Māori All Blacks v Ireland 2
-
The matchday 23 is as follows (Province/Super Rugby Club, and Iwi in brackets, debutants in bold).
1 Ollie Norris (Waikato/Chiefs/Ngāpuhi)
2 Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty/Blues/Ngāti Kahu)
3 Tyrel Lomax ( Ta$man/Hurricanes/Muaupoko/Ngāi Tūhoe)
4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders /Ngāti Raukawa/Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawkes Bay/ Hurricanes/Ngāti Porou)
6 Reed Prinsep (Canterbury/Hurricanes/Te Rārawa)
7 Billy Harmon (Canterbury/ Highlanders/Ngāi Tahu)
8 Cullen Grace (Canterbury/Crusaders/Ngāti Whakaue/Ngāti Raukawa)
9 TJ Perenara© - Kāpene Paheko (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāti Rangitihi)
10 Josh Ioane (Otago/Chiefs/Te Rārawa)
11 Connor Garden-Bachop (Wellington/Highlanders/Ngāti Awa)
12 Alex Nankivell ( Ta$man/Chiefs/Ngāti Pikiao)
13 Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato/Hurricanes/Ngāti Kahungunu)
14 Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour/Chiefs/Ngāpuhi)
15 Josh Moorby (Northland/Hurricanes/Ngāti Maniapoto)16 Leni Apisai (Auckland/Ngāti Awa)
17 Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury/Crusaders/Ngāpuhi)
18 Marcel Renata (Auckland/Blues/Ngāti Whānaunga/Ngāi Takoto)
19 Max Hicks ( Ta$man/Highlanders/Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāi te Rangi)
20 Caleb Delany (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
21 Brad Weber© - Kāpene Paheko (Hawkes Bay/Chiefs/Ngāti Porou)
22 Ruben Love (Wellington/Hurricanes/Te Atiawa)
23 Billy Proctor (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāi te Rangi/Ngāpuhi)Media release:
-
Gutted to see Apisai getting the bench spot. Thompson didn't get near enough minutes in the first game. Apisai is so average. Also disagree with Zarn Sullivan missing out. They should have dropped Ruben Love, who had a forgettable appearance in the first match.
After Weber started the first game, TJP was always going to get the start in this one.
-
@taniwharugby not sure but why has he suddenly gone as most of other starting 23 included again and zarn was 1 of our best in first game can't remember him getting injured?
-
@george33 Even if there was an injury in the ABs squad to a first-five, I doubt Zarn would get a call-up, considering he's not playing at 10 for the Blues. I think in case of emergency, they'd - rightly or wrongly - go for Josh Ioane. We've plenty of ABs who can play at fullback, so if the injury was to a fullback, I don't think they would bring someone new in for just one match.
-
This is a microcosm of the problems in NZ Rugby at the moment - coaches not willing to make a tough call. This selection makes the Maori team look less like a high performance team and more like a under age team where everyone gets to play. Suofoa, Poihipi and Zarn all get canned... for what reason exactly? So Prinsep can get a game? Perenara starts over Weber why? As a thank you for his service to NZ rugby?
-
@KiwiMurph said in Māori All Blacks v Ireland 2:
This is a microcosm of the problems in NZ Rugby at the moment - coaches not willing to make a tough call. This selection makes the Maori team look less like a high performance team and more like a under age team where everyone gets to play. Suofoa, Poihipi and Zarn all get canned... for what reason exactly? So Prinsep can get a game? Perenara starts over Weber why? As a thank you for his service to NZ rugby?
I don't think this team is run like that. It's essentially a Baabass style team with all players being given a go.
-
@Tim said in Māori All Blacks v Ireland 2:
@Nepia It should be playing low tier teams then, not Ireland.
It can't be treated as a professional team and managed like a social side.
I think that if it was NZA instead of the Maori team it would be run the same way. They want to see as many players as possible. (Not saying I agree or disagree with it, just saying this is how I think the teams are directed).
-
@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks v Ireland 2:
I think that if it was NZA instead of the Maori team it would be run the same way. They want to see as many players as possible.
The idea of seeing as many players as possible I could get on board with if they didn't select no hopers like Prinsep and Apisai. Why not try Howden at 6? Another one who isn't even in the 23.
-
@Bovidae Nocks partner had a baby last week, so will have been unavailble for part of the build up anyway...and with TJ & Webber, you wonder why they went to him knowing he'd possibly be unavailable (especially if she was overdue)
Was funny he re-posted a picture of himself training prior to the 1st Maori match, and his comment was 'foodbill'
-
@taniwharugby Nock did lead the haka, so they put him to some use.