Australia rugby star Pete Samu reveals all about Cornwall apprenticeship ahead of England Twickenham clash
Pete Samu, who's set to face England at Twickenham on Saturday, hated drinking snakebite while playing for St Ives
Mike SmallcombeReporter
TJ Perenara of the New Zealand All Blacks fends off Pete Samu of the Australian Wallabies during The Rugby Championship game between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland on August 25, 2018 (Image: Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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A rising Australian rugby star has revealed his true rugby apprenticeship as a season spent in Cornwall battling snow-capped pitches and local ciders.
Wallaby Pete Samu used to have everyone think he had cut his teeth in a two year stint at New Zealand's Super Rugby powerhouses Canterbury Crusaders.
The 26-year-old flanker could make his Twickenham bow against England on Saturday if David Pocock fails to recover from a shoulder complaint.
And the eight-cap back-rower has now explained how, aged 18, he came to spend a year at St Ives RFC.
"It was a great experience being out in St Ives, I played a season there when I was 18," said Samu, who plays his club rugby in Canberra with the Brumbies.
Pete Samu of the Wallabies is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and the South Africa Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Brisbane (Image: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
"One day we were meant to be playing and it started snowing. I thought the game was going to get cancelled. So I didn't get changed.
"The boys asked me what I was doing and I said 'it's snowing'. They said 'well, we're warming up in five minutes'. I was like 'oh f***', and got changed!
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"I still have a few mates here messaging me saying to catch up some time this week."
Melbourne-born Samu still cannot fathom his experienced Wallabies back-row colleagues Pocock and Michael Hooper seeking his advice.
Pete Samu playing for St Ives in March 2010. He's seen here bursting through the Falmouth defence to score the first try of the game
While Samu is content to soak up as much knowledge from his colleagues as possible, he might limit the number of anecdotes he offers from his time in Cornwall.
Samu said: "My coach in junior footy in Melbourne arranged the Cornwall switch. I was straight out of school and wasn't doing anything so I thought 'why not give it a crack'. I think I learned a lot off the field at St Ives. They don't mind a few ciders after the game.
"What's that drink, spiderbites? No, snakebites, that's it. That's no good, no good!
Peter Samu speaking about his time in Cornwall at a press conference at the Lensbury Conference Centre on November 20, 2018 in London (Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
"I spent most of my time in St Ives and went elsewhere if we travelled for away matches. They have got very nice beaches in St Ives. I was only there for one winter but they said summer was good. I just didn't get to see it.
"It was quite old school. Our coach had a few good stories about when he was playing for Cornwall about all his punch-ups and off-the-field antics."
From St Ives RFC to Twickenham
Asked whether he is learning from Hooper and Pocock, Samu added: "They are both definitely great leaders. It is good because they are the same position so we all feed off each other.
"I get quite shocked when they ask me for tips on things to do. I do give them tips, but maybe more off the field."
Pete Samu poses during an Australian Wallabies captain's run at Suncorp Stadium on September 7, 2018 in Brisbane (Image: Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Breakdown master Pocock is battling a neck injury, and remains a selection doubt for Saturday's crunch clash with England, which would open the door for Samu to start.
Australia could leave a decision on the 30-year-old's fitness as late as Friday, while the Wallabies have also had to contain a sickness bug this week.
Full-back Israel Folau and fly-half Bernard Foley have both struggled, and are fighting back to full health.
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