Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?
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@Crucial said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
So the first game is before the 1st test, and the second game between the 2nd and 3rd tests.
I thought they might play a game in Rotorua but it's not a great venue for a night game. That 2010 game against Ireland was good fun to be at though.
@Stargazer Like Napier? I agree, and they could have played the July 12 game there, but obviously Ireland probably prefer to be based in Wellington for the entire week.
Rotorua is out of action for the season. Resurfacing or something that has had covid delays
Ok Crucial, I had originally guessed if there were Maori games one would be at Rotorua, and Mrs Dan was already for a few days up there. Now I have just booked a motel in Hamilton so will go there instead, , though would of enjoyed Stargazer's idea at Napier, but when you can just do an hour bus trip, you not going to have an hour flight followed by a 30 minute bus trip back to Auckland.
I would add I looking forward to this tour more everyday!! -
Possible 23:
1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
2 Kurt Eklund
3 Jermaine Ainsley / Tamaiti Williams
4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere
6 Reed Prinsep
7 Billy Harmon
8 TK Howden
9 Bryn Hall
10 Josh Ioane
11 Jonah Lowe
12 Quinn Tupaea / Alex Nankivell
13 Bailyn Sullivan
14 Shaun Stevenson
15 Zarn Sullivan16 Tyrone Thompson
17 Tamaiti Williams / Josh Hohneck if Williams starts at TH
18 Josh Hohneck / Marcel Renata (Ainsley if he doesn't start)
19 Josh Dickson
20 Jacob Norris
21 Cortez Ratima
22 Lincoln McClutchie (/ Ruben Love, if fit) (if a 10 is needed with Z Sullivan at fullback), if not: Nankivell or Poihipi (if Tuapea is in not the squad)
23 Connor Garden-Bachop -
@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
When is Selby-Rickit fit again?
Hohneck isn't even a regular for the Highlanders now, so hard to justify picking him in a 23.
Last Highlanders article implies he won't be in SRP, unless the Landers make the final
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@Bovidae What @Machpants says about S-R. If he's not fit, Dickson to start and Caleb Delany on the bench.
I bracketed Hohneck with Renata for the bench spot. I don't have a preference. He's handy because he can play both LH and TH (like Williams); Renata can't as far as I know.
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@FakatavaFuture Yeah, I didn't want to get ahead of that decision. That's probably going to cost Ratima his spot on the bench (which will then be taken by Hall).
I made a 23 based on who we know are likely to be available. If Fakatava is in the ABs, either TJP or Weber will probably drop out and maybe captain this team, which wouldn't be bad at all for the Māori ABs.
There may also be some "cross-over players": eligible ABs who don't make the first test squad. Example: Dane Coles/Codie Taylor, which may see Eklund drop to the bench and young Thompson out of the 23.
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@Gunner said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
@Thirdil said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
Others Players to Consider, Jahrome Brown Brumbies, Open side
I see a wee problem with this this guys eligibility....
A good Morrinsville man, but I assume he has signed a RA contract of some sort.
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@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
@Gunner said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
@Thirdil said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
Others Players to Consider, Jahrome Brown Brumbies, Open side
I see a wee problem with this this guys eligibility....
A good Morrinsville man, but I assume he has signed a RA contract of some sort.
Yes wasn’t he in the Wallabies training camp a few weeks ago when Rennie invited 40 players.
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@FakatavaFuture said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
@Bovidae 2010 Maori abs is when I first took real notice of Aaron Smith , I thought geez that lad out of manawatu is going to be a star for the canes! wasn't to be tho as Hammett opted for Tyson Keats
Pretty sure Keats was already picked up by the Canes in 2010 prior to Hammett getting there in 2011.
Given how things played out with Weepu, I think NZ rugby was/is pretty happy with Smith going to the Highlanders given Weepu was already at the Canes and his opportunity came quicker down south.
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@ACT-Crusader yeah I remember thinking Smith was pretty cake when he first stepped foot on the scene - probably similar to Christie 2+ years ago.
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@Machpants said in Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?:
Tickets in welly with the boys, woot. Pop over to the rapa afterwards to see the family.
Hell Mach, I was going to do Wellington Tues, then head to the Rapa for a couple of days then back to test., but today got tickets to Hamilton so will go see fmily up there, home and down to Welly for the test.
By christ I so happy being back in Aotearoa and being able to do rugby again!!!
Yeehaa!