This weekend Pete Samu will play in front of 70,000 fans against Northampton for a precious piece of silverware in Cardiff. But the Melbourne-born Bordeaux forward is already thinking about the months to come, with the back-rower intent on reclaiming his Wallabies jersey.
After Rugby Australia confirmed The Roar’s earlier exclusive report that Samu had signed with the Waratahs on Wednesday afternoon, the back-rower has rocketed back into the Wallabies conversation ahead of the Lions series.
Samu didn’t dance around the subject of wanting to reclaim his Wallabies jersey, having played the last of his 33 Tests against the Springboks under Eddie Jones before falling out of favour.
“My family and I are really happy to be coming home. We’ve enjoyed our time in France but it’s the right time for us to return to Australia,” he said.
“It feels like a full circle moment to come back to Sydney, a place I started my journey to playing professional rugby and I’m looking forward to linking back up with Dan [McKellar] and the Waratahs, who I’m confident are heading in a positive direction.
“I’m also highly motivated by the upcoming events in Australian rugby and will certainly be working hard to give myself the best chance to be part of them and earn another opportunity in the gold jersey.”
Wallabies back-rower Pete Samu has officially signed with the NSW Waratahs. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Versatile, explosive and experienced, Samu is just the type of player who coaches love because he can turn a game with his freakish ability but also cover several roles.
It’s why Scott Robertson loved him at the Crusaders, with the now All Blacks coach using him as super-sub during his first two titles with the New Zealand heavyweights.
The question is whether Joe Schmidt shares the same opinion and would consider him to take on the Lions?
“I’ve just had a brief chat with Joe about coming back and what that looks like,” Samu told a small group of Australian reporters shortly after waking on Wednesday morning.
“He sounds pretty keen. But obviously, I’ve got to play some good footy and try and impress.”
But what could slow his return to the Wallabies is the fact the French Top 14 final is on June 28 – three weeks before Schmidt’s men take on the Lions in the first Test in Brisbane.
Samu’s club Bordeaux is expected to go deep in the competition, with the club currently second on the competition standings and last year’s runner’s up.
And if their run to the Champions Cup final this weekend is any indication, they are likely to go just as deep in the world’s richest domestic league.
“Speaking to Joe, we had a chat about how close the final and the British and Irish Tests are going to be, so it’s really just playing it by ear,” Samu said. “I think it’s going to depend on all that.”
Samu is adamant he’s in the form of his life, having rediscovered his love with rugby after two seasons at Bordeaux where the French club plays some of the most glorious rugby in the world.
“I think I’m just really enjoying my footy a lot more,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say I was losing the enjoyment, but just being in a new environment, a whole new culture, I feel like it’s brought that enjoyment back.”
It helps when you’re playing alongside a French-laden Bordeaux side, who have Test halves Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert at the club.
The French wizardry continued with centre Yoram Moefana, as well as magnificent Test wingers Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud.
“We’ve got some great players who can just make anything out of nothing. So just playing with that instinct, I think definitely allows me to play my game,” he added.
“But you know how tough it can get with the Top 14, that real slow footy, which I’ve also had to learn quite a bit.”
Pete Samu scored in Bordeaux’s thrilling win over Toulouse to reach the Champions Cup final. Photo: Twitter
Samu’s skill set was firmly on display recently as he scored the opening try against Toulouse in the Champions Cup semi-final, before brilliantly combining with teammates to help Louis Bielle-Biarrey finish a five-pointer for the ages.
But the magic the 33-year-old has displayed in club footy hasn’t always translated onto the international stage, with Samu in and out of the Wallabies under Michael Cheika, Dave Rennie and Jones. He also missed selection in consecutive World Cups.
Samu admitted “consistency” was his biggest area of improvement in a game defined by “small margins”.
He added that he thought he had played his last match in gold for Australia A against Portugal on the eve of the World Cup, having been left out by Jones.
“I mean, a bit of me sort of thought that was going to be the last. But I still had this desire that I had unfinished business in the gold jersey,” he said.
“Obviously disappointing not to make World Cup, again. But I feel like everything happens for a reason. And I’m just really excited to head back home to get another crack, hopefully get another crack.”
Meanwhile, Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne said he was thrilled that Samu had opted to return home on the eve of the first of two showpiece events in the space of three years.
“Pete is an experienced Test player who has tasted success across multiple teams in multiple countries,” he said.
“It’s promising to see players based overseas identify the opportunities coming up on home soil in Australian rugby, and to have him back in our system is a positive for all involved in the game here.”
McKellar said he was thrilled Samu was returning to Australian rugby and expressed his excitement about working with the back-rower again.
“I worked with Pete for a long time, brought him back to Australia from the Crusaders,” the former Brumbies coach siad.
“He’s a player who brings a real point of difference. He’s an athletic backrower with genuine skill. He can open up a game, and has versatility to cover eight, seven or six.
“He has played the game at Test level and obviously had a very good season with Bordeaux in France.
“He’s going to be a great addition to our group. He is a quiet man, quietly spoken, but talks through his actions. I look forward to working with Pete again.”
Pete Samu is back in the Wallabies mix. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
Samu’s return helps ease the Waratahs’ roster concerns, with Langi Gleeson and Rob Leota leaving the franchise. His arrival comes off the back of the announcement that Matt Philip was coming to the Waratahs, with Reds lock Angus Blyth also set to join the franchise.
