Samoa first five Lima Sopoaga. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Samoa first five Lima Sopoaga never did get back the kicking tee he lost in Bordeaux but will face England this weekend with a "lookalike" used tee.
Sopoaga had owned the original tee from the age of 14 but in the chaos after the victory over Chile he left it on the pitch and, despite a social media appeal, it was not returned.
"I've been sent one that is similar from a kicking coach in England, his name is Alex Davies," Sopoaga said.
Lima Sopoaga using his lost kicking tee while playing for the All Blacks in 2017. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
"He sent me an old one so it's kind of the same feel. I've taped it up and pretended it is the same one so hopefully I'm not shanking them on the weekend. If I am, then I am going to blame the tools."
The 32-year-old former All Black said the original tee had travelled the world with him and was "an extension of myself".
"It's the first thing I pack before I pack my boots. I'd rather forget my boots than my kicking tee," Sopoaga said.
-Reuters