Manu Samoa captain Theo McFarland expressed his pride in leading his team against the Flying Fijians in the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup, set to take place at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. In a recent interview, the 28-year-old lock, who plays for Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership, acknowledged the significant challenge ahead but also valued the opportunity to captain his side.
McFarland noted his familiarity with Flying Fijians prop Eroni Mawi, who is on the reserve bench for the match. He praised the strength of the Flying Fijians, stating, “The Flying Fijians are a very good side.” He mentioned that while Samoa is fielding a young team, they plan to focus on their defensive strategies and look for opportunities against their Fijian rivals.
Samoa’s head coach, Mahoni Schwalger, recognized McFarland as a young captain facing a critical test in this match. He commended McFarland’s performance, saying, “He is doing really well. Theo is handling the captaincy really well, giving pointers and leading his pack.”