Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions
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There's enough quality across most positions. Last year the concerns were around depth at TH and the quality of locks.
Renata has been getting the reserve TH spot by default in this squad for the last couple of seasons. But at this stage of his career he isn't consistently getting starts at NPC level. Is there another option?
Locks should be a bit better with Wheeler back making a Highlanders 2nd row. The drop of down to the next Maori lock still seems quite large.
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@Duluth I thought both Skeen and Price played well on the NH tour last year so I'm not that worried about the locks, even if neither are playing Super rugby at the moment. BTW, the starting locks in 2005 were Filipo and Hohneck as a comparison. TH prop is more of an issue because May can be inconsistent too, and the scrum will be an emphasis from the Lions.
@Stargazer I'm hoping the Chiefs players are able to play both games as those Maori players are all starters for the Chiefs so should be able to switch back seamlessly. The short turnaround is the only issue. I wonder where Ngatai is with his concussion symptoms at the moment?
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@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
I thought both Skeen and Price played well on the NH tour last year so I'm not that worried about the locks, even if neither are playing Super rugby at the moment
They weren't bad last year however the opposition is the step up. Also the timing of that tour was better for non SR players. They were coming off an NPC season, I presume this time it would be dev games and club rugby?
It's a shame none of the tallish loosies have a history of covering lock
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So judging by the article linked below the Maori are likely to include...
Back Three: McKenzie, NMS, Jane, Lowe
Midfield: Ngatai, Proctor and possibly Rieko, plus Rob Thompson and Bateman
First Five: Could Cruden get a run here if the ABs want to give him, Beauden and Lima all minutes that weekend? There's also Otere Black and Ihaia West
Halfback: Whoever isn't in the matchday squad to face Samoa out of Aaron, TJP and TKB
Loosies: Messam, Akira and Dixon if they use Luatua against Samoa
Locks: Franklin and Wheeler. Is Cowley-Tuioti Maori?
Hooker: Selector could give Coles or Taylor minutes here by using the other plus Harris in the Samoan matchday 23. Plus Hika and Dixon
Props: Like the Cruden example, selectors could give Moody to the Maori while utilising all the Pakeha and Pasifika props against Samoa. Plus there's Hames, May and EvesKnowing how Hansen and Co operate they'd rather have squad All Blacks spend the week in camp holding crash pads than give them minutes elsewhere but it would be good if where there was a call between a Maori player and a non-Maori they let the Maori have a run against the Lions.
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I hope the Maori are as strong as possible. They were quite disappointing last November I thought.
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@Wurzel said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
Locks: Franklin and Wheeler. Is Cowley-Tuioti Maori?
I don't think so. The Cowley's are Samoan. And at a guess Tuioti is also Samoan. He would have got called up last year if he was Maori I think.
Leighton Price to be the backup lock I think. At least he has been getting paid at the Blues to lift weights!
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That Maori side in 2005 was fucking prime, so this side has a bit to live up to. Watching the highlights of the game the other day, the players on show were big names, and played their guts out, I'm not surprised they won.
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@Frye said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@Wurzel said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
Locks: Franklin and Wheeler. Is Cowley-Tuioti Maori?
I don't think so. The Cowley's are Samoan. And at a guess Tuioti is also Samoan. He would have got called up last year if he was Maori I think.
Leighton Price to be the backup lock I think. At least he has been getting paid at the Blues to lift weights!
What about Quinten Strange?
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That 2005 match is in my all-time top 5 rugby games. It had everything, and the atmosphere was electric. The 10 minutes leading up to the Rangi try was intense stuff. We attacked and attacked, turned down a penalty kick. Lions defence was excellent.
Probably the best game Tipoki ever played
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@Chris-B. said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@Frye said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@Wurzel said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
Locks: Franklin and Wheeler. Is Cowley-Tuioti Maori?
I don't think so. The Cowley's are Samoan. And at a guess Tuioti is also Samoan. He would have got called up last year if he was Maori I think.
Leighton Price to be the backup lock I think. At least he has been getting paid at the Blues to lift weights!
What about Quinten Strange?
If he's Maori he's got my vote!
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@Frye said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@Chris-B. said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@Frye said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@Wurzel said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
Locks: Franklin and Wheeler. Is Cowley-Tuioti Maori?
I don't think so. The Cowley's are Samoan. And at a guess Tuioti is also Samoan. He would have got called up last year if he was Maori I think.
Leighton Price to be the backup lock I think. At least he has been getting paid at the Blues to lift weights!
What about Quinten Strange?
If he's Maori he's got my vote!
If he thinks South Africa should get RWC2023 then he doesn't get mine.
Edit: sorry, mix up - that was Quentin Very Strange I was thinking of. Carry on.
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@jegga said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
Jono Gibbes trying to hobble off injured and then changinghis mind and rejoining the game and Carlos coming on in the second half are two highlights of the 2005 test for me.
Holah rag-dolling their half back was the highlight for me... I assume it was Dawson.
Also, I was out in Hamilton afterwards and it was massive. I've never seen a NZ city party like that.
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@Chris-B. said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@Frye That's the million dollar question. He looks like he might have a bit of Maori in him, but that might just be a Golden Bay suntan!
Only needs as much as Cully did.
'Please recite your whakapapa' and all that
