2019 Māori All Blacks
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@Bovidae said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
Have the Thompson brothers been poached by Wellington or studying there?
Wellington offered more money than the Bay could afford (I have it from a reliable source). Also, their dad played for Marist St Pat's, so that has probably been a factor, too.
They're both building apprentices, something they could have been in the Bay as well.
So, I call them poached. (Others will argue that they just wanted to play for Wellington, but I'm not buying that
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@Bones said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
@Stargazer who is their dad?
Probably more a question for @Canes4life given his instagram stalking abilities.
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@Steven-Harris The Māori All Blacks have arrived in Fiji. Do you know anything about this? Late addition to the squad?
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@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
@Steven-Harris The Māori All Blacks have arrived in Fiji. Do you know anything about this? Late addition to the squad?
Akira ruefully checking if Hansen has sent him any messages....
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@Stargazer They said a prop would be added to the squad.
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As the squad heads to Suva today, Coach Clayton McMillan confirmed three new players have joined the Maori All Blacks squad in Fiji.
Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon has withdrawn from the squad and prop Ben May has been ruled out with injury. Dixon has been replaced by Crusaders loose forward Billy Harmon (Ngai Tahu, Canterbury) while props Haereiti Hetet (Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato) and Pouri Rakete-Stone (Ngapuhi, Hawke’s Bay) are added.
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@Stargazer Ben May blew his calf at training Monday ..so Rakete Stones who had been training with the NZ Maori as cover got called in..be interesting to see how he goes ,he’s loaded on 5kgs since last year..!
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@Yeetyaah said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
@Bovidae Aye a mate of mine wrote his car off in the ice on his way back from Rotorua at night in the winter a couple of years back. Nearly killed him.
The drive over the Mamakus is much better now than it used to be. RIS is a great ground when the sun is out (e.g., the 2011 RWC games I went to) when you can sit/stand on the grass embankment. But on a cold winters night it is miserable. Not everyone can sit in the stands.
The Fijian home game is a 3 pm KO so they should have done the same for the return fixture. That would get families and kids through the gate.
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Māori All Blacks team to play Fiji in Suva (with Province, Investec Super Rugby Club, and Iwi):
1 Ross Wright (Northland) - Ngati Whatua / Ngati Porou
2 Ash Dixon (Captain) Hawkes Bay/Highlanders - Ngati Tahinga
3 Tyrel Lomax ( Ta$man/Highlanders) - Ngai Tuhoe / Muaupoko
4 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes) - Ngati Porou
5 Tom Franklin (Bay Of Plenty/Highlanders) - Ngati Maniapoto
6 Reed Prinsep (Canterbury/Hurricanes) - Te Rarawa
7 Mitch Karpik (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs) - Rongomaiwahine / Ngati Kahungunu
8 Akira Ioane (Auckland/Blues) - Ngapuhi / Te Whanau a Apanui
9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki/Chiefs) - Ngati Pikiao
10 Otere Black (Manawatu/ Blues) - Ngai Tuhoe / Te Whanau a Apanui / Ngati Tuwharetoa
11 Sean Wainui (Taranaki/Chiefs) - Ngai Tuhoe / Te Aitanga a Mahaki / Nga Arikikaiputahi / Ngati Porou
12 Teihorangi Walden (Taranaki/Highlanders) Te Atiawa
13 Rob Thompson (Manawatu/Highlanders) - Ngati Kahungunu / Nga Rauru
14 Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour/Chiefs) - Ngapuhi
15 Fletcher Smith * (Waikato/Hurricanes) - Ngati KahungunuReserves
16 Nathan Harris * (Bay Of Plenty/Chiefs) - Ngati Hikairo / Waikato Tainui
17 Haereiti Hetet * (Waikato) - Ngati Maniapoto
18 Marcel Renata (Auckland/Blues) - Ngati Whanaunga / Ngai Takoto
19 Pari Pari Parkinson ( Ta$man/Highlanders) - Te Whanau a Apanui
20 Whetukamokamo Douglas (Canterbury/Crusaders) - Ngati Porou / Ngati Whakaue
21 Bryn Hall (North Harbour/Crusaders) - Ngati Ranginui
22 Alex Nankivell * ( Ta$man/Chiefs) - Ngapuhi
23 Jordan Hyland * (Northland) - Ngai Tahu*denotes uncapped for Maori All Blacks
McMillan has named a hugely experienced side to kick off their 2019 fixtures calendar, with fullback Fletcher Smith the only debutant named to start. The other four new caps will notch up their first Maori matches from the bench –hooker Nathan Harris, outside backs Alex Nankivell and Jordan Hyland and young Waikato prop Haereiti Hetet who was called into the squad this week, and named in the team the day after his 22nd birthday. Every player in the starting 15 is an experienced Super Rugby player and the caliber of the bench sets up a mouth-watering battle against the world’s 9th ranked Fijian team.“We know we will need the strike power of our reserves and it’s exciting to think we have the likes of Nathan Harris, Pari Pari Parkinson, Marcel Renata, Whetu Douglas, Alex Nankivell and Bryn Hall sitting on the bench. “We expect the conditions will be hot, but we know that many of these Super Rugby players have played in Fiji before so that experience will be invaluable. “We’re wanting the boys to be direct in contact, and deliberate in their game decisions, so having someone like Ash lead them will be critical. “We’re very fortunate that many of these lads have played together in this team, and it’s very exciting that we will get an opportunity to do it all over again in Rotorua next week.”The Maori All Blacks have played Fiji 29 times with the Maori recording 20 wins, Fiji seven wins and two draws. The Maori team are unbeaten against Fiji since 1957 including their last encounter in Suva four years ago. That day the Maori All Blacks sneaked ahead 27-26 to break Fijian hearts.http://www.allblacks.com/News/34389/maori-all-blacks-named-for-fiji-clash
