Maori Tour
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Just read something interesting. From the 2017/18 rugby season onwards (= as of 1 July 2017), the French Barbarians must be considered as France's second national team (in terms of World Rugby's Law Book). Earlier this week, the French Rugby Federation, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (which administers the domestic competition in France) and the Barbarians Rugby Club reached a (transitional) agreement about the conditions that will rule the selection of players for the game against the Māori ABs.
The agreement stipulates that the French Barbarians may select 23 players from Top 14 clubs*. However, these players are only released by the clubs from Monday, 6 November. They must return to their clubs the day after the game, on Saturday, 11 November. So they have 5 days of preparation.
(*Previously, players had to take annual leave to be able to train with and play for the French Barbarians; now, the Baabaas coach may select whoever he wants - obviously, with the exception of players selected for the first French team - and the clubs must release them and it doesn't cost the players any annual leave.)
I also read somewhere else that the Barabarians are thinking about an original way to respond to the haka. Hopefully, nothing cringeworthy ...
For Ferners who can read French, from the interview with the coach of the French Barbarians (Franck Azéma, head coach of Clermont):
Les Maoris All Blacks, c’est aussi le fameux Haka… Comptez-vous faire un clin d’oeil à l’équipe de France qui s’était illustrée en défiant les Blacks en 2007 et 2011 ? Secret défense. Nous allons en parler avec les joueurs, voir si ils ont quelque chose en tête… Nous avons beaucoup de respect pour ce Haka, mais il faut savoir en jouer aussi, voir ce qu’il y a moyen de faire. Etre Barbarian, s’est se comporter de manière décalée, originale. Peut-être que vous serez surpris ! -
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@kiwimurph said in Maori Tour:
Harbour instagram saying Stevenson made the squad. I'm guessing he is the extra outside back.
How did he not make it first selection round? (Did they not know he was Maori?)
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Are they waiting to see how Renata plays tonight?
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Okay, here's a screenshot from the team. I do know most of the names, but can't combine them all with faces. From back to front and left to right (players only):
1 Marcel Renata, 2. Sean Wainui, 3. Ambrose Curtis, 4. Akira Ioane, 5. ?, 6. Keepa Mewett, 7. Jordan Manihera, 8. ?, 9. Shaun Stevenson, 10. Dan Pryor;
11 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 12. Jonathan Ruru, 13. Sam Henwood, 14. Ross Wright;
15 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 16. Liam Polwart, 17. Teihorangi Walden, 18. Rob Thompson, 19. ?, 20. Brad Weber;
21 Tom Franklin, 22. Chris Eves, 23. Jarrad Hoeata, 24. Ash Dixon, 25. Tim Bateman, 26. Ihaia West, 27 . Charlie NgataiHave I got the names right? No. 5, is that Jackson Hemopo? And no. 8, is that Tyrel Lomax?
No. 19 looks familiar, but with the best will of the world, I can't remeber his name. Should be one of the two extras (the other one being Shaun Stevenson).
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@stargazer I think that 19. is Lomax and 8. is the Hawkes bay prop Rakete-Stones who was training with the squad pre tour.
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@stargazer I was wrong - the last player added was Sean Paranihi the Manawatu Prop not Rakete-Stones.
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@daffy-jaffy As a Hawke's Bay supporter I knew no. 8 in the photo wasn't Rakete-Stones, who looks much younger. No. 19 in the photo is indeed Sean Paranihi (I had to check on google images).
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The team to play Canada has been named. Ngatai at fullback. McMillan says they have selected the most experienced team.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/31714/new-look-maori-all-black-team-named-to-take-on-canada
