2019 Māori All Blacks

Stargazer

Maori All Blacks to play Fiji in two-match series:

The Flying Fijians will have first home-advantage when the Maori All Blacks – assembling for the first time since their Americas end of year tour last year – head to Suva, Fiji, for their season opening match on Saturday 13 July.

Both teams head to Rotorua, New Zealand where one team will look to even the ledger as the two teams face off again at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday 20 July.

Under 20 Curtain raiser

A Fijian Under-20 side and a New Zealand Maori Under-20 side will be the curtain raiser.

Both teams arrive in the city one week prior to the match and Councillor Charles Sturt, who leads the Rotorua Lakes Council sport and recreation portfolio, says there will be a number of different Maori and Pacifica events leading up to the match.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34125/maori-all-blacks-to-play-fiji-in-two-match-series

Stargazer

FYI to see where that sits in the rugby calendar:

Sat 6 July: Super Rugby Final
Sun 21 July: 1st ABs test match v Argentina (in Buenos Aires)
Thu 8 Aug: start of Mitre 10 cup

Stargazer

Bovidae

Looking at the 2018 squad there will need to be a few new faces.

Ash Dixon
Robbie Abel (Liam Polwart)
Ross Wright??
Marcel Renata
Ben May
Chris Eves
Tyrell Lomax --> possibly ABs
Pari Pari Parkinson
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Jackson Hemopo --> ABs (Tom Franklin)
Hoani Matenga??
Billy Harmon??
Mitchell Karpik (if fit)
Reed Prinsep
Akira Ioane --> ABs (Whetu Douglas)

Also have Elliot Dixon and Jesse Parete available.

Brad Weber --> ABs (replaced by Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi)
Bryn Hall
Jonathan Ruru
Josh Ioane --> ABs (MMac )
Otere Black
Matt Proctor
Rob Thompson
Teihorangi Walden
Jonah Lowe
Regan Ware
Matthew Lansdown
Nehe Milner-Skudder?? (Sean Wainui)
Shaun Stevenson

Not sure about Nock and if Perofeta is fit again.

Stargazer

I've written a blog post about the upcoming Māori All Blacks games against Fiji.

If you can't find a player in my picks, please, check first in the paragraph "CAPPED PLAYERS (2012-2018), WHO ARE (PROBABLY) NOT/NO LONGER AVAILABLE".

Obviously, I don't have the latest injury updates, but I've tried my best to find all the info. I've also assumed that players who didn't play rugby in NZ during the first half of the 2019 season, are probably not eligible (Abel, Manihera).

I may also not always be certain about whether a player is Māori (I don't think Perofeta is though).

We'll hopefully find out tomorrow night whether my picks are close to the actual team being named.

Blog post:
https://www.thesilverfern.com/post/340652-maori-all-blacks-to-play-fiji

Nepia

Any chance the player list from the blog post can be included in this thread.

I’ve noticed one issue - you’ve stated
If things really turn to custard: Heiden Bedwell-Curtis

However you’ve already chosen Prinseep which means we’re well into custard stage!

Stargazer

@Nepia I really don't understand what people have against Prinsep. He may not be the best loosie around, but he's also not as bad as people seem to suggest. Not a race horse, but still a useful work horse. I'd only select HB-C if there are many players unavailable; he's hardly played SR and instead played some club rugby in Taranaki.

I could copy and paste the player list, but then you take it out of context. It's included in a blog post for a reason and if I just paste the list here, nobody will look at the blog post anymore (which includes info about availability (or not) of a lot of other players).

Bovidae

@Stargazer Liam Polwart has played for the Maori previously (2017) so I would expect him to be selected if he is over his concussion symptoms.

Stargazer

@Bovidae

I refer to what I said in a previous post.

@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

If you can't find a player in my picks, please, check first in the paragraph "CAPPED PLAYERS (2012-2018), WHO ARE (PROBABLY) NOT/NO LONGER AVAILABLE".

Obviously, I don't have the latest injury updates, but I've tried my best to find all the info. I've also assumed that players who didn't play rugby in NZ during the first half of the 2019 season, are probably not eligible (Abel, Manihera).

Bovidae

@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

@Bovidae

I refer to what I said in a previous post.

I read that. Polwart's concussion is a recent problem as he didn't play after the Blues game in Auckland (mid-May).

The reserve Maori hooker hardly plays any minutes behind Dixon anyway.

Stargazer

@Bovidae If he's still concussed, he won't play. It's that simple. Number of minutes to be played is irrelevant.
I couldn't find any info that suggests he has recovered from that concussion (like playing club rugby last weekend). Obviously, if he's named tomorrow, he will be.

Nepia

@Stargazer I don't see what you and obviously Plumtree see and not sure how he burgled a super contract.

Stargazer

@Nepia Don't get me wrong. I'm happy for Devan Flanders to take his Canes' spot, once he's ready .. :smiling_face_with_open_mouth:

Stargazer

The Māori All Blacks squad will be named tomorrow (Wednesday).

Stargazer

Māori All Blacks squad

Forwards

Hookers:
Ash Dixon (Ngati Tahinga) Hawke's Bay / Highlanders
Nathan Harris (Ngati Apakura /Tainui) Waikato / Chiefs

Props:
Tyrel Lomax (Ngai Tuhoe/Muaupoko) Tasman / Highlanders
Ben May (Ngati Maniapoto) Hawke's Bay / Hurricanes
Marcel Renata (Ngati Whanaunga/Ngai Takoto) Auckland/ Blues
Ross Wright (Ngati Whatua/Ngati Porou) Northland / Blues

Locks:
Tom Franklin (Ngati Maniapoto) Otago / Highlanders
Pari Pari Parkinson (Te Whanau a Apanui) Tasman / Highlanders
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngati Porou) Hawkes Bay / Hurricanes

Loose Forwards
Whetukamokamo Douglas (Ngati Porou/Ngati Whakaue) Canterbury / Crusaders
Elliot Dixon (Ngapuhi) Southland/ Highlanders
Akira Ioane (Ngapuhi/Te Whanau a Apanui) Auckland / Blues
Mitchell Karpik (Rongomaiwahine/Ngati Kahungunu) Bay of Plenty / Chiefs
Reed Prinsep (Te Rarawa) Canterbury / Hurricanes

Backs

Halfbacks:
Bryn Hall (Ngati Ranginui) North Harbour / Crusaders
Jonathan Ruru (Ngati Kahungunu/Rongomaiwahine) Auckland / Blues
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ngati Pikiao) Taranaki / Chiefs

First five-eighths:
Otere Black (Ngai Tuhoe/Te Whanau a Apanui/Ngati Tuwharetoa) Manawatu / Blues
Jackson Garden-Bachop (Ngati Awa) Wellington / Hurricanes
Fletcher Smith (Ngati Kahungunu) Waikato / Hurricanes

Midfielders
Alex Nankivell (Ngapuhi) Tasman / Chiefs
Rob Thompson (Ngati Kahungunu / Nga Rauru) Manawatu / Highlanders
Teihorangi Walden (Te Atiawa) Taranaki / Highlanders

Outside backs:
Jordan Hyland (Ngai Tahu) Northland / Highlanders
Shaun Stevenson (Ngapuhi) North Harbour / Chiefs
Sean Wainui (Ngai Tuhoe/Ngati Porou) Taranaki / Chiefs

“We have named 26 players today, with one more, likely to be a prop, to be added before we travel next week.

“We’re excited to name four new caps in Nathan Harris, Alex Nankivell, Fletcher Smith and Jordan Hyland.

“With six players (Harris, Lomax, Dixon, Ioane, Hall and Tahuriorangi) in our mix with All Blacks experience, we can take a very solid squad to Suva and then on to Rotorua.

https://www.allblacks.com/News/34357/maori-all-blacks-squad-named-for-two-match-series-against-fiji

Bovidae

Proctor not picked at all.

I assume one of the 1st 5s could be used as a fullback with only 3 outside backs selected.

Nepia

Not a bad team really although surprised to see Hyland over Lowe and surprised to even see Garden-Bachop there. Everyone complains about MMac but he's had better games at Super level than JGB has ever had.

There's some good loosies in there and Prinseep.

Also, I guess Aussie Jack is only Cook Island Maori and not NZ Maori - or is going back to Oz.

taniwharugby

@Nepia guess Hyland got there by virtue of more productive minutes on the park....

Stargazer

@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

Not a bad team really although surprised to see Hyland over Lowe and surprised to even see Garden-Bachop there. Everyone complains about MMac but he's had better games at Super level than JGB has ever had.

There's some good loosies in there and Prinseep.

Also, I guess Aussie Jack is only Cook Island Maori and not NZ Maori - or is going back to Oz.

From the way he looked on the Canes bench after half time on Saturday, I wonder whether Lowe is injured again?

Agree about MMac being better than JGB has ever been. Heaps better, I'd say.

Bovidae

If Ash Dixon is still the captain I will be interested in how McMillan gives meaningful minutes to Harris. One start each maybe?

Stargazer

I'm also keen to find out who are in the NZ Māori U20 squad, but I guess that team will be named later. They can't possibly name a Māori squad from this year's NZ U20 squad or even the players invited to the NZ U20s camps. Will they invite younger players from last year's NZ Schools, NZ Barbarians Schools and NZ Māori U18, or will they be allowed to select youngish players just over 20?

Nepia

@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

I'm also keen to find out who are in the NZ Māori U20 squad, but I guess that team will be named later. They can't possibly name a Māori squad from this year's NZ U20 squad or even the players invited to the NZ U20s camps. Will they invite younger players from last year's NZ Schools, NZ Barbarians Schools and NZ Māori U18, or will they be allowed to select youngish players just over 20?

I’m assuming they can find 26 odd U20 Maori players for the team throughout the country - I don’t think they all have to be in line for NZ U20s.

Nepia

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

@Nepia guess Hyland got there by virtue of more productive minutes on the park....

I might probably not a good judge on his form - I couldn’t even remember which Super team he played for.

Stargazer

@Nepia I think looking at the players of the 2018 school squads - who will be 19 by now - and the U20s teams of the SR franchises would be the right approach. We'll see which players make it. If they can be bothered to announce the team at all.

Yeetyaah

@Stargazer Nathan Harris Waikato? He's a steamer though. Surely he isn't moving.

Bovidae

@Yeetyaah said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

@Stargazer Nathan Harris Waikato? He's a steamer though. Surely he isn't moving.

Good question. I doubt he was expecting to be playing any provincial rugby.

Stargazer

@Yeetyaah Yeah, I noticed that, too. Odd.

Nepia

It might be a misprint - the Waikato night have supposed to go in the iwi section.

Bovidae

@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

It might be a misprint - the Waikato night have supposed to go in the iwi section.

Yes.

Waikato rugby has only acknowledged the selection of Fletcher Smith.

pakman

Usual Suspects. Nursery for FAB locks?

ACT Crusader

@Bovidae said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

If Ash Dixon is still the captain I will be interested in how McMillan gives meaningful minutes to Harris. One start each maybe?

Dixon was captain last year and Abel still got plenty of minutes and even a start if I recall.

Stargazer

Māori All Blacks Memories: 2010

Bovidae

@Stargazer I was at that game. I remember all the numbers falling off the new NZM jerseys.

Bones

@Stargazer geez how much bigger was Aaron Smith back then?

Not sure Robbie Robinson should have been named at loosehead.

Stargazer

Māori U20 squad:

Kershawl Sykes-Martin
Nelson Rugby Club
Ngāti Porou

Te Ariki Te Puni
University RFC Auckland
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou, Rangitāne o Manawatu
Ngāi Te Rangi

Jonas Pomare
Mt Maunganui Sports Club
Ngāpuhi

*Poukohe Sorensen
Te Puna RFC
Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou

Tyrone Thompson
Marist St Pats
Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Tanara Haenga
Wainuiomata RFC
Ngāti Porou

Josh Hill
University of Otago RFC
Ngāi Tahu

Leo Ngatai-Tafau
Ardmore Marist RFC
Ngāti Porou, Tainui

Keelan Whitman
Marist St Pats
Ngāti Rangiwewehi

*Cortez-Lee Ratima
Otorohonga RFC
Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tama

Leo Thompson
Marist St Pats
Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Shamus Hurley-Langton
College Old Boys Wellington
Te Āti Awa, Taranaki

Samuel Smith
Wainuiomata RFC
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngati Kahungunu

Coel Kerr
Lincoln University RFC
Ngāti Ranginui

John Croft Cooper
Ponsonby District RFC
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Tūwharetoa

Kaipo Brown
Tauranga Rugby Sports & Recreation Club
Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa, Tainui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Āti Awa

Dennon Robinson-Bartlett
Whakarewarewa Community Sports Club
Ngāti Kahungunu

Tamarau McGahan
Marist North Harbour
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Raukawa

Tobias Wickham-Manuel
Kia Toa RFC
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Tahu Kaa
Lincoln University RFC
Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu

Zarn Sullivan
College Rifles RFC
Ngāti Kahungunu

Isaac Bracewell
Wellington Football Club
Ngāti Maniapoto

Callum Bean
Grammar Tec Auckland
Ngai Tahu, Ngā Puhi

*Availability subject to Club Commitments

Coaches and management:

Head Coach
Rua Wanoa
Ngāti Porou

Forwards Coach
Anthony Rehutai
Ngāti Porou

Forwards Assistant
Tracey Davis
Ngāti Whātua

Backs Coach
Stacey Grant
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

Backs Assistant
Joseph Wineera
Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Koata, Ngāi Tahu

Cultural Advisor
Mihaere Emery
Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Raukawa

Mark Seymour
Manager
Ngāti Hikairo

Kieran Te Whare
Trainer
Ngati Tūwharetoa

Tioke Pryor
Physio
Ngāi Tuhoe. Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi

Tiki Edwards
Campaign Manager
Whakatōhea, Ngāti Raukawa

Stargazer

Not a single player from this year's NZU20s. I wonder why?
I recognise names from 2018 NZ Schools, NZ Schools Barbarians and NZ Māori U18.

gt12

@Stargazer

If the strategy is getting exposure for lots of players to potentially develop future super players, that seems understandable. Others had opportunities, so use this team to give others a go?

Stargazer

@gt12 Yeah, maybe. I was thinking it might be an early trial for the NZU20 development camps later in the year. I assume many of these players will also play at the Jock Hobbs U19 tournament in September and some maybe even Mitre 10 Cup.

Bovidae

Have the Thompson brothers been poached by Wellington or studying there?

Stargazer

@Bovidae said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

Have the Thompson brothers been poached by Wellington or studying there?

Wellington offered more money than the Bay could afford (I have it from a reliable source). Also, their dad played for Marist St Pat's, so that has probably been a factor, too.

They're both building apprentices, something they could have been in the Bay as well.

So, I call them poached. (Others will argue that they just wanted to play for Wellington, but I'm not buying that ).

The Silver Fern

2019 Māori All Blacks