New Zealand Maori squad (to play England and Ireland)

[Darwin]

Ben Afeaki * North Harbour Ngati Awa
Colin Bourke * Bay of Plenty Ngati Wairere
Stephen Brett Canterbury Ngapuhi
Dane Coles * Wellington Ngati Porou
Jacob Ellison Wellington Ngati Porou
Corey Flynn Canterbury Kai Tahu
Hosea Gear Wellington Ngati Porou
Romana Graham * Waikato Ngati Awa
Jarrad Hoeata Taranaki Ngati Kahungunu
Tanerau Latimer Bay of Plenty Tapuika
Karl Lowe * Hawke’s Bay Ngati Kahungunu
Sean Maitland * Canterbury Ngapuhi
Luke McAlister North Harbour Te Atiawa
Liam Messam ( c ) Waikato Ngai Tuhoe
Bronson Murray Northland Ngapuhi
Clint Newland Hawke’s Bay Ngati Kahungunu
Daniel Ramsey * Wellington Kai Tahu
Willie Ripia* Taranaki Ngai Tuhoe
Robbie Robinson * Southland Ngati Tuwharetoa
Isaac Ross Canterbury Ngati Kahungunu
Aaron Smith * Manawatu Ngati Kahungunu
Chris Smylie North Harbour Ngati Mutunga
Dwayne Sweeney Waikato Ngati Mahanga
Andre Taylor* Manawatu Ngati Tuwharetoa
Hayden Triggs Otago Ngati Kahungunu
Jackson Willison* Waikato Ngati Mahuta

Note: * denotes New Zealand Maori debutant

A reasonably strong squad - probably the only notable omission is Hika Elliot. I really hope Robbie Robinson gets some gametime at 15, as he is exceptional at fullback.

Against England/Ireland I'd look at a starting XV along the lines of:

Bronson Murray
Corey Flynn
Clint Newland
Romana Graham
Isaac Ross
Liam Messam ( c )
Tanerau Latimer
Colin Bourke
Chris Smylie
Stephen Brett
Hosea Gear
Luke McAlister
Jackson Willison
Sean Maitland
Robbie Robinson

Bench
Dane Coles
Ben Afeaki
Hayden Triggs
Karl Lowe
Aaron Smith
Dwayne Sweeney
Andre Taylor

 

[Feicarsinn]

Well it doesn't strike fear into my heart, but that could be my ignorance of SH rugby showing. I'd say they'll give us a good game but we should come good by about 10 points.


Oh wait, we're crippled at the moment. I don't have a clue what will happen.

 

[Darwin]

Well it doesn't strike fear into my heart, but that could be my ignorance of SH rugby showing. I'd say they'll give us a good game but we should come good by about 10 points.


Oh wait, we're crippled at the moment. I don't have a clue what will happen.

Your right Ireland should beat this team, however the Maori team are known for stepping up against international teams (they did beat a full strength lions side a few years ago). The strength of this team will largely be its backline - Brett, MacAlister, and Hosea Gear are all strong attacking players (they were all very close to All Blacks selection), while the likes of Willison, Maitland, and Robbie Robinson are all exceptionally talented young players with big futures. The forwards pack is solid rather than spectacular, though a loose forward trio of Messem, Latimer, and Bourke will be handy.

 

[ranger]

Well it doesn't strike fear into my heart, but that could be my ignorance of SH rugby showing. I'd say they'll give us a good game but we should come good by about 10 points.


Oh wait, we're crippled at the moment. I don't have a clue what will happen.

Mate, i have already put $100 on the Maori beating both England and Ireland. This is a very strong squad. Even if the Irish were full strength i would back the Maori here

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

Ranger may be being fairly parochial on this, but I honestly think the NZ Maori squad should strike the fear of a loss into the English and Irish sides. They can win. I won't say will win for sure, but seriously this side might go close to tipping the AB's if they played them. The NZ Maori teams always play with a pride and power seldom seen from other sides. From the angle of being hard and fair, they'll soften up both those teams big time. The worst thing the media could do is to paint this as a mis-match in the English and Irish teams favour, as NZ Maori play even better with their backs to the wall. The Lions were "supposed to win" and those bold predictions were fuel for the fire.

There's going to be some tenderising tackles.

 

[Charles]

Where's Rene Ranger? Is he in the AB squad or not picked at all?

 

[nickdnz]

I'd say this is a very strong Maori All Blacks side, a little too good. Hosea Gear should not be in this squad, he should be in the AB's. I'd rate the backline of

10. Steven Brett
11. Hosea Gear.
12. Luke McAlister
13. Rene Ranger (if he was selected, if not than the selectors are idiots)
14. Sean Maitland
15. Robbie Robinson

Better than most international sides could offer (all beit I'm not a huge fan of Brett). The forwards looks a little shallow, however I wouldn't take them at all lightly. Should be an interesting game, I wont say the NZ Maori team will win for sure, but it shouldn't be a push over by any means.

 

[Darwin]

Where's Rene Ranger? Is he in the AB squad or not picked at all?

Ranger is not in the squad as he has no New Zealand Maori heritage (his ancestry traces back to the Cook Islands).

 

[nickdnz]

Ahh, that makes sense. I heard he was playing so I presumed. Anyway, even without him, it still looks like a good backline. I guess Jackson Willison will play Centre? or maybe Sweeny.

 

[Charles]

Ranger is not in the squad as he has no New Zealand Maori heritage (his ancestry traces back to the Cook Islands).

Ok. Kinda hard to know who is Maori and who isn't...

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

Well Auckland is the polynesian capital of the world, so there are people of Fijian, Tongan, Cook Island, Samoan and other pacific peoples right throughout New Zealand. The similar looks of some of the peoples can make it hard to at first to know for sure of the ancestral origins of some players by appearance alone.

 

[admartian]

I'd say this is a very strong Maori All Blacks side, a little too good. Hosea Gear should not be in this squad, he should be in the AB's. I'd rate the backline of

10. Steven Brett
11. Hosea Gear.
12. Luke McAlister
13. Rene Ranger (if he was selected, if not than the selectors are idiots)
14. Sean Maitland
15. Robbie Robinson

Better than most international sides could offer (all beit I'm not a huge fan of Brett). The forwards looks a little shallow, however I wouldn't take them at all lightly. Should be an interesting game, I wont say the NZ Maori team will win for sure, but it shouldn't be a push over by any means.

Thatsounds like a wicked backline. Form players for the most part ,from the Super14.

I like that Messam and Latimer are picked. Hopefully, this year, they show that they're ready for the ABs.

Though, that'd be hard with the emergence of Vito and Thomson.

 

[Darwin]

Ok. Kinda hard to know who is Maori and who isn't...

Yeah, I agree - sorry if my reply seemed a bit blunt. By all accounts sometimes the people involved don't even know if the have Maori ancestry or not - apparently Rene Ranger thought he had some Maori ancestry, but after some extensive searching was unable to find any! I will try to find the link to the article I got that from.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Happy/sad to see McAllister there.
Happy because he's a great player, and i've liked him since he played for Sale
Sad because he's a great player and will tear it up against England

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I have an uncle called Robbie Robinson. Although, as far as I know, he's proudly Scottish. And I'm sure Dwyane Sweeny is a Wales half-back pairing from 2006?

I recognise a few of them, althoug it's still the All Blacks- They'll be stronger than the sum of their parts.

 

[durbutter]

Ireland will/should lose. I'd like to see a team of youngsters thrown out there. WE CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE INJURIES. Could this tour be a whitewash ?

 

[coonor]

Ireland will/should lose. I'd like to see a team of youngsters thrown out there. WE CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE INJURIES. Could this tour be a whitewash ?

It will if we go in with an attitude like that. We need to beleive in ourselves as I know we have the ability to win. ITS ALL ON THE DAY.

 

[lance2010]

Yeah, I agree - sorry if my reply seemed a bit blunt. By all accounts sometimes the people involved don't even know if the have Maori ancestry or not - apparently Rene Ranger thought he had some Maori ancestry, but after some extensive searching was unable to find any! I will try to find the link to the article I got that from.

Yeah he's a cookie hard he should be in the All Blacks cause he's Cook Island lol Havent had Many Cookies for All Blacks Nah shame there No Jnr All Blacks or he would of been in that team.What about a NZ POLY TEAM

 

[Feicarsinn]

It could very easily be an Ireland A team that takes the field against the Maori. Our injury problems are well documented and we have a pretty toough summer tour schedule. I'd like to see a team of:

1 Court
2 Cronin
3 Buckley
4 O'Callaghan
5 Tuohy
6 Muldoon
7 Jennings
8 Heaslip
9 Boss/Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Bpwe
12 McFadden
13 Earls
14 Trimble
15 Murphy

This tour is going to expose the true lack of depth in the Irish game. Without the likes of O'Connell, Ferris, Fitzgerald, Cullen, O'Brien, McLaughlin etc. it's tough to see where we're going to get results from.

 

[Charles]

Yeah he's a cookie hard he should be in the All Blacks cause he's Cook Island lol Havent had Many Cookies for All Blacks Nah shame there No Jnr All Blacks or he would of been in that team.What about a NZ POLY TEAM

Exists already, it's called the Auckland Blues

It could very easily be an Ireland A team that takes the field against the Maori. Our injury problems are well documented and we have a pretty toough summer tour schedule. I'd like to see a team of:

1 Court
2 Cronin
3 Buckley
4 O'Callaghan
5 Tuohy
6 Muldoon
7 Jennings
8 Heaslip
9 Boss/Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Bpwe
12 McFadden
13 Earls
14 Trimble
15 Murphy

You guys gonna get raped with a team like this...