The names come readily to mind. Michael Jones, Va'iaga Tuigamala, Frank Bunce, Pat Lam, Steve Bachop, to mention just a few. What they all had in common was that they played for Western Samoa and also for the All Blacks. Lam, in fact, did not win a cap for New Zealand, but he did play for the All Blacks.

The trip across the Pacific was often one of convenience and there is no doubt that the Samoans lost out heavily to the bigger brothers, most notably New Zealand and lost some great players. The laws now on eligibility are much more stringent about playing for two countries and let us be grateful for that. Now, if you play for a country at senior, A or even sevens levels, that is a declaration and means that a player cannot play for any other country.

In the recent past, players could flit from country to country with impunity and some claims about grandparents being born here and elsewhere were, to say the least, tenuous. Memory is sharp about one player, Brian Smith, who represented Ireland less than two years after playing against Ireland in the 1987 World Cup.

The claim was made on the basis of a grandmother from Wexford and the same player had made the same claim about a grandmother from Scotland.

But the Scots laid down certain stipulations before they would consider him and Ireland proved a more convenient location. Indeed, without ever having put a boot on him for a club or province in this country, he was chosen for an overseas tour.

But back to the Samoans. Too often in several respects, in addition to losing some of their best players, the Samoans got the thin end of the wedge. Anxious to compete in the 1991 World Cup - they were omitted from the 1987 inaugural competition, although they had won the Pacific Championship in 1987, beating Tonga and Fiji, both of whom were in the 1987 World Cup, in fact, Ireland played Tonga in that competition - the Samoans, then known as Western Samoa toured Ireland and Wales in 1988.

It was described as a learning and public relations exercise. They played as they invariably do, with great flair, but were deficient defensively and in terms of application and discipline. They played three matches in Ireland and lost all three. They lost 49-22 in the international and then 47-15 to Ulster and 25-18 to Connacht.

But their travels proved beneficial nonetheless, as did the learning process as they proved in the 1991 World Cup. They played Wales in the first match in their pool and scored a sensational 16-13 win in The Arms Park. It was their first win over one of the major rugby nations.

Frank Bunce, Steve Bachop - who saw some service with Blackrock College - and Pat Lam - who was on the Northampton team that beat Munster in the final of the Heineken Cup two years ago - were all on that side. They lost just 9-3 to Australia, the eventual winners, in their next match and then beat Argentina to qualify for the quarter-final where they lost to Scotland.

But then came the exodus and, less than 12 months later, Bunce was playing for New Zealand against Ireland in Dunedin and Bachop was to follow suit. Tuigamala also played against Ireland on that tour.

Meanwhile, a Super-10 series was started involving provincial sides from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and the Samoans were involved for two season before being jettisoned. Then came the Super-12 series after the game went professional in 1995 and the poor relations of the South Pacific, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji were left out in the cold. No room at the inn for them.

Despite constant "begging", neither New Zealand nor Australia were prepared to give them matches and, consequently, experience at international level. Wales was the first of the major rugby playing nations to accommodate them and Ireland came next.

YET, one of the great arguments put forward by New Zealand when a World Cup was first mooted, was how beneficial it would be to countries such as those in the South Pacific. Words alas that had a hollow ring for the Samoans, Fiji and Tonga. But, not daunted, the Samoans soldiered on and in fact qualified yet again in 1995 for the quarter-final of the World Cup, losing to South Africa.

In 1995, the Samoans scored a very honourable 15-15 draw with Scotland in Murrayfield and in 1994 had beaten Wales yet again, this time by 34-9 in Moamosa. The Samoans were back here in 1996 and we have every reason to remember them with respect and admiration.

They met Ireland under the floodlights at Lansdowne Road on November 12th, 1996 and handed out a comprehensive 40-15 beating to Ireland. They again revealed their great attacking capacity, running and ball-handling skills as they scored five tries in the demolition.

Ireland managed just one scored by Richard Wallace. Had it not been for Ireland full back Simon Mason's good goal-kicking, the defeat would have been of even greater proportions as Mason kicked seven penalty goals.

Tuigamala was back in Samoan colours and, although he did not score that evening, he did a fair amount of damage as he opened up the Irish defence. That team was captained by Pat Lam.

Not too many who played that night are still in the current Ireland squad. Rob Henderson, David Humphreys and Mick Galwey all played, as did Paul Wallace and Paddy Johns.

In June 1997, the Ireland "A" Development squad played Western Samoa in Apia enroute from a tour of New Zealand and lost 25-57. Humphreys, Henderson, Kieron Dawson, Anthony Foley, Malcolm O'Kelly, and David Wallace were all in that Ireland "A" Development squad. They have come a long way since then. Incidentally, Henderson made his international debut against Samoa in that match in Dublin in 1996.

We have every reason to respect the Samoans and they are very worthy and welcome visitors to Lansdowne Road on Sunday.