Former Highlanders first five Lima Sopoaga has criticised the Samoan Rugby Union’s decision to part ways with former Highlanders midfielder Seilala Mapusua and replace him as coach with former Highlanders hooker Mahonri Schwalger.
The union last month elected to advertise the coaching role, which Mapusua had held for four years, and this week appointed Schwalger to a four-year term.
Sopoaga, who played 16 tests for the All Blacks before representing Manu Samoa at last year’s World Cup after a stand-down period, said the end of Mapusua’s tenure left a "sour taste" in his mouth and he suggested some Samoan players would be reconsidering their commitment to the national team.
"Maps was a massive reason why I decided to have a crack and go back. Seeing the treatment of him has left a sour taste in my mouth," Sopoaga told The New Zealand Herald.
"There’s a lot of disappointed players from the World Cup squad who are a bit confused and p... off right now.
"All those boys loved playing for Samoa but it now puts questions over those decisions to come back.
"I’m sure guys still will but you might miss out on those quality players who thought Maps was the guy.
"He’s a good coach, a special man, a great manager of people."
Sopoaga told the Herald he initially had reservations about the World Cup campaign because of stories of the lack of professionalism in Samoan rugby.
"Samoa can only do the best with what they’ve got.
"What Seilala delivered, and who he was able to bring on board, it was superb for the constraints of the small budget the team has.
"He had a real vision and passion for trying to build Samoa rugby again and I think he was on the right path.
"I just wish those at the top, at board level, looked at the bigger picture."
The Samoans were highly competitive but won just one game, against Chile, at the World Cup.
Despite that, Sopoaga was certain Mapusua was the right man to coach the side.
"Maps was the guy to take Samoa forward," he told the Herald.
"He had the right vision for Samoa.
"Maybe it was because he’s someone who understands who he is and is strong in his values and opinions, having played around the world and he therefore understands the cultural and, more importantly, high performance side, and that’s what international rugby is about.
"I definitely feel if they continued to have him at the helm you would have seen Samoa rugby change for the better."
