2019 Māori All Blacks

[Stargazer]

@98blueandgold Yeah, they're looking good and are going to be dangerous. The French test last November was a sign of things to come. I wonder whether this is already their strongest line-up. I vaguely remember reading that they're still missing a few players.

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer thanks that's interesting. I did notice his defence get exposed in the quarter final however.

[Crazy Horse]

Parkinson has confirmed to me today what I have been thinking all season - at this stage of his career he is showing he is going to be another Dominic Bird.

[Yeetyaah]

@Crazy-Horse Play for the Chiefs?

[Steven Harris]

@Crazy-Horse will cut him some slack, he’s only a young fella, little bit early to start comparing him to a Bird..the damage was done in the first half when we decided to kick all our ball away..the reserves all added energy,Hall added some much needed direction, Nankerville some much needed thrust.but unfortunately they were left too much to do..
Thought Karpick was industrious throughout, and Sean Wainui tried hard..but apart from those 2,the rest of the starting VX should be taking a long look at themselves
Quite confident they will turn it around in 7 x days..miracle passes don’t often stick when it’s 5 degrees and dew is around.

[Stargazer]

@Steven-Harris said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

After watching this game, I suspect their will be several changes from the starting lineup
The first changes I would make is in the halves..with Hall and Smith,..

Yeah, it's going to be interesting what they are going to do, particularly in the backrow. The player who didn't get game time is Harmon, so he's likely to play next game; however, he's an openside and Karpik was the best loosie on the field today, so you don't want to take him out of the line-up. Akira was the worst, but do they dare to leave him out? Douglas should start at 8. I think the question will be, who will play at 6, Prinsep or Akira? Harmon will probably end up on the bench; I'd give Karpik the start again.

[Bovidae]

Plenty of work to do before Rotovegas. Outmuscled up front and dysfunctional in the backs.

Changes need to be made. Agree with @Steven-Harris that Wainui and Karpik were the pick of the players.

[Bovidae]

It would be nice if the TJs could actually have kept up with the play as plenty of forward passes were missed too.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Fortunately, for next week's game there will be a TMO and better camera work.

[Tim]

A couple of tackle-attempts to forget in there:

[Stargazer]

[Nepia]

Was at the Treaty grounds (never been before) today (listening to Nga Puhi propaganda) so was unable to watch the game ... sounds like I was lucky.

[Tim]

Shit there was some average defence in there (and a ton of forward passes). Ioane been on IV fish and chips?

[NTA]

That was boys v men. Offloads through the line and a crapload of missed tackles.

Plus not starting Bryn Hall.

[Cantab79]

@Bovidae said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

Plenty of work to do before Rotovegas. Outmuscled up front and dysfunctional in the backs.

Changes need to be made. Agree with @Steven-Harris that Wainui and Karpik were the pick of the players.

I didn't think Wainui did very much. A bad dropped ball in contact and whilst he scored two tries but he probably ran a combined 7 metres for both tries. I'd argue the Nankiville and Hall made a huge impact when they took the field. I agree with you that Karpik was great.

[MiketheSnow]

@Tim said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

Can this Fiji team beat Australia?

Yes

Will they? No

If Maori have a good week they could easily square the series next outing.

[Bovidae]

@Cantab79 I was referring to the starters only. Wainui ran with purpose and seemed to be the only back who wanted to make a tackle. They all missed plenty of tackles though.

Most of the reserves did make an impact and some should start in Rotorua.

[Stargazer]

Flying Fijians 26 member squad for the Rotorua game:

Lee-roy Atalifo
Campese Ma’afu
Peni Ravai
Luke Tagi
Kalivati Tawake
Joeli Veitayaki
Sam Matavesi
Tuvere Vugakoto
Api Ratuniyarawa
Tevita Ratuva
Albert Tuisue
Johnny Dyer
Nemani Nagusa
Dominiko Waqaniburotu
Mosese Voka
Frank Lomani
Henry Seniloli
Serupepeli Vularika
Josh Matavesi
Alivereti Veitokani
Sevanaia Galala
Waisea Nayacalevu
Jale Vatubua
Kini Murimurivalu
Filipo Nakosi
Patrick Osbourne

Fiji Rugby Head Coach John McKee has named his 26-member extended Fiji Airways Flying Fijians squad for the final Pacific Series Test match against the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua this Saturday.

With so much depth in the squad McKee will be traveling with 11 new players who were not part of the historic 27-10 win over their New Zealand counterparts last weekend in Suva.

McKee said “The plan has always been to give as many players as we can the opportunity across the first two games as a lead up into the Pacific Nations Cup.”

He said it’s always good to test and judge the capability of the players against strong opponents

“We have got a number of players who probably got niggling injuries from the game but also some coming from Europe with minor injuries from the back end of the season and are on a rehabilitation programme.” McKee added.

Luke Tagi, Joeli Veitayaki, Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto, Johnny Dyer, Mosese Voka, Frank Lomani and Serupepeli Vularika are the local players who have made it into McKee’s extended squad.

https://www.fijirugby.com/latest-news/mckee-names-traveling-squad-for-rotorua-match/

[Bovidae]

Tabai Matson and Neil Barnes are both assistant coaches for Fiji. They will have plenty of intel on the Maori players.

[MN5]

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