Māori All Blacks 2025
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@gt12 said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
That is the reason why we shouldn't be using the Maori right now.
Ceremonial match once a year, or change the criteria, or bring out the fucking ABXV for these matches.Happy to die on this hill - NZRU not a professional organization, we should be developing and playing the guys at the next level down, regardless of their whakapapa.
I think they do it for "professional" reasons - IIRC it costs less and they are able to get a better fee for the team than the AB XV.
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@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
That is the reason why we shouldn't be using the Maori right now.
Ceremonial match once a year, or change the criteria, or bring out the fucking ABXV for these matches.Happy to die on this hill - NZRU not a professional organization, we should be developing and playing the guys at the next level down, regardless of their whakapapa.
I think they do it for "professional" reasons - IIRC it costs less and they are able to get a better fee for the team than the AB XV.
Fine, then relax the criteria.
The NZ Maori are our second team and promote the role of Maori in shaping the fabric of rugby in New Zealand.
Players will develop a stronger understanding of Tikanga Māori and its role as a core component of rugby in NZ, regardless of whether they have Maori whakapapa.
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@nostrildamus said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@kiwiinmelb said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
Fred Ah Kuoi
According to Wikipedia "[Fred] Ah Kuoi made his international début for New Zealand Māori in 1975, at the age of 18. He toured Australia with the side, participated in the 1975 Pacific Cup and faced Australia, Wales, England and France in New Zealand.[5] "
The article I mentioned in a nearby post said Naitoa is related to Fred (if related to Fred then related to John Kirwan!)
Yeah in those day’s because there were fewer of them I guess ( and people questioned things less 😀) Samoans played for the Maori league team , Dennis Williams , James leuluai did too .
Fred was born in Samoa
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You could probably massage it and add say three non-qualifying players like they do in the Olympics and have the qualifier that they display the values of Tikanga Maori.
I doubt it will ever happen though - the heritage of the Maori jersey is too tapu. -
Picking an NZ Maori team to play this time of year is what seems crazy. No ABs, no Under 20s and a bunch of worn out super players. Far better to play an AB xv of next best available. Then have the best Maori All Black selection play maybe as a prelude to Northern tour, or after the Championship. So weak in front row, halfback and wing, it devalues the history of the team in my view
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And, you’ve touched on this, we’ll be putting games into guys a million miles from international rugby while some of our next best will sit around on their asses then prepare to play semi -pro rugby against amateurs.
This lack of alignment shows how far away NZRU is from being a professional organization.
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@gt12 said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
That is the reason why we shouldn't be using the Maori right now.
Ceremonial match once a year, or change the criteria, or bring out the fucking ABXV for these matches.Happy to die on this hill - NZRU not a professional organization, we should be developing and playing the guys at the next level down, regardless of their whakapapa.
I think they do it for "professional" reasons - IIRC it costs less and they are able to get a better fee for the team than the AB XV.
Fine, then relax the criteria.
The NZ Maori are our second team and promote the role of Maori in shaping the fabric of rugby in New Zealand.
Players will develop a stronger understanding of Tikanga Māori and its role as a core component of rugby in NZ, regardless of whether they have Maori whakapapa.
I'd rather the AB XV play than that option.
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@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
That is the reason why we shouldn't be using the Maori right now.
Ceremonial match once a year, or change the criteria, or bring out the fucking ABXV for these matches.Happy to die on this hill - NZRU not a professional organization, we should be developing and playing the guys at the next level down, regardless of their whakapapa.
I think they do it for "professional" reasons - IIRC it costs less and they are able to get a better fee for the team than the AB XV.
Fine, then relax the criteria.
The NZ Maori are our second team and promote the role of Maori in shaping the fabric of rugby in New Zealand.
Players will develop a stronger understanding of Tikanga Māori and its role as a core component of rugby in NZ, regardless of whether they have Maori whakapapa.
I'd rather the AB XV play than that option.
Me too, but having the MABs playing without setting up a schedule and competition for the ABXV is very NZRU.
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NZR have been quite explicit with their intentions, with the MABs playing in July and the ABXV playing in November. Could probably be a better set-up but I don't mind it hugely. It's just 'unfortunate' that so many of the top Maori players are in the All Blacks at the moment and that the third tier is a bit weak.
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@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
Niuean - G and M Wrampling
Looks like the Wrampling's found some whakapapa.
Decent team especially when you think about the guys in the ABs there's an entire front row and. a spare, two halves, a 10 and a utility, and three midfielders.
Looking at that team, as has been discussed above, halfback seems the real weak area which seems weird considering there's usually at least one AB 9 running out for the Maori.
I learnt this weekend that Shalfoon is a Lebanese name, so is Shalfoon a Lebbo-Maori?
Not surprised, with names like Gideon and Malachi.
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@Bones said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
@ARHS said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
a bunch of worn out super players. Far better to play an AB xv of next best available.
That would be an ABXV of worn out super players though....
I said wrong time too... A week or two later for AB XV works well. Maori XV being rushed in quick as a training game for Japan to prepare.
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@Mr-Fish said in Māori All Blacks 2025:
NZR have been quite explicit with their intentions, with the MABs playing in July and the ABXV playing in November. Could probably be a better set-up but I don't mind it hugely. It's just 'unfortunate' that so many of the top Maori players are in the All Blacks at the moment and that the third tier is a bit weak.
ABXV would be better selected after SR too, but I guess more money to be made doing it this way around? Maybe giving NZR too much credit?
