Maori All Blacks vs Fiji July 11th 2015

[TobesHodges]

Gotta say, I've always had a hard time rating Marty McKenzie and this game is confirming why.

I fully agree, much prefer his brother Damian, I reckon We'll see Damian on the Sevens Circuit soon, I think he would be good there..

 

[Kiwi_]

I fully agree, much prefer his brother Damian, I reckon We'll see Damian on the Sevens Circuit soon, I think he would be good there..

Yeah Damo is a natural raw talent. Hopefully some good coaching will give him stability to his game. What I like about him is he tries things, over time you learn what works and what doesn't. He's definitely a future AB, probably at 15.

 

[first5eight]

Thought Akira Ioane went really well. I can see him being an All Black in the next 12 months and having a long run in the ABs, he's got star written all over him. Same with Damian Mackenzie. He reminds me a little bit of DC, he seems to have time on the ball and then executes the right option. Be interesting to see how they develop.

 

[Larksea]

really good game, MAB's looked out of it but had a very deliberate gameplan to come back in the 2nd Kicked for field position and pressured the lineouts and scrums, worked a treat. Fiji seemed to tire somewhat Fiji are Such a massive team I guess you would expect that. You would also have to say that losing Nadolo turned the game. He's easily one of the best players in the world and would be worth a few points for the time he was off.

Damian Mckenzie is a special player all right. I actually prefer him at 10, he hasn't really been given many chances at 10 this season. But his first start for the chiefs early this year was at 10 and he was superb, easily man of the match and one of the most complete individual player performances of the season IMO.

Crazy game, if you only watched the first 30min you wouldn't believe the final result was possible. MAB's are the comeback kings.

The game vs. the Barbarians this weekend is going to be awesome. Very much a trial game as well.

 

[TobesHodges]

What's the NZ Barbarians made up of?

 

[nzlizard]

r

Damian Mckenzie is a special player all right. I actually prefer him at 10, he hasn't really been given many chances at 10 this season. But his first start for the chiefs early this year was at 10 and he was superb, easily man of the match and one of the most complete individual player performances of the season IMO.

Yeah he is pretty good for a young player, only qualm I have is that he holds the ball a bit to much and tries to do too much himself, needs to learn when to pass, but that will come in time.

MAB's very lucky with the comeback, saw most of the game on a replay at the pub while having dinner and Fiji looked great in the 1st half, looks like they ran out of steam and ideas in the second. Both teams deserved a win so the result was fitting.

 

[Shaggy]

The NZ Baabaas squad; it looks like a pretty strong squad of fringe players

http://www.allblacks.com/News/27629/strong-barbarians-squad-named-

It looks like Patrick Osborne may have made himself unavailable for Fiji

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10101879/Wing-Patrick-Osborne-is-keen-to-run-Red-hot

 

[TobesHodges]

The NZ Baabaas squad; it looks like a pretty strong squad of fringe players

I Agree, that team will really push the MAB's..

 

[Shaggy]

I Agree, that team will really push the MAB's..

Yep, I was just thinking, if you are a Contracted Super Rugby player, and you aren't in the AB squad, the Maori ABs, or this development squad, you might be feeling a little left out ... Particularly if you don't have an overseas contract to go to, post RWC