Ma'afu earns Australia A call-up

Ma'afu earns Australia A call-up
Monday, May 28, 2007
ARU

CA Brumbies prop Salesi Ma’afu has joined the Australia A squad in camp in Coffs Harbour as it prepares to take on Samoa in the iRB Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday.

Ma’afu trained with the squad at the Wallaby Training Centre on Monday after Rodney Blake was called to Brisbane to continue his rehabilitation from injury under Wallaby medical staff.

A Super 14 debutant with the CA Brumbies in 2007, Ma’afu will train with the squad ahead of the Samoa clash at BCU International Stadium on Saturday.

“Rod is still a couple of weeks away from returning to the park so the decision was made to send him to Brisbane and bring Salesi in,” Australia A head coach Laurie Fisher said.

“Salesi had an impressive Super 14 season and this call up is just reward for the work he has put in at provincial level.

“We’re hopeful of having Rod back in action later in the competition but until then I have no doubt Salesi will do everything asked of him and more.”

The Australia A squad relocated to Coffs Harbour on Sunday after opening their iRB Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a 60-15 victory over Tonga at Aussie Stadium on Friday night.

The team to play Samoa will be announced on Wednesday.

That's some good going by Salesi!
Was pretty impressed by what I saw of him this season.
At 124 kegs he brings some good weight to the scrum too!

Again though what are we messing around with putting or selecting unfit players into our squads. Does not say much for our able body players now does it?.

Gotta say that Boof and AJ have been slapped in the face a bit here. Even though Aus A is a development team, they probably deserved as much of a shot as a S14 Debutante. I guess there is a weight difference to account for though.

Boof is already in the Squad GIGST.
AJ and Salesi both debuted this year after a year in their respective Squads last year.
AJ managed 7 Caps and Salesi 4 (however Salesi was up against Henderson, Shepherdson and Ulugia), so I think they both would have been weighed up as equals in terms of experience.