International News: Johnston cuts retirement short to face All-Blacks

Samoa have called veteran prop Census Johnston out of retirement to bolster their pack in Wednesday’s one-off historic test against the All Blacks in Apia.

“We simply couldn’t leave him out,” coach Stephan Betham said when naming his team on Monday.

The 34-year-old Toulouse prop, who has played 47 tests for Samoa since 2005, had announced his retirement in April but has been training with the Samoa squad in recent weeks.

Waikato Chiefs fullback, Tim Nanai Williams, is the only uncapped player in the starting 15, while outside back Faialaga Afamasaga – the only Samoa-based member of the squad – is set to make his debut off the bench.

New Zealand-born Nanai Williams, a cousin of All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams, has previously represented New Zealand as a sevens player, but switched allegiance to his parents’ home country last year to boost his World Cup and Olympic prospects.

All but five members of the 23-man Samoa squad are based in Europe, including captain and back-rower Ofisa Treviranus who plays for London Irish.

The match will be the first appearance in Samoa by the All Blacks, who have won all five previous tests between the two countries played in New Zealand.

Click here for the full squad.