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Page last updated at 15:48 GMT, Wednesday, 5 November 2008

England face familiar Island foes

Venue: Twickenham Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT Coverage: Live on Sky Sports. Highlights on BBC Three (Saturday, 1905 GMT) and BBC Two (Sunday, 1230 GMT). Live text commentary on BBC Sport website
London Irish centre Seilala Mapasua scores a try for the Barbarians
Mapasua will pose a formidable threat to England's midfield

The Pacific Islanders include seven players from Guinness Premiership clubs in their side to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.

London Irish duo Sailosi Tagicakibau and Seilala Mapusua, and Leicester's Seru Rabeni are potent threats in a backline bristling with intent.

The Saracens trio of full-back Kameli Ratuvou, scrum-half Mosese Raulini and prop Census Johnston also feature.

Worcester's Aleki Lutui joins Tongan duo Nili Latu and Finau Maka up front.

Fijian Vilimoni Delasau, who scored blistering tries against Wales and South Africa at the 2007 World Cup, also presents a formidable threat on the wing.

Saracens scrum-half Raulini will captain the Islanders, who also include Glasgow prop Justin Va'a in their starting line-up, plus Harlequins centre Epi Taione and Scarlets scrum-half Sililo Martens on the bench.

Outside-half Pierre Hola is the only member of the Islanders' back division not operating in Europe. Like four of the pack, he plays in Japan.

Mapasua, the form centre in the Premiership, was an old New Zealand Academy team-mate of his opposite number on Saturday, England's converted Maori Riki Flutey.

The Islanders include six Fijians, five Samoans and four Tongans in their starting line-up.


Pacific Island team to face England:
Kameli Ratuvou (Saracens, Fiji), Sailosi Tagicakibau (London Irish, Samoa), Seru Rabeni (Leicester, Fiji), Seilala Mapusua (London Irish, Samoa), Vilimoni Delasau (Montauban, Fiji), Pierre Hola (Longolongo, Tonga), Mosese Raulini (Saracens, Fiji), Justin Va'a (Glasgow, Samoa), Aleki Lutui (Worcester, Tonga), Census Johnston (Saracens, Samoa), Filipo Levi (Ricoh, Samoa), Kele Leawere (Hino Motors, Fiji), Semisi Naevo (NEC, Fiji), Nili Latu (NEC, Tonga) Finau Maka (Toulouse, Tonga).
Replacements: Sunia Koto (London Welsh, Fiji), Kisi Pulu (Perpignan, Tonga), Hale T Pole (Suntory, Tonga ), George Stowers (World Kobe, Samoa), Sililo Martens (Scarlets, Tonga), Seremaia Bai (Clermont Auvergne, Fiji), Epi Taione (Harlequins, Tonga).



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see also
England call up uncapped quartet
04 Nov 08 |  English


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