2021 Māori All Blacks
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Māori All Blacks to play Samoa
NZR has announced a series of All Blacks and Māori All Blacks matches to be played in June/July 2021. While the All Blacks will play test matches against Fiji (2) and Tonga, the Māori All Blacks will play two matches against Samoa. The first on Saturday, 26 June 2021 at Sky Stadium in Wellington and the second on Saturday, 3 July 2021 at Mt Smart Stadium (Auckland). The first of these two games hasn't been confirmed by NZR yet, but has been announced by Manu Samoa.
Samoa will also play two RWC2023 qualifiers against Tonga on 10 and 17 July (Auckland and Hamilton).
2021 Māori All Blacks coaching staffMāori All Blacks Head Coach is once again Clayton McMillan (Chiefs, Interim Head Coach). The names of the assistant coaches haven't been published, yet. In previous years, Roger Randle (Waikato, Assistant Coach) was one of the assistant coaches and he may again be part of McMillan's coaching staff. The other 2020 assistant coach, Tony Brown, won't be available and is likely to be replaced.
The 2021 Māori All Blacks squadSquad size
The squad will likely consist of no more than 26 players (15 forwards and 11 backs).I've looked at the availability of players who have been capped for the Māori All Blacks in previous years, are still playing and available (in New Zealand and not injured).
Starting point below is the 2020 squad:
- Strikethrough: player not or no longer available.
- Added in italics: players capped before 2020.
- Asterisk: possible new cap (playing SR and/or Mitre 10 Cup)
Position Player LH prop Pouri Rakete-Stones (also TH), Ross Wright Hooker Ash Dixon, Kurt Eklund, Nathan Harris, Leni Apisai, Joe Royal (also prop), Quentin MacDonald TH prop Marcel Renata, Josh Hohneck (also LH), Tamaiti Williams (also LH), Namatahi Waa Lock Isaia Walker-Leawere, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Ethan Roots (also loosie), Pari Pari Parkinson, Keepa Mewett, Leighton Price Loosies Whetukamokamo Douglas (6/8), Liam Messam (6/8), Billy Harmon (7), Mitch Karpik(injured), Reed Prinsep (6/8)Halfback Bryn Hall, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Sam Nock, Jonathan Ruru, * Ereatara Enari First five-eighth Otere Black, Josh Ioane, Marty McKenzie, * Ruben Love Midfield backs Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Rameka Poihipi, Alex Nankivell, Rene Ranger Outside backs Kaleb Trask (15), Sean Wainui (also midfield), Shaun Stevenson, Jonah Lowe, Mathew Skipwith-Garland, Jordan Hyland, Nehe Milner-Skudder, * Zarn Sullivan (15/10), * Bailyn Sullivan
Likely to be unavailable due to being named in the All Blacks squad: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Tyrel Lomax, Akira Ioane, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie and Rieko Ioane.There are a few other players that I haven't included in the list, because I don't know whether they have any Māori lineage. Examples are Josh Goodhue and Lachlan Boshier.
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Are there significant omissions in the above list? Have I forgotten anyone?
The difference between squads for June/July matches and November/December matches is that the selection for the first are largely based on Super Rugby selection and performance, while for the latter, playing NPC will also play a role.
Which team would you pick from the above list?
I'd probably go for:
1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
2 Ash Dixon (c)
3 Tamaiti Williams
4 Isaia Walker-Leawere
5 Pari Pari Parkinson
6 Whetukamokamo Douglas
7 Billy Harmon
8 Liam Messam
9 Bryn Hall
10 Otere Black
11 Jonah Lowe
12 Quinn Tupaea
13 Billy Proctor
14 Sean Wainui
15 Zarn Sullivan16 Kurt Eklund
17 Josh Hohneck
18 Marcel Renata
19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit
20 Reed Prinsep
21 Sam Nock
22 Ruben Love
23 Shaun Stevenson or Bailyn Sullivan -
@stargazer I wouldn't be so sure Lomax makes the AB squad so he might be better to play for the Maori. Hohneck starts, as he did against MP.
Josh Ioane would be in the 23 ahead of Love.
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@bovidae You may be right, but I wrote down a list (in my second post) of who I would select, not who I expect to be named by McMillan.
I tried to pick a slightly younger squad - where possible - so started Williams and Rakete-Stones (esp. because they've now more Super Rugby experience than before the MP game). You're probably right about Ioane, although he played for MP and not MABs, and hasn't set the world on fire for quite a while now. Love is probably a bit too green, though. -
@bovidae said in 2021 Māori All Blacks:
@stargazer I wouldn't be so sure Lomax makes the AB squad so he might be better to play for the Maori. Hohneck starts, as he did against MP.
Josh Ioane would be in the 23 ahead of Love.
I’d actually start him in the starting lineup at either 10 or 15.
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@act-crusader how's Connor Garden-Bachop coming along? I'd have him at somewhere in that 23 if he's available.
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@canes4life he's out for the season i think
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@kiwiwomble hopefully back for the NPC then.
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@stargazer Good timing for me, as I'll be up in Wellington for the marathon that weekend so definitely will head along to that. Never been to a rugby game there either (only been to a football game there).
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It will be interesting to see if he goes back to Wellington. In an article in April, he said his provincial future was still to be sorted out.
Garden-Bachop making impact for his father’s team
His old man was Highlander No1. He is Highlander No300. So 298 players have passed through the Highlanders doors between father and son in the...
"His provincial future is up in the air but he is signed up with the Highlanders until next year."
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@southernmann i would be very happy to hear he'd signed with Otago
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@kiwimurph said in 2021 Māori All Blacks:
With such logjam of loosies in the AB mix i'd expect to see Akira released to play for Maori ABs allowing ABs to get a look at other loosies (Blackadder etc).
After his efforts in black last season, I expect he will be given first crack this year.
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The 2021 squad has been named:
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Māori All Blacks Coach Clayton McMillan has named a strong squad ahead of their two-match series against Manu Samoa.
It will be the first time the sides have met since 2008, with matches at Sky Stadium in Wellington (June 26) and an exciting double header alongside the All Blacks and Tonga at Mt Smart in Auckland (July 3).
The squad features two debutants, 21-year-old Waikato and Chiefs prop Ollie Norris along with Otago and Highlanders loose forward Josh Dickson.McMillan is joined in the coaching group again by Roger Randle and for the first time, Chris Gibbes, from the Hurricanes.
Established squad announced for Māori All Blacks campaign
Māori All Blacks Coach Clayton McMillan has named a strong squad ahead of their two-match series against Manu Samoa.
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@bovidae said in 2021 Māori All Blacks:
I am always surprised to see some of the new players who have Maori ancestry.
Guarantees that Lomax will be in the AB squad.
And I guess it precludes a few that were fringe as well, unless injury strikes. Not many loose forwards!
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