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Once a Super Rugby star for the Blues, Melani Nanai’s route to international success has – unlike his on-field exploits – been a slow burn. However, now 31 years of age, Nanai’s heartfelt reaction to his recent Manu Samoa call-up displayed the heart and culture embedded in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Pride, family and shock were terms Nanai used to describe his past three weeks; an emotional journey that ended ceremoniously with a dramatic match-winning try in the left corner to seal third place for his nation in Osaka.
It was just his second Test in Manu Samoa colours, and after a quiet cameo in his side’s 27-49 semi-final defeat to Japan, Samoa were in need of a super-sub performance in the final round, and Nanai delivered.
With the scores locked at 13 apiece with just four minutes remaining in the contest, fellow Samoa reserve Afa Moleli looked set to deliver the ball to a wide-open Nanai down the left flank, but the USA defence shut down the space, forcing Moleli to take the ball into contact.
One tackle attempt fell off after a sharp Moleli step, and while the second attempt dragged the 21-year-old to the ground, the youngster took his chance at an offload just before hitting the turf, setting Nanai up with just enough space to find the try line.
The speedster told RugbyPass after the game that he was just happy to get the win with his team and finish the tournament on a high, going on to express how much the whirlwind experience had meant to him.
“I mean, last week, the process, everything; I only got the call up two weeks ago to come and represent my country. It’s a proud moment for me and my family,” he told RugbyPass following the final whistle.
“Obviously, us as Samoans, we’re proud of our culture. To wear this jersey means a lot and last week it all hit me when I got named to play. I called my parents and they were just so excited, I just wanted to go out there and make them proud and make our country proud.”
That call came following the pool stages of the Pacific Nations Cup, making the call-up especially surprising.
“It was definitely out of the blue! I’m in Vancouver at the moment, I was playing for the Vancouver Highlanders. It wasn’t really a high level of rugby, then two or three weeks ago I got the call from coach saying that he wanted me to join the team here in Japan.
“It was all just a shock, I’m still trying to process it all. Hopefully, I’ll get back to see my family in two days and then I can reflect on it.”
Nanai’s trip to America also threw some surprises his way, with an initial signing with Rugby New York falling away when the club went under before he could take the field. An opportunity with Vancouver came calling soon after.
Now in the throws of international rugby, Nanai’s competitive instincts have been fully reignited.
“For me, it was more of a refresher. Obviously, playing in Vancouver, it wasn’t a high level, and just to be reintroduced to the rugby culture, it reminded me how much I missed being here.
“I wanted to show the young guys as well, just be grateful that you’ve got the opportunity to play rugby and play it at this level.
“Seeing the crowd out there tonight, especially the Japanese people, they were so welcoming, everyone was just happy to see rugby being played and that’s how it’s supposed to be.
“I just want the young fellas to be grateful, be present, be in the moment.”
He went on to add: “Our country is a very prideful country and ever since I started playing rugby I just wanted to make my family proud, my parents proud. I think one of the biggest things is to represent our country.
“Talking to my kids, hearing how excited they are to always watch me play and see me on TV and stuff like that, it makes me happy that they’re happy.”
As for the match itself, Manu Samoa head coach Mahonri Schwalger told RugbyPass earlier in the week that he had taken his team back to basics ahead of their final in order to address the shortcomings exposed by Japan.
The team’s set piece was dominated in the semi-final, leaving serious concerns ahead of the USA Test. However, in the space of just a week, the side were able to turn their forward game around, punishing the USA scrum and winning all but one of their 16 lineouts.
The strength up front set a powerful platform for the team’s dangerous backline to attack from, which is exactly what they did en route to Nanai’s game-winner.
“We didn’t put out a performance that we were proud of last week and leading into the game this week, that’s what we talked about. We talked about how we’re big, we’re strong ball carriers and our forward pack had to lead it and I felt today in the second half, we dominated. We wanted to win the game.
“We felt like we didn’t throw any shots in the first half. We talked about it after last week’s game, that we needed to be better. To come out and not give a first half that we were proud of, the message was to get out there and do your job and I thought the boys responded well and we got the win.”
For Nanai personally, his injection into the game at the start of the second period came with an edge, as the proud Samoan was desperate to deliver for his team, family and nation.
“I was still on a high. Like I said I was proud to be here, I didn’t want it to be just words, I wanted to show with my actions, so that’s what I did. I wanted to get out there and give it the best I can and make my family proud.”
