The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas
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My latest blog post: https://www.thesilverfern.com/post/269593-maori-all-blacks-tour-to-the-americas
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In previous years lock was a real issue... it looks ok this season
Hooker is the problem spot now
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Nice one Stargazer, good read.
Your mention of their previous tours trigger my memory that the 1988 tour match v Tucuman was an absolute cage fight, almost literally as they played in the fenced in soccer stadium.
Reading on the T2 website, The choice of the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo was a bit of a strange choice. It is the great old stadium of that city but is old and has a track around it and is a poor stadium from spectators POV, but it is big so the Baziilian rugby union is being ambitious with this match. The city has 2 new modern rectangular soccer stadiums but one is being used for a concert on the same day.
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The 51 man AB squad is going to play absolute havoc with picking this squad.
The only mildly difficult game for them would be the first match which coincides with those extra 18 AB call-ups. I think the selectors will totally rule them out for the entire tour. Surely it would be too disruptive?
It would probably be for the best that it is a weakened tour party anyway for the South American leg.
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A few of us speculated last year about whether Quinten Strange might be eligible. Did that question get resolved?
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or Quinn Tupaea.
The surname sounds equally PI and Maori to me, so google.
A google search tells me that Tupaea was a Maori chief in the Tauranga area:
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@duluth Yes, the Māori All Blacks' hookers have been Ash Dixon and Joe Royal for years. Last year, they picked Liam Polwart instead of Royal. Now, both Dixon and Polwart are injured. With Dixon and Royal aging, it had to happen at some point that a new hooker would have to be introduced (in addition to Polwart). I never expected that it might be a 19-year-old, who was still playing for (and captaining) his 1st XV team just over a year ago. It's a big step from Hastings Boys 1st XV to the Māori All Blacks. At least, I hope they pick Kereru-Symes, who has shown a lot of class, replacing Dixon as the first choice hooker of the Mapgies in only his second NPC game, and not one of the other (very average) hookers. MacDonald was only an injury replacement for Southland (he was initially named in the Tasman Development squad) and Apisai also can't crack the Wellington squad anymore. Picking a prop to play hooker also doesn't appeal (not that there are many props to choose from).
It will be interesting to see who will be picked.
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@rapido said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Quinn Tupaea
He's Tainui according to this page:
http://www.hbhs.school.nz/News/2017-M-ori-and-Pasifika-Awards-Evening -
@stargazer I think Ross Wright was looking like being fit this weekend (or next if we made it that far) well thats what I heard anyway.
He is probably one, if fit, who is good enough to play hooker and prop (played both positions at M10 & Super) if required
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@nepia Cheers, he was one of the players of whom I thought he's Māori, but couldn't find any info. It won't change my picks, but I'll add him.
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@taniwharugby How long has he been out of action for? I can't remember when he last played.
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@stargazer 4 or 5 weeks I think, which isnt ideal.
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Here's a shot as a best XV if all players were available ... may have missed some. The halfback depth is crazy. The lock depth is not. Neither is openside. Hopefully Hames can play tighthead?
Dagg
NMS
Proctor
Laumape
Ioane
DMac
Smith
Ioane
Pryor
Squire
Pari Pari Parkinson
Hemopo
Hames
Coles/Taylor
Moody -
@nepia Laumape?
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@stargazer Are you questing whether he's Maori?
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@nepia Yeah, thought he was Tongan.
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@stargazer said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@nepia Yeah, thought he was Tongan.
He's both.
Edit: The link on his Wiki page for his Tongan descent is actually a link to his Maori descent. Strange no one has fixed that.
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henwood for pryor
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@nepia said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@stargazer said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@nepia Yeah, thought he was Tongan.
He's both.
1/16th bro!
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@nepia I can fix that if I can find my password somewhere. I'd only have to add the words "and Māori".
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@mariner4life said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@nepia said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@stargazer said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@nepia Yeah, thought he was Tongan.
He's both.
1/16th bro!
No need for blood quantum, we're not the US or Canada. Just dead ancestors man.
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@muddyriver Henwood has been out for a long time with concussion symptoms. He has been training, but still not cleared to play last weekend. That's why he's on the "capped but unavailable" list.
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This my attempt at a squad without any of the 51 All Blacks.
27 man squad.
Props: 5 Chris Eves, Tyrel Lomax, Ben May, Sean Paranihi, Marcel Renata.
Hooker: 3 Kianu Kereru-Symes, Joe Royal, Leni Apisai
Lock: 3 Paripari Parkinson, Leighton Price, Isaia Walker-Leawere.
Loose-Forward: 5 Whetu Douglas, Reed Prinsep, Kara Pryor, Akira Ioane, Tanerau Latimer
Halfback: 3 Bryn Hall, Jonathan Ruru, Brad Weber
First-Five: 2 Otere Black, Jackson Garden-Bachop
Midfield: 3 Teihorangi Walden, Rob Thompson, Quinn Tupaea
Back 3: 3 Jonah Lowe, Shaun Stevenson, Caleb MakeneIt's actually quite difficult covering that back 3.
So I think they might split the squad and get NMS and Matt Procter in there somehow as gives them versatility. But then I have only named 11 backs in that squad so if you had 2 in Japan for 1 week that would leave only 2 backs reserves for week 1. So that approach wouldn't work in the 16-11 split I went with, would need to change to a 15-12.
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@rapido great effort but isn't Lomax and Bryn Hall in the 51 man squad?
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@stargazer said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
My latest blog post: https://www.thesilverfern.com/post/269593-maori-all-blacks-tour-to-the-americas
I have edited the text following the naming of the extended All Blacks squad for the Northern Tour. This has resulted in a few changes in my picks for the squad, which now look like this (15 forwards - 13 backs):
Chris Eves, Ben May, Tyrel Lomax, Sean Paranihi and Marcel Renata
Kianu Kereru-Symes and Joe Royal
Jackson Hemopo, Paripari Parkinson, Leighton Price, and Manaaki Selby-Rickit or Isaia Walker-Leawere
Whetu Douglas, Reed Prinsep, Kara Pryor and Akira Ioane
Bryn Hall, Jonathan Ruru and Brad Weber
Otere Black and Jackson Garden-Bachop
Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, Rob Thompson and Teihorangi Walden (extra player)
Jonah Lowe, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Shaun Stevenson and Beaudein Waaka.Looking at the unavailability of players for the USA game (in Italics), I'd prefer the naming of a bigger squad than 27. They're good for all positions, except midfield, so I have added an extra midfielder. They may add one or two more players as injury cover. If they go for a 27-man squad again, I'd have to drop Laumape or Proctor in favour of Walden.
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@kiwimurph said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@rapido great effort but isn't Lomax and Bryn Hall in the 51 man squad?
Who could possibly know, it's just too big!
But if so, a 5th prop and a 3rd halfback can be quite easily covered for the first week in the split squad approach.
If not I'd punt on Hauiti-Parapara at halfback, and no real idea at prop. Stargazer has Pouri Rakete-Stones and Coree Te Whata-Colley as contenders.
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@stargazer said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@stargazer said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
If they go for a 27-man squad again, I'd have to drop Laumape or Proctor in favour of Walden.
Dropping Ngani Laumape should be pretty easy as he does not appear to be Maori anyway
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@higgins He was named in the NZ Māori Rugby League Tournament team in 2013, so I guess that means he's part Māori.
NZ Māori Rugby League Tournament squad named
After the final matches between the Waka and the Rohe sections, the Tournaments team was announced for the year.
Edited to add that according to a FB post about that team naming, he's Ngati Kauwhata.
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http://www.allblacks.com/News/33273/maori-all-blacks-squad-named-for-historic-tour
Chris Eves (Waikato / Tainui North) - Harbour Tyrel Lomax (Ngai Tuhoe / Muaupoko) - Tasman Ben May (Ngati Maniapoto / Waikato) - Hawke’s Bay Marcel Renata (Ngati Whanaunga / Ngai Takoto) - Auckland Ross Wright (Ngati Whatua / Ngati Porou) - Northland Robbie Abel * (Ngati Wai, Waikato-Tainui, Ngati Hine) - Auckland Ash Dixon (C) (Ngati Tahinga) - Hawke’s Bay Jackson Hemopo (Tuhourangi / Ngati Wahiao / Ngai Tahu / Ngati Rangi / Ngati Apa ki te Ra To) - Manawatu Pari Pari Parkinson * (Te Whanau a Apanui) - Tasman Isaia Walker-Leawere * (Ngati Porou) - Wellington Billy Harmon * (Ngai Tahu) - Canterbury Akira Ioane (Ngapuhi / Te Whanau a Apanui) - Auckland Mitchell Karpik * (Rongomaiwahine / Ngati Kahungunu) - Bay of Plenty Hoani Matenga * (Rangitane / Te Whanau a Apanui) - Bay of Plenty Reed Prinsep (Te Rarawa) - Canterbury Bryn Hall (Ngati Ranginui) North Harbour Jonathan Ruru (Ngati Kahungunu / Rongomaiwahine) - Auckland Brad Weber (Ngati Porou) - Hawke’s Bay Otere Black (Ngai Tuhoe / Te Whanau a Apanui / Ngati Tuwharetoa) - Manawatu Joshua Ioane* (Te Rarawa) - Otago Matthew Lansdown* (Te Atiawa) - Waikato Matt Proctor (Ngai Te Rangi / Ngapuhi) - Wellington Rob Thompson (Ngati Kahungunu / Nga Rauru) - Manawatu Teihorangi Walden (Te Atiawa) - Taranaki Jonah Lowe* (Ngati Pikiao) - Hawke’s Bay Nehe Milner-Skudder (Ngati Porou / Tapuika) - Manawatu Shaun Stevenson (Ngapuhi) - North Harbour Travelling as a replacement for the USA leg only, is Canterbury wing Caleb Makene, of Ngapuhi descent. -
Huh? Ash Dixon? Is he suddenly not injured anymore? Hmm, that might be handy for the NPC finals.
Ross Wright also off the injury list, that's good news. I'd rather have him in the squad than Paranihi.They picked only 3 locks. Price is the unlucky one to miss out.
Aye, Karpik is Māori? Geez, an even blonder version than the McKenzies haha. Didn't know that about Abel either. That's good. Kereru-Symes is a bit too young and green anyway. His time will come. Royal is the unlucky one; I thought he had a good season.
Douglas is the unlucky loosie to miss out IMO. Kara Pryor, too. I'd never have picked Matenga, but he's from BOP, just like the coach. There had to be a home province selection somewhere.
Karpik's selection is more justified. And they're the only two players from BOP.I looked up Josh Ioane and couldn't find any info on him being Māori, so I thought he wasn't. Great to see him picked ahead of JGB!
Landsdown, didn't know he was Māori, but they picked him, not Laumape. Maybe they didn't know Ngani was Māori either.
Absolutely awesome to see Jonah Lowe get a spot in the squad! Hawke's Bay boy in Canterbury colours Makene as travelling reserve. He's the one that can cover 10 as well in case of injury. I think Waaka is a bit unlucky.
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@stargazer yeah Abel was being discussed in another thread, he is of the wider Going clan from Northland
Great news for Ross (and Northland) unsure on the injury status of Kara, although TBF his form hasnt been consistent this year IMO
Plenty of cross over from that squad and the wider AB's, which brings into question the decision to put Akira just here as well, something doesnt add up, which means there has got to be something more to it.
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@kiwimurph said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Billy Harmon
How did Douglas miss out? I don't get Prinsep but don't have a problem with Matenga. Actually, on Karpik if you look at his face (like the McKenzies and Tony Brown) you can see the Maori despite the blonde hair.
Hall and Weber are in the Maori team - how the fudge is Hall in the ABs as well?
Maybe they just thought Ioane was related to the other Ioanes and chucked him in anyway?
A surprisingly decent team I think.
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Wow! Hoani made the team. Good for him.
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@hooroo said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Wow! Hoani made the team. Good for him.
You gotta have a guitar player on a Maori tour.
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@nepia said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@kiwimurph said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Billy Harmon
How did Douglas miss out? I don't get Prinsep but don't have a problem with Matenga. Actually, on Karpik if you look at his face (like the McKenzies and Tony Brown) you can see the Maori despite the blonde hair.
Hall and Weber are in the Maori team - how the fudge is Hall in the ABs as well?
Maybe they just thought Ioane was related to the other Ioanes and chucked him in anyway?
A surprisingly decent team I think.
I agree. A good mix of experience and youth. Old heads and newbies. No weird, unbalanced selections that will force players to play out of position like last year. And just as I predicted, an extra player in the squad compare to last year, which is necessary due to that overlap with the extended ABs squad for the Japan match.
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@nepia said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@hooroo said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Wow! Hoani made the team. Good for him.
You gotta have a guitar player on a Maori tour.
The lad can sing too! Incredible voice. Used to be part of Six60 I think?
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@taniwharugby said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@stargazer yeah Abel was being discussed in another thread, he is of the wider Going clan from Northland
Yeah, I just read this: https://www.brumbies.com.au/2015/11/robbie-abel-signs-with-the-brumbies/
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@hooroo said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@nepia said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@hooroo said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Wow! Hoani made the team. Good for him.
You gotta have a guitar player on a Maori tour.
The lad can sing too! Incredible voice. Used to be part of Six60 I think?
Yep, that's why I made the post ... it would have been random otherwise.
@stargazer said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@nepia said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
@kiwimurph said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Billy Harmon
How did Douglas miss out? I don't get Prinsep but don't have a problem with Matenga. Actually, on Karpik if you look at his face (like the McKenzies and Tony Brown) you can see the Maori despite the blonde hair.
Hall and Weber are in the Maori team - how the fudge is Hall in the ABs as well?
Maybe they just thought Ioane was related to the other Ioanes and chucked him in anyway?
A surprisingly decent team I think.
I agree. A good mix of experience and youth. Old heads and newbies. No weird, unbalanced selections that will force players to play out of position like last year. And just as I predicted, an extra player in the squad compare to last year, which is necessary due to that overlap with the extended ABs squad for the Japan match.
The ABs have a lock on that this year.
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Ross Wright makes that squad size selectable. Without him covering prop and hooker trying to balance the squad of 27 with 5 in Japan is a nightmare. As I found yesterday in my attempts.
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@rapido said in The Māori All Blacks' tour to the Americas:
Ross Wright makes that squad size selectable. Without him covering prop and hooker trying to balance the squad of 27 with 5 in Japan is a nightmare. As I found yesterday in my attempts.
that's a pretty decent skill set to have as a pro player! First since Aled de Megamunch?
Hori Kingi Tupaea - Wikipedia
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