Firstly, congratulations to Maroon and Blackie, and Samoan rugby in general, for 100 years of rugby. A good enough reason for a beer or 24.

We made it to 100. Just.

It must be great to be a former Manu Samoa player, finally receiving some recognition from our country and having the chance to catch up with old mates over a beer in the beautiful setting of Samoa. The country salutes you.

I hope everything goes well but it does seem to me that with all the congratulations we are somehow refusing to address the elephant in the room. What exactly are we celebrating? Samoan rugby at the moment is at one of the lowest points it has ever been.

We were recently relegated from the HSBC 7s circuit.

There's talk of cancelling the European autumn tour, a lifeline for our rugby, our players and the faithful fans.

A possible solution aired was that the people of Samoa  would fill the wheelbarrows with their hard-earned tala and sene in the villages for our team to get there.

Seriously? Again?

The recently sacked 7s coach, Muliagatele Brian Lima, the only player in the world to play in five World Cups, talked of some of his players intentionally playing badly so the team would lose and the coach be sacked.

What the holy ...?

There is talk of violence in the changeover of the coaches of Manu Samoa, just talk eh.

Samoan schoolboy rugby, once a wonderful source of talent (tulou suafa) - Lolagi Koko RIP, Foroti Fa'apopo, Malaefatu Patolo, Lefau Harry Schuster, Kini and To'o Vaega, Loao Keneti Sio, Johnny Schuster, George Latu, Tavita Sio, Vili Alaalatoa, Alama Ieremia, Chris Masoe ... do I need to go on ... Ekeroma Aiono, Filipo Saena, Filitoga Lameta, Lilomaiava Mana'ia Taufusi Salesa – schoolboy rugby is dead because the schools, the Rugby Union and the police are not able to control schoolboy, teenagers' violence.

I repeat, teenagers.

Look at the emergence of the fantastic wave of new, black players in South Africa to understand what school rugby can provide.

What are you celebrating? Why are we celebrating?

The standard of Senior rugby in Samoa is pitiful. The Vaiala Junior Limit team of 1981 - three grades below the seniors - would beat most teams in today's senior competition. I kid you not.

The World Cup teams of 1991, 1995 and 1999 all reached the quarter-finals - the top 8 in the world.

The wonderful 2011 team, possibly the strongest, (with permission from the 1991 boys), came third in their group, but every other team since the 1990s, has finished fourth.

The one positive about Manu Samoa in these dark times is that it continues to serve as a stepping stone for young Samoan boys, mainly out of New Zealand and Australia, to earn top dollar and provide for their families. But their results are sub-standard.

When that 1991 team was selected my father was no longer a national selector. Had he been in the job, players from New Zealand might not have been chosen. I argued passionately with him for their inclusion. The likes of Kaleopa and Paramore, Tagaloa, Nu'uali'itia, Ioane, and the others, served Samoa proudly.

But if today's Manu Samoa teams continue to fail at the group stage, my vote would now be with my father's. Bring in a quota of local boys, who must be selected before the diaspora players. They will achieve at least the same results as these teams of the 2000s, which are based around New Zealand and Australian players, but the local Samoan players and their families need the money much more.

If you know something of the history of how those early teams, and their wonderful administrators, had to hustle, beg, borrow and steal to get that first team to the 1991 World Cup, you would not be celebrating Samoan rugby today, on the bones of its arse, begging cup in hand.

It's so sad and an insult to the memory of servants such as (tulou suafa) Keli Tuatagaloa, Satini Epati, Alan Grey, Bob Barlow, Aleki McDonald, Tate Simi, Malama Ropeti Faatui, Tuala Karanita Enari, Seiuli Paul Wallwork, Marina Schafhausen, Toetu Palamo, Joe Ainu'u and others, whose names I've missed.

It's just not good enough. It does not look like it will improve in the near future. A recalibration is desperately needed.

But congratulations anyway. I hope you have a great time in our beautiful home. The glass is still half-full, despite all the evidence. I'll never get in the way of a good party. Solve the world's, and the Union's problems while you're at it, and have a few drinks for the old-timers, those who laid the groundwork for you to be able to celebrate, so long ago.

Manuia.