison.
Kiwi Ferns: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Shanice Parker, 3. Abigail Roache, 4. Mele Hufuga, 5. Tysha Ikensio, 6. Patricia Maliepo, 7. Raecene McGregor (cc), 8. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, 9. Brooke Anderson, 10. Brianna Clarke, 11. Annessa Biddle, 12. Shakira Baker, 13. Georgia Hale (cc).
Interchange (from): 14. Ashleigh Quinlan, 15. Otesa Pule, 16. Alexis Tauaneai, 17. Ivana Lauiti’iti, 18. Tiana Davidson.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.