Warm Up Match 5: Maori All Blacks v British & Irish Lions (Rotorua)

[GoTheNaki]

Oh boy... Too excited for this.

Isnt it Lowe who has always preferred Fullback? Or is that someone else... Stevenson maybe..

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The Maori tight 5 looks good and the Lions haven't managed to obliterate anything yet.

Dixon at 7, I've seen it all now! I was going to suggest that, but thought it was silly and that there was no way they'd actually do it.

Lowe at fullback will be interesting.

Dixon has played at 7 for the Highlanders - in the team I suggested before the MAB squad was announced I actually had Dixon at 7:

It will be interesting to see who is selected for the Maori All Blacks squad, given the All Blacks will be playing against Samoa that same weekend. I'm expecting any non-starters for the All Blacks will play the Maori game if possible. I'm also expecting that the team fielded against Samoa will basically be the top team. With that in mind, expected MAB team to play the Lions would be:

1 Kane Hames
2 Ash Dixon
3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen
4 Tom Franklin
5 Jacob Skeen
6 Liam Messam
7 Elliot Dixon
8 Akira Ioane
9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10 Damien Mckenzie
11 James Lowe
12 Charlie Ngatai
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Cory Jane
15 Nehe Milner-Skudder

16 Hika Elliot
17 Chris Eves
18 Ben May
19 Leighton Price
20 Kara Pryor
21 Bryn Hall
22 Otere Black
23 Matt Proctor

As with McKenzie's selection at 10, it's probably a little bit of trying to get the best players on the field, even if it's not in their best position necessarily.

 

[Ground We Won]

Dixon has played at 7 for the Highlanders - in the team I suggested before the MAB squad was announced I actually had Dixon at 7:

Very occasionally and not very effectively. He's really better at blindside and 8.

I wonder if the Chiefs will be playing Damien at 10 next season.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Very occasionally and not very effectively. He's really better at blindside and 8.

I wonder if the Chiefs will be playing Damien at 10 next season.

Unless the Chiefs lure Black north (but not too far north) then I can't see why he wouldn't be! It's where the All Blacks want him to play (or at least get more game time).

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Oh boy... Too excited for this.

Isnt it Lowe who has always preferred Fullback? Or is that someone else... Stevenson maybe..

Yea Stevenson... he played there through schoolboys and age-grade. Lowe is proven there though, if memory serves I believe that's where he played when the Chiefs thumped Wales.

I'm rapt with this side! I wasn't expecting them to go with the DMac at 10 backline set-up, but I'm so glad they did... maybe Hansen and co. wanted to see that? They did say they like the idea of Dmac as a Barrett type super-sub for the ABs, but need to see more of him at 10 first. probs more a case of just fitting all the best players in though...
That backline is one of the most dangerous I've seen in a Maori side, probs the most actually, very exciting!
Dixon at 7 is an interesting one too, Pryor is a very good player and an out and out 7, so I would've thought he deserved to start. Dixon can be quality though, so I'm happy enough with that pick.

I wonder if the Chiefs will be playing Damien at 10 next season.

They will be. Rennie has implied it. DMac has always said that's where he wants to play. The ABs coaches have indicated they want him to play at 10. So yea, I'm fairly certain they will, and Stevenson may slot into his preferred position at fullback long-term.
Chiefs backline may be: 9. Weber 10. Dmac 11. Naholo 12. Ngatai 13 ALB 14. Tamanivalu 15. Stevenson. That would be an exciting line-up.

 

[Ground We Won]

Waisake Naholo? Not much chance of that, don't annoy me.

Really excited about seeing how this backline goes though. I'm more excited for this game than the Samoa game.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Waisake Naholo? Not much chance of that, don't annoy me.

Really excited about seeing how this backline goes though. I'm more excited for this game than the Samoa game.

Haha, thought that might erk you
In all honesty though I strongly suspect it'll happen.
But if not, then Pulu will slot in and that'll still be a very exciting backline. Definitely looking forward to how it takes shape.

I'm probs more excited about this game too actually, should be a great game! I just hope that the forwards lay a solid enough platform for the backs to click into gear. I reckon they will

 

[Ground We Won]

Where are you getting your source?

Yeah Ioane, Dixon and Messam are going to be really physical. Franklin and Wheeler are tough too.

 

[Every Time Ref]

If the first test was this weekend, how different would that 23 have been?

I reckon Farrell swapping with Sexton, Warbs for POM and possibly Mako for McGrath, plus AWJ and Webb both on the bench. Looks like the poor man's Tom Homer is nailed on at 15 unfortunately

 

[GoTheNaki]

Where are you getting your source?

Yeah Ioane, Dixon and Messam are going to be really physical. Franklin and Wheeler are tough too.

They played at Spotty Dogs together, partied together... Dont be surprised.. It was a rumour on Veitchy sport, yeah yeah, not the best source. But anyone who knows the two realises that could be quite possible.

 

[Penne Rara]

I'm rapt with this side! I wasn't expecting them to go with the DMac at 10 backline set-up, but I'm so glad they did... maybe Hansen and co. wanted to see that? They did say they like the idea of Dmac as a Barrett type super-sub for the ABs, but need to see more of him at 10 first. probs more a case of just fitting all the best players in though...

I'm just giggling like a teenager girl at the idea of introducing DMac as Barrett's super-sub. Barrett's already a super-sub, so what's Mckenzie? A super-super-sub.

International teams all around the world are shaking

 

[nik]

Hmm, why Lowe at 15 and NMS at 14? Thought NMS would be fullback if DMac wasn't there. Anyway its an exciting back line, but it will be interesting to see how well they can play. They should definitely be employing Highlanders tactics of kicking behind the rush defence.
DMac will have a challenging night at 10. In Super Rugby level he hasn't been able to play patiently enough in that position, always trying too much from there. With the rush defence I think he will find it tough. He has a lot of wise players inside and outside him so hopefully he does not try to overplay his hand. Will be interesting to watch.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

On the Maoris, there are a couple of places where positions seem a bit off. Surely in the back row it would've made more sense to have Ioane, who is an 8 at 8 with Messam, who is a flanker at flanker? And in the back three surely it'd make more sense to have NMS at FB with Lowe on the wing? They're little things but it doesn't make sense to me why they'd do it.

 

[TopTen2003]

Lions:

15-L Halfpenny (Wales);
14-A Watson (England),
13-J Davies (Wales),
12- B Te'o (England),
11- G North (Wales);
10-J Sexton,
9-C Murray (both Ireland);

1-M Vunipola,
2-J George (both England),
3-T Furlong (Ireland),
4- M Itoje,
5-G Kruis (both England),
6-P O'Mahony (capt, Ireland),
7- S O'Brien (Ireland),
8-T Faletau (Wales).

 

[nik]

On the Maoris, there are a couple of places where positions seem a bit off. Surely in the back row it would've made more sense to have Ioane, who is an 8 at 8 with Messam, who is a flanker at flanker? And in the back three surely it'd make more sense to have NMS at FB with Lowe on the wing? They're little things but it doesn't make sense to me why they'd do it.

My guess is Hanson and Co. have had some input as to where they want to see certain players.

 

[ncurd]

15-L Halfpenny (Wales);
13-J Davies (Wales),
12- B Te'o (England),

This doesn't fill me with a lot of hope especially for the Wings....

 

[Ground We Won]

On the Maoris, there are a couple of places where positions seem a bit off. Surely in the back row it would've made more sense to have Ioane, who is an 8 at 8 with Messam, who is a flanker at flanker? And in the back three surely it'd make more sense to have NMS at FB with Lowe on the wing? They're little things but it doesn't make sense to me why they'd do it.

A.Ioane has played the majority of this season at blindside for the Blues, covering Kaino and Luatua. He's been good, probably his best form we've seen, Messams been good at #8 for the Chiefs too.

Agreed about Lowe at fullback and NMS on the wing. It kinda sucks for Lowe who's been probably the best winger in the world this season to get put at fullback.

 

[MarkyH]

15-L Halfpenny (Wales);
13-J Davies (Wales),
12- B Te'o (England),

This doesn't fill me with a lot of hope especially for the Wings....

Picks fast wingers, picks centres who can't pass

But, if Te'o and Davies can make breaks hopefully our wingers will see the ball. Still see Henshaw and JJ as a much better partnership. Still, quite happy with the team, esp the forwards

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Where are you getting your source?

Yeah Ioane, Dixon and Messam are going to be really physical. Franklin and Wheeler are tough too.

Yea as Naki said, Tony Vietch is the source... apparently he has some reliable sources who say that Tamanivalu and Naholo are in serious talks / are a good chance to link up with Cooper at the Chiefs. There is no official confirmation or anything yet, which is why I only suspect that it'll happen and not believe that it will, but the more I think about it the more I think it may become a reality. Those 2 are tight, Cooper will be desperate for quality wingers, they are all strongly linked though Taranaki and presumably have a good relationship, and it'll enable them to come home... the Naki is Chiefs country now after all...
Personally I hope it happens... I'm sure you don't though lol

 

[MarkyH]

IF this is similar to the 1st test lineup it shows how Gats always had an idea of who he was going to play, totally ignoring form, and ignoring other options.

The Lions will need to score tries to win the test series, and while I'm happy with the forwards (even tho I'd have Tips on the bench) I really think we need more dynamic players at 13/15 and maybe even 12. Why he hasn't deliberately picked Sexton Farrell together shows how blinkered Gats is :/