2017 NZ Schools
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NZ Maori U18s hold off Tonga Schools
The New Zealand Under-18 Maori have ended their week together with a 38-26 victory over Tonga Schools at Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua. The fixture followed a similar course to the Tongan’s match against the New Zealand Barbarians last Thursday. Tonga was tentative from the outset and fell behind 19-0 after ten minutes and 26-7 at halftime before fighting gallantly in the second-spell to reduce the deficit and earn the respect of their superiorly resourced opponents. In the first minute Tonga fumbled the ball meekly on halfway and were made to pay when fullback John Cooper crossed in the corner supporting a bust by centre Austin Brown. A few moments’ later first-five Stewart Cruden kicked for wing Coel Kerr to snaffle inside the visitors 22. New Zealand recycled swiftly and prop Jonas Pomare crashed over. A hiding looked like a distinct possibility when lively halfback Shamara Brooks darted over for try number three, punishing more hapless handling from the visitors. However Tonga rallied and powerhouse prop Hiliau Latu opened the tourists account after 15 minutes when he muscled over near the posts. Latu has exhibited exceptional form for Tonga in starting all three internationals. New Zealand’s fourth try was exceptional. The ball was juggled and parried hurriedly close to the sideline, but remained in play for powerful No.8 Terrell Peita to claim a meat pie. New Zealand blindside Keelan Whitman scored a soft fifth try and Kerr was gifted the sixth after Tonga made a hash of an attempted defensive clearance. Tongan reserves Heimuli Taufa and Nawruz Kanongata’a were rewarded for their toil finishing robust and sustained forward surges and Alofaki Fihaki strode 30-metres for the last say in an outstanding solo effort. New Zealand will be pleased to win, but the real story is Tonga. No.8 Apitoni To’ia was a superb captain for a side that has delighted and surprised supporters with their infectiously positive, organized, aggressive and competitive approach to the game. Tonga was assisted in the coaching department today by All Black Vaea Fifta. -
@stargazer said in 2017 NZ Schools:
Weird. If you want to select the best possible team, you don't name Tavita Metcalfe, Lincoln McClutchie and Danny Toala on the bench, but in the starting line-up. It seems they've gone for good try scorers instead of a good goal kicker, because who do you take off if you name Toala at fullback? Faingaanuku, Punivai, Naholo and Nanai are all good finishers, but the fact is, Reihana missed a lot of kicks at goal v Fiji and also isn't the best pivot. I wonder whether they couldn't have shifted Punivai to 12 and Nanai to 13 to accommodate a line-up that includes McClutchie and Toala (leaving Tupaea out).
And if you want the strongest and best possible pack, you need Tavita Metcalfe in it. He's a monster. If you've seen his winning try in the Top 4 final, you know why.
Tupaea is the playmaker of the backline so it's hard to leave him out while George Dyer has been strong in the tight against the Australian Barbarians, that's why Metcalfe is on the bench.
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@stargazer id be tempted to bring him on at 15 and shift Nanai to 14. Naholo has been poor so far.
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@kiwimurph I've found, during the season, that Naholo is a great finisher and sometimes has his moments creating things, but if he isn't served well by his team mates, he can become invisible. In the Hastings squad that worked well, but without players like McClutchie and esp. Fakatava, it becomes a lot more difficult, apparently.
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@kiwimurph said in 2017 NZ Schools:
@stargazer id be tempted to bring him on at 15 and shift Nanai to 14. Naholo has been poor so far.
Looks like the coach has read your post and took your advice!
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@stargazer said in 2017 NZ Schools:
@kiwimurph said in 2017 NZ Schools:
@stargazer id be tempted to bring him on at 15 and shift Nanai to 14. Naholo has been poor so far.
Looks like the coach has read your post and took your advice!
Haha hope it works! So far it has.
