Like father, like son: Samo thrilled to be in World Cup contention
AT 35, Radike Samo is delighted to be the father figure of the Wallabies' squad but quick to point out that, despite endless speculation from his teammates, Test halfback Will Genia is not his son.
In a season in which the most penetrative and frightening of back-rowers enjoyed his third Super Rugby final success - two with the Brumbies in 2001 and 2004, and another with the Reds on Saturday night - the long-running gag in Brisbane is that the Test No. 9 is related to the grand-old rugby man.
When the Wallabies' squad was announced on Sunday, Genia admitted that countless people ''reckon I look like his [Samo's] son. He's taller than me. He's nine,'' Genia confessed.
After seven years away from the Wallabies, Samo (proud owner of Australian Rugby's best afro) was yesterday overwhelmed to again be part of the green-and-gold brigade, especially as it will allow him to continue providing parental guidance to Genia.
Asked if Genia really is his son, Samo replied: ''When the Wallabies came back from the European tour last year, he [Genia] had grown an afro. At the same time my son came out to Reds training. All the boys looked around and started calling Will my son's name, Rusi. After that, he [Genia] went home and cut his hair but the boys have just kept calling him Rusi.
''We've been rooming together for the Reds, now with the Wallabies, and the boys have been saying that father and son are now in the same room.''
There is now a strong possibility the Fijian father and Papua New Guinean son will combine when the Wallabies begin their international campaign against Samoa on Sunday, which would cap off an extraordinary comeback.
After six Test appearances in 2004 Samo drifted away, winning a French championship with Stade Francais in 2007, before heading to Japan where Reds' coach Ewen McKenzie tracked him down last year to ask him if he wanted to play Super Rugby again.
Samo certainly did. About the same time Samo had been talking to his wife about how he wouldn't mind one more season in Australia.
''So, yes, I was pretty happy that Ewen called me up to join the Reds' squad. I never thought I would make the starting team. It has been so unbelievable,'' Samo said.
''I also never really thought I would get back into the Wallabies' squad. It's been seven years, and all I wanted to do when I came back to Australia was to have a crack at Super Rugby. So to make this squad is . . . well I can't really believe I'm here.''
And don't worry, Samo's return to the Wallabies' ranks will not involve a short, back and sides haircut. ''I was thinking about cutting it but now reckon I'll keep it for another year.''
Samo will be around for some time yet, having recently signed a two-year contract with the Reds. Even when he is 37 that may not be the end. ''We'll see … [it] depends how the body goes.''
Reds' captain and Wallabies' second-rower James Horwill says he admires Samo's resilience and believes his free spirit will be an invaluable asset at this week's training camp. Horwill added that it was time the Wallabies took full advantage of the Reds' Super triumph.
''I hope we can continue that momentum,'' he said. ''The amount of guys we have down here from the Reds is good testament about how the team has gone about their task this season. But it's not just about the Reds. This whole Wallabies' group has the confidence to beat anyone. We have the self-belief in our ability, and now we have to take that on the park and put it into practice.''
Worked for me.
