Former New Zealand flyhalf Lima Sopoaga will make his Samoa test debut in this weekend's Rugby World Cup warm-up with Ireland, the Samoan Rugby Union announced on Thursday.
Sopoaga, 32, made his last All Blacks appearance in 2017 and benefits from a World Rugby rule change to play for the Pacific Islanders through family links on Saturday in Bayonne, southern France.
The former Highlanders playmaker is one of six players to retain their place form last week's non-test win over the Barbarians in Brive.
Seilala Mapusua's side start their World Cup campaign against Chile on September 16 and also play Argentina, Japan and England in Pool D.
🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸
— Manu Samoa (@manusamoa) August 24, 2023
Locked it 🔐
Threw away the key
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Your match day 23
Samoa v Ireland
Saturday 26th August, 2023
Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne#folaufaatasi #journeytorwc23 #manusamoa pic.twitter.com/EKl182k8O0
Samoa (15-1)
Duncan Paia'aua; Ed Fidow, UJ Seuteni, Tumua Manu, Nigel Ah Wong; Lima Sopoaga, Jonathan Taumateine; Steven Luatua, Fritz Lee, Taleni Seu, Theo McFarland, Chris Vui (co-captain); Paul Alo-Emile, Seilala Lam, James Lay
Replacements: Sama Malolo, Jordan Lay, Michael Alaalatoa (co-captain), Miracle Fai'ilagi, Jordan Taufua, Ereatara Enari, Christian Leali'ifano, Neria