Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions

Bovidae

So Gatland is reverting to a Saracens tight five.

We'll see who Cooper names in 2 h but based on last year the starting tight five should be obvious.

I expect the Maori to struggle in the scrum against the Lions. Hames will be OK but based on the performance of the Canes scrum the other 3 (Eves, May, Kainga) will be in for a long night. Renata might get in ahead of Kainga. Still, the 2005 Maori team had some issues in the scrum too but still functioned.

antipodean

@Bovidae It helped they had Hayman...

Bovidae

@antipodean And the Lions had Sheridan.

taniwharugby

@Bovidae but he was amaze-as, was gonna destroy us singlehandedly!

Megweya

@Bovidae

A bit off-topic, but as you have mentioned the jersey,
I'll mention the widespread appreciation of the gesture before the haka at the 2016 EOYT game at Munster of dedicating a jersey to 'Axel' Foley (AF) before the game.

Bovidae

@Megweya I watched that game live on TV. It was a nice touch to give the jersey to Foley's children.

Bovidae

All out attack eh?

The team is (*denotes new cap);

Kane Hames – Ta$man (Ngai Tuhoe/Ngati Porou)
Ash Dixon (captain) - Hawke’s Bay (Ngati Tahinga)
Ben May – Hawke’s Bay (Ngati Maniapoto/Tainui)
Joe Wheeler – Ta$man (Ngai Tahu)
Tom Franklin - Bay of Plenty (Ngati Maniapoto)
Akira Ioane – Auckland (Ngapuhi/Te Whanau a Apanui)
Elliot Dixon – Southland (Ngapuhi)
Liam Messam – Waikato (Ngai Tuhoe)
Tawera Kerr-Barlow – Waikato (Waikato/Ngati Maniapoto)
Damian McKenzie - Waikato (Ngati Tuwharetoa/Ngati Tahinga)
Rieko Ioane – Auckland (Ngapuhi/Te Whanau a Apanui)
Charlie Ngatai – Taranaki (Ngati Porou/Te Whanau a Apanui/Te Whakatohea)
Matt Proctor – Wellington (Ngapuhi/Ngaiterangi)
Nehe Milner-Skudder – Manawatu (Ngati Porou/Tapuika)
James Lowe – Ta$man (Ngapuhi/Ngai Te Rangi)

Reserves
16. Hikawera Elliot - Counties Manukau (Ngati Awa)
17. Chris Eves – Manawatu (Waikato/Tainui)
18. Marcel Renata – Auckland (Ngati Whanaunga/Te Aupouri
19. Leighton Price – Taranaki (Waikato/Ngati Maniapoto)
20. Kara Pryor – Northland (Ngati Awa/Ngati Pikiao/Ngati Rangitihi)
21. Bryn Hall* - North Harbour (Ngati Ranginui)
22. Ihaia West – Hawke’s Bay (Ngati Kahungunu/Ngati Porou)
23. Rob Thompson* - Canterbury (Ngati Kahungunu)

KiwiMurph

Cripes what a backline. Get your popcorn ready.

chimoaus

I would pay to see this team vs the AB's

Is this one of the strongest Maori sides ever? 8 with AB's experience is it?

No Quarter

Fark that backline is pure sex. Bring it on!!

@Crucial you get to see your boy at 10 now. I'm excited to see how he goes.

Nepia

That's actually the backline I'd pick. West will hopefully provide similar impact from the bench and Thompson has been going well this year.

chimoaus

@No-Quarter said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:

Fark that backline is pure sex. Bring it on!!

Why am I more excited to see this backline than the AB's tomorrow?

Chris B.

Colin Cooper taking a test drive with next year's Chief's first five!

Some big loosies to bolster the lineout and scrum!

No Quarter

Rieko on the left wing suggests he's making a real push for J Savea's spot.

taniwharugby

might have to reclaim the TV back instead of watching on the laptop for this one!

Stargazer

Naming NMS on the right wing and James Lowe at fullback must also have been done with the ABs in mind. Although both can play these positions, you'd normally name Lowe on the wing and Nehe at fullback.

Bovidae

@Stargazer Lowe has a much better kicking game so I can understand the decision to use him at fullback and not NMS.

DMac at 10 and Lowe at 15 is how the Chiefs lined up in the 2nd half vs the Canes.

I'm really looking forward to going to this game after seeing the teams named. Hopefully it's an epic clash like in 2005.

Billy Tell

@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:

@Stargazer Lowe has a much better kicking game so I can understand the decision to use him at fullback and not NMS.

DMac at 10 and Lowe at 15 is how the Chiefs lined up in the 2nd half vs the Canes.

I'm really looking forward to going to this game after seeing the teams named. Hopefully it's an epic clash like in 2005.

This match basically comes down to whether the Lions pack can stop the Maori backs getting enough ball. That Maori pack is a bit underwhelming - a tight five full of journeymen (Hames excepted), no out-and-out 7 (Dixon, really?), and Messam is a few years past his best.

Crash

DMac at 10 Ngatai and Procter midfield, Lowe NMS and Rieko! Sweet Jesus this is what I've been waiting for (licking lips and dribbling) I'd love the ABs to field this backline...
If the pack feeds them even a sniff of ball - they're gone. Under the sticks all night.

dK

@Billy-Tell said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:

@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:

@Stargazer Lowe has a much better kicking game so I can understand the decision to use him at fullback and not NMS.

DMac at 10 and Lowe at 15 is how the Chiefs lined up in the 2nd half vs the Canes.

I'm really looking forward to going to this game after seeing the teams named. Hopefully it's an epic clash like in 2005.

This match basically comes down to whether the Lions pack can stop the Maori backs getting enough ball. That Maori pack is a bit underwhelming - a tight five full of journeymen (Hames excepted), no out-and-out 7 (Dixon, really?), and Messam is a few years past his best.

This!
The match is going to be a titanic struggle. What we have seen from the Lions is resolute defence, a great kick and chase game (led by Murray) an excellent lineout (bar one mis-fire against the Blues) and aggressive ruck work.

What we know is NZ rugby and the Maori brains trust have had 4 games to diffuse the Lions strengths, if anything NZ rugby can adapt quickly.

My pick is Maori by less than 7

The Silver Fern

Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions