THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW
Nine New Zealanders, four Australians, a goalkicking Irishman and an English prop are on track to make the most unusual XV ever assembled for a World Cup.
The assortment of All Black hasbeens and never-weres form the majority of those itching to reinvent themselves for a final fling on the global stage, wrapped up not in their usual funereal garb but in the red of Tonga or blue of Samoa.
The rule allowing players to switch allegiance from the country of their birth to the country of their heritage after at least three years out of the Test arena has worked a treat for Tonga, exactly as it was intended to do for the three South Pacific island nations.
Tonga's big-name signings cover just about every compartment of their putative line-up for their pool opener against Ireland in 12 weeks' time. When they look at the opposition in Nantes on September 16, the world's No.1 will see some familiar old faces lining up against them in very unfamiliar colours.
Charles Piutau, the Premiership's first £1m-a-season player, will be on one wing. Two more ex-All Blacks, George Moala and Malakai Fekitoa, are in contention to join forces in midfield, assuming each resists the challenge of a New Zealand sevens star, Pita Ahki who helped Toulouse win the Top 14 title last weekend.
Moala finished his season strongly at Clermont, likewise Fekitoa whose presence from start to finish in the URC final saw Munster defy the odds and relieve Stormers of their title on home ground in Cape Town. Ireland's Grand Slammers will not be fooled by Munster's refusal to renew Fekitoa's contract.
Those on the receiving end at The Aviva seven autumns ago – Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray and Tadhg Furlong – will remember only too well the damage Fekitoa did back then. His two tries enabled the All Blacks to even up the score after Ireland routed them 40-29 in Chicago a fortnight earlier.
Another Kiwi, William Havili, is already in situ at fly-half for Tonga having played seven Tests there last year. He is the younger brother of 25-Test All Black centre David Havili.
The pack will be bolstered by Adam Coleman, last seen in green-and-gold disappearing with the rest of the Wallabies in their losing quarter-final against England in Japan four years ago. A survivor of London Irish's demise, Coleman is now set to emulate his father, Pau'u Afeaki, who captained Tonga 40 years ago.
The rule allowing players with dual-nationality qualifications to change country three or more years after their last international appearance ensures that a steady stream of All Black rejects will find a way back to Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
Five native Islanders have been capped in recent seasons without commanding a regular place in the New Zealand 23, at least not yet. Full-back/wing Roger Tuivasa-Shelk is Samoan, back rower Pita Gus Sowakula is Fijian and the remaining trio all Tongan, including the most exotically named of all All Blacks: Leicester, Ofa, Ki, Wales, Twickenham Fainga'anuku.
His names are a travelogue of Tonga's World Cup adventure from almost a quarter of a century ago. Leicester's father, Malakai, propped for Tonga when they beat Italy at Welford Road (hence the Leicester bit) before losing to Wales and shipping 101 points to England (hence the geographical christian names).
Fainga'anuku must be relieved that Tonga's 1999 training bases did not encompass a session on Anglesey at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Football Club.
THOSE CHANGING COUNTRIES:
Charles Piutau (New Zealand to Tonga) Age 31. All Black Tests 17. Last, v South Africa, Johannesburg, 2015
Israel Folau (Australia to Tonga) Age 34. Wallaby Tests 73. Last, v England, Twickenham, 2018
Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand to Tonga) Age 31. All Black Tests 24. Last, v Lions, Auckland, 2017
George Moala (New Zealand to Tonga) Age 32. All Black Tests 4. Last, v Lions, Auckland, 2017
Adam Coleman (Australia to Tonga. Age 31. Wallaby Tests 38. Last, v England, Oita, 2019
Vaea Fifita (New Zealand to Tonga). Age 31. All Black Tests 11. Last, v South Africa, Wellington, 2019
Pita Ahki (New Zealand Sevens to Tonga). Age 30
Charlie Faumuina (New Zealand to Samoa). Age 36. All Black Tests 50. Last, v Lions, Auckland 2017
Steven Luatua (New Zealand to Samoa). Age 32. All Black Tests 15. Last, v Italy, Rome, 2016
Lima Sopoaga (New Zealand to Samoa). Age 32. All Black Tests 16. Last, v Wales, Cardiff, 2017
Christian Leali'ifano (Australia to Samoa). Age 35. Wallaby Tests 26. Last, v England, Oita, 2019
Jack Dempsey (Australia to Scotland). Age 29. Wallaby Tests 14. Last, v Georgia, Shizuoka, 2019
Henry Thomas (England to Wales). Age 31. England Tests 7. Last, v New Zealand, Auckland, 2014
Ben Healy (Ireland to Scotland). Age 24, this week. No Tests
Jean Kleyn (Ireland to South Africa). Age 29. Ireland Tests 5. Last, v Samoa, Fukuoka, 2019
