Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions
-
That's very close to what I expect as their Test side. Don't expect Mako to start as his scrummaging isn't the best. Itoje hasn't done anything to justify the hype, let alone a Lions Test start. If they're opting for Te'o, they've given up any pretence at guile. I still expect Farrell to start. This could be a banana skin for Sexton.
-
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.
-
@Bovidae It helped they had Hayman...
-
@antipodean And the Lions had Sheridan.
-
-
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) -
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.
-
@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?
-
Rieko on the left wing suggests he's making a real push for J Savea's spot.
-
might have to reclaim the TV back instead of watching on the laptop for this one!
-
@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.
-
@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.
-
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.
