2019 Māori All Blacks
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@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
Flying Fijians 26 member squad for the Rotorua game:
Lee-roy Atalifo
Campese Ma’afu
Peni Ravai
Luke Tagi
Kalivati Tawake
Joeli Veitayaki
Sam Matavesi
Tuvere Vugakoto
Api Ratuniyarawa
Tevita Ratuva
Albert Tuisue
Johnny Dyer
Nemani Nagusa
Dominiko Waqaniburotu
Mosese Voka
Frank Lomani
Henry Seniloli
Serupepeli Vularika
Josh Matavesi
Alivereti Veitokani
Sevanaia Galala
Waisea Nayacalevu
Jale Vatubua
Kini Murimurivalu
Filipo Nakosi
Patrick OsbourneFiji Rugby Head Coach John McKee has named his 26-member extended Fiji Airways Flying Fijians squad for the final Pacific Series Test match against the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua this Saturday. With so much depth in the squad McKee will be traveling with 11 new players who were not part of the historic 27-10 win over their New Zealand counterparts last weekend in Suva. McKee said “The plan has always been to give as many players as we can the opportunity across the first two games as a lead up into the Pacific Nations Cup.” He said it’s always good to test and judge the capability of the players against strong opponents “We have got a number of players who probably got niggling injuries from the game but also some coming from Europe with minor injuries from the back end of the season and are on a rehabilitation programme.” McKee added. Luke Tagi, Joeli Veitayaki, Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto, Johnny Dyer, Mosese Voka, Frank Lomani and Serupepeli Vularika are the local players who have made it into McKee’s extended squad.
Fish'n Chips?!
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Māori All Blacks to play Fiji in Rotorua:
1 Ross Wright (Northland) - Ngati Whatua / Ngati Porou
2 Ash Dixon (Captain) (Hawke’s Bay/Highlanders) - Ngati Tahinga
3 Tyrel Lomax ( Ta$man/Highlanders) - Ngai Tuhoe / Muaupoko
4 Tom Franklin (Bay Of Plenty/ Highlanders) - Ngati Maniapoto
5 Pari Pari Parkinson ( Ta$man/Highlanders) - Te Whanau a Apanui
6 Reed Prinsep (Canterbury/ Hurricanes) - Te Rarawa
7 Mitch Karpik (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs) -Rongomaiwahine / Ngati Kahungunu
8 Whetukamokamo Douglas (Canterbury/ Crusaders) - Ngati Porou / Ngati Whakaue
9 Bryn Hall (North Harbour/ Crusaders) - Ngati Ranginui
10 Otere Black (Manawatu/ Blues) - Ngai Tuhoe / Te Whanau a Apanui / Ngati Tuwharetoa
11 Sean Wainui (Taranaki/ Chiefs) - Ngai Tuhoe/Te Aitanga a Mahaki/NgaArikikaiputahi/ Ngati Porou
12 Alex Nankivell ( Ta$man/Chiefs) -Ngapuhi
13 Rob Thompson (Manawatu/ Highlanders) - Ngati Kahungunu / Nga Rauru
14 Jordan Hyland (Northland) - Ngai Tahu
15 Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour/ Chiefs) - Ngapuhi16 Nathan Harris (Bay Of Plenty/Chiefs) -Ngati Hikairo / Waikato Tainui
17 Haereiti Hetet (Waikato) - Ngati Maniapoto/Pouri Rakete-Stones (Hawke's Bay) - Ngapuhi
18 Marcel Renata (Auckland/ Blues) - Ngati Whanaunga / Ngai Takoto
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawke's Bay/ Hurricanes) - Ngati Porou
20 Akira Ioane (Auckland/Blues) - Ngapuhi / Te Whanau a Apanui
21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki/Chiefs) - Ngati Pikiao
22 Fletcher Smith (Waikato/ Hurricanes) - Ngati Kahungunu
23 Teihorangi Walden (Taranaki/Highlanders) - Te AtiawaMcMillan has retained faith in the playing 23 that played Fiji in Suva last week, despite a disappointing 27-10 loss. In addition to a few positional changes, the main switch in this week’s team sees five of last week’s reserves pick up starting positions in Rotorua this weekend. Among them are loose forward Whetukamokamo Douglas and halfback Bryn Hall, who along with Alex Nankivell, Jordan Hyland, and the lofty Pari Pari Parkinson will all run on for the Maori All Blacks this week. They swap with Akira Ioane, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Fletcher Smith and Teihorangi Walden who join hooker Nathan Harris as critical impact players from the bench. Pouri Rakete-Stones has been bracketed alongside Haereiti Hetet.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/34412/maori-all-blacks-named-for-rematch-against-fiji-in-rotorua
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The curtain raiser (Maori U20 vs Fiji U20 game) is also live on Sky from 4:45 pm.
@Stargazer Have those teams been announced yet?
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Flying Fijians squad for the game in Rotorua:
1 Campese Ma’afu
2 Veremalua Vugakoto
3 Lee-Roy Atalifo
4 Tevita Ratuva
5 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7 Mosese Voka
8 Nemani Nagusa
9 Henry Seniloli
10 Alivereti Veitokani
11 Filipo Nakosi
12 Jale Vatubua
13 Waisea Nayacalevu
14 Patrick Osbourne
15 Kini MurimurivaluReserves
16 Samuel Matavesi
17 Joeli Veitayaki
18 Luke Tagi
19 Albert Tuisue
20 John Dyer
21 Serupepeli Vularika
22 Sevanaia Galala
23 Josh MatavesiWith so much depth in the squad, McKee has made ten changes to its run on side which defeated the Maori All Blacks 27-10 at Suva’s ANZ Stadium last weekend.
McKee said it’s important to give all the players the game time ahead of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup and the Rugby World Cup in Japan. “It was always the intention across these two matches to give players in our squad opportunity and game time in the lead up to the PNC.” “It is important that these players grab this chance and make a strong statement,” Coach McKee said. McKee said wintry conditions in Rotorua would mean quite a different match to the hard, fast and dry ANZ Stadium last weekend. “We will need to be very patient with the ball to build pressure on the New Zealand Maori. Last week although we made many line breaks we turned over too much ball,” McKee revealed. “Ball retention and continuity to build pressure and create scoring opportunities when we are in possession along with our consistent work rate and discipline in our defensive system will be the two most important factors for us in this match,” McKee added. Fiji Rugby Chief Executive John O’Connor said the players selected for this weekend’s match have the opportunity to stake a spot in the final 31 member squad for RWC in Japan. “The team understands that we want to improve in every match and are targeting nothing than a win this week so we can continue to build momentum ahead of the PNC.” O’Connor added.
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@Machpants Giving some players a start, who were on the bench last week (particularly Hall, Douglas and Nankivell), is an improvement of the matchday squad. With a squad of only 27 players, there's not much more you can change.
Agree that they'll probably lose again, though, but I think that says more about Fiji than the MABs. Fiji has improved significantly the last few years.