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8 new caps in 24-strong Maori squad, recall for ex-All Black Messam
By Online Editors
Maori All Blacks coach Clayton McMillan has named eight new caps in a 24-strong squad to prepare for a one-off match on December 5 against Moana Pasifika in Hamilton. Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon will captain the side. Among the newcomers is the all-new midfield trio of Billy Proctor, 21, and former Hamilton Boys’ High School first XV teammates Quinn Tupaea, 21, and Rameka Poihipi, 22. Full-back Kaleb Trask is also 21.
There are also four new faces in the forwards where 20-year-old Canterbury prop Taimati Williams is joined by Crusaders and North Harbour loose forward Ethan Roots, Bay of Plenty and Blues prop Kurt Eklund and Southland and Highlanders lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit. One other player will be added to the squad in coming days.
“It’s an exciting group and the eight new caps bring some genuine excitement and energy to the squad,” said Maori boss McMillan. “There is a new generation of Maori players coming through, but also there are some great leaders around them with a vast amount of experience.”
That experience includes captain Dixon, who has led Hawke’s Bay to this weekend’s Mitre 10 Cup Championship final, as well as former All Black Liam Messam (36), who will play his first match for the Maori All Blacks since facing the British and Irish Lions in Rotorua in 2017, and Otago prop Josh Hohneck who last wore the Maori jersey in 2015.
“It’s great to have the mana of players like Liam and Josh back in the playing group, and likewise Tony Brown brings a huge amount of knowledge to our coaching team and also a passion as someone who has worn the Maori All Blacks jersey.”
Dixon added: “This year has been challenging for a lot of people across our communities in New Zealand and to have the chance to represent the Maori All Blacks in the heart of Waikato-Tainui and the Kingitanga for the only time in 2020 will be a huge honour for us as players, our whanau and our iwi.
“It will be a celebration and connection of culture in Hamilton, but we know Moana Pasifika is a talented, passionate and physical opponent so expect there will be a real edge in both camps.”
MAORI ALL BLACKS SQUAD (vs Moana Pasifika)
Props
Josh Hohneck, Otago, Ng?ti Manuhiri/Ng?ti Wh?tua
Pouri Rakete-Stones, Hawkes Bay/Hurricanes, Ng?puhi
Marcel Renata, Auckland/Blues, Ng?ti Wh?naunga/Ng?i Takoto
*Tamaiti Williams, Canterbury, Ng?puhi
Hookers
Ash Dixon (c), Hawkes Bay/Highlanders, Ng?ti Tahinga
*Kurt Eklund, Bay of Plenty/Blues, Ng?puhi
Locks
*Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Southland/Highlanders, Ng?ti Raukawa
Isaia Walker-Leawere, Hawkes Bay/Hurricanes, Ng?ti Porou
Loose Forwards
Billy Harmon, Canterbury/Crusaders, Ng?i Tahu
Reed Prinsep, Canterbury/Hurricanes, Te R?rawa
Liam Messam, Waikato, Ng?i Tuhoe
Whetukamokamo Douglas, Canterbury/Crusaders, Ng?ti Porou/Ng?ti Whakaue
*Ethan Roots, North Harbour/Crusaders, Ng?ti Kahungunu
Half Backs
Bryn Hall, North Harbour/Crusaders, Ng?ti Ranginui
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Bay of Plenty/Chiefs, Ng?ti Pikiao
First five-eighths
Otere Black, Bay of Plenty/Blues, Ng?i Tuhoe/Te Wh?nau ? Apanui/Ng?ti T?wharetoa
Fletcher Smith, Waikato/Hurricanes, Ng?ti Kahungunu
Midfield
*Billy Proctor, Wellington/Hurricanes, Ngai Te Rangi/Ng?puhi
*Rameka Poihipi, Canterbury, Ng?ti Whakaue
*Quinn Tupaea, Waikato/Chiefs, Waikato/Tainui
Outside Backs
Sean Wainui, Taranaki/Chiefs, Ng?i Tuhoe/Te ?itanga a M?haki/Ng? Arikikaiputahi/Ng?ti Porou
Shaun Stevenson, North Harbour/Chiefs, Ng?puhi
Jonah Lowe, Hawkes Bay/Hurricanes, Ng?ti Pikiao
*Kaleb Trask, Bay of Plenty/Chiefs, Ng?puhi
Head Coach - Clayton, McMillan, Ng?i Te Rangi/Ng?i Tamawhariua/Te Rangaihouhiri
Assistant Coaches - Roger Randle, Ng?ti Awa; Tony Brown (Ng?puhi)
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Latest Comments
Cane shouldn’t have been one last year, based purely on performances. Lakai is as close to a like for like of swap of Savea you’re ever likely to find, based on his short career so far at least. He has many of the same qualities - very strong ball carrier, great at the breakdown, and an absolute work horse on defence. I feel like he and Sititi could lead the way in the loose at the next WC.
I think we have become obsessed with replacing Kaino with someone exactly like him. Kaino was a perfect foil for the other loose forwards we had at the time. Based on the talent we have around at the moment those players could be made up in the aggregate by three players who are all exception all rounders - Lakai, Sititi, and Savea. Missing some height for sure but Sititi’s defensive work in the line out last year was phenomenal. He gets off the ground so quickly and was able to steal a couple of balls off the top of the springbok line out.
If our young locks coming through can actually stay fit long enough to get selected, it seems inevitable that Va’ai could end up in a hybrid 6/lock role.
Go to commentsWas strange game, full of errors and the usual refereeing decisions. Both teams suffered as a result but Ospreys discipline was a major factor. I think this weekend will be different as the Ospreys will pick a full strength team but Scarlets will gain confidence in the fact that only Tipuric was missing in the forwards and they dominated that pack for the whole 80 minutes. If they can repeat that dominance at scrum and breakdown then the Scarlets backs will always have more to offer on the front foot.
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