Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions
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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.
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@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?
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Rieko on the left wing suggests he's making a real push for J Savea's spot.
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might have to reclaim the TV back instead of watching on the laptop for this one!
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@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.
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@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.
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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. -
@Billy-Tell said in Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions:
@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.
This!
The match is going to be a titanic struggle. What we have seen from the Lions is resolute defence, a great kick and chase game (led by Murray) an excellent lineout (bar one mis-fire against the Blues) and aggressive ruck work.What we know is NZ rugby and the Maori brains trust have had 4 games to diffuse the Lions strengths, if anything NZ rugby can adapt quickly.
My pick is Maori by less than 7
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That Maori backline looks dynamite but it remains to be seen how they go up front. Can't wait regardless.
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Article in the Herald today indicating that the BIL camp is virtually split already into two training/playing groups and that extra players have been called for as training standins to make full teams.
Also some whinging about goal kicks as if the situations only ever occur in NZ.
The one about Dalys kick is a valid point. Gardner should have offered a change from the shot when he moved the mark back (to the correct place). He would have had to stop things and informed the Highlanders of the change but that's fine.
The other was the borderline miss from Farrell against the Crusaders. Some twits in the team calling for the TMO while others say they had a better view from the stands than the ARunder the post. What a load of crap. If the ball doesn't go between the posts clearly and obviously then it isn't successful. TMO would need two synchronised cameras to get the point of ball and post meeting and the AR is able to remove one axis from the equation by looking up the post.
Suffer in ya jocks! -
My only concern with that backline is the lack of combinations. Each very exciting players but I would've preferred DMac and Lowe at the back together where they are so tough to defend because they link so well.
Lions have picked a good side. Physical loose forwards and I reckon DMac will get his fair share of attention from SOB
