2019 Māori All Blacks
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Flying Fijians squad for the game in Rotorua:
1 Campese Ma’afu
2 Veremalua Vugakoto
3 Lee-Roy Atalifo
4 Tevita Ratuva
5 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7 Mosese Voka
8 Nemani Nagusa
9 Henry Seniloli
10 Alivereti Veitokani
11 Filipo Nakosi
12 Jale Vatubua
13 Waisea Nayacalevu
14 Patrick Osbourne
15 Kini MurimurivaluReserves
16 Samuel Matavesi
17 Joeli Veitayaki
18 Luke Tagi
19 Albert Tuisue
20 John Dyer
21 Serupepeli Vularika
22 Sevanaia Galala
23 Josh MatavesiWith so much depth in the squad, McKee has made ten changes to its run on side which defeated the Maori All Blacks 27-10 at Suva’s ANZ Stadium last weekend.McKee said it’s important to give all the players the game time ahead of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup and the Rugby World Cup in Japan. “It was always the intention across these two matches to give players in our squad opportunity and game time in the lead up to the PNC.” “It is important that these players grab this chance and make a strong statement,” Coach McKee said. McKee said wintry conditions in Rotorua would mean quite a different match to the hard, fast and dry ANZ Stadium last weekend. “We will need to be very patient with the ball to build pressure on the New Zealand Maori. Last week although we made many line breaks we turned over too much ball,” McKee revealed. “Ball retention and continuity to build pressure and create scoring opportunities when we are in possession along with our consistent work rate and discipline in our defensive system will be the two most important factors for us in this match,” McKee added. Fiji Rugby Chief Executive John O’Connor said the players selected for this weekend’s match have the opportunity to stake a spot in the final 31 member squad for RWC in Japan. “The team understands that we want to improve in every match and are targeting nothing than a win this week so we can continue to build momentum ahead of the PNC.” O’Connor added.https://www.fijirugby.com/latest-news/mckee-names-squad-for-final-test-against-mabs/
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They'll get tipped again, def keeping 'faith' with a team that was awful. Praying for improvement rather than improving the squad
@Machpants Giving some players a start, who were on the bench last week (particularly Hall, Douglas and Nankivell), is an improvement of the matchday squad. With a squad of only 27 players, there's not much more you can change.
Agree that they'll probably lose again, though, but I think that says more about Fiji than the MABs. Fiji has improved significantly the last few years.
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@Machpants Giving some players a start, who were on the bench last week (particularly Hall, Douglas and Nankivell), is an improvement of the matchday squad. With a squad of only 27 players, there's not much more you can change.
Agree that they'll probably lose again, though, but I think that says more about Fiji than the MABs. Fiji has improved significantly the last few years.
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@Stargazer Really I just looked at Black, and went - that's it.
@Machpants Fletcher wasn't good in Suva, but he played at fullback. I'd have given him the start at 10 for this game, and moved Black to the bench.
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So I'm currently on a mini tour of NZ with some overseas friends and on Tuesday stopped into Ohinemutu Marae and it was full of Fijians. Turned out it was a welcome for the Fijian and Fijian U20s.
@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
So I'm currently on a mini tour of NZ with some overseas friends and on Tuesday stopped into Ohinemutu Marae and it was full of Fijians. Turned out it was a welcome for the Fijian and Fijian U20s.
Was Aunty Suzie there serving her special pork bones and puha....
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So I'm currently on a mini tour of NZ with some overseas friends and on Tuesday stopped into Ohinemutu Marae and it was full of Fijians. Turned out it was a welcome for the Fijian and Fijian U20s.
@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
So I'm currently on a mini tour of NZ with some overseas friends and on Tuesday stopped into Ohinemutu Marae and it was full of Fijians. Turned out it was a welcome for the Fijian and Fijian U20s.
Come along to the Maddison Trophy final at McLean Park on Saturday afternoon
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@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
So I'm currently on a mini tour of NZ with some overseas friends and on Tuesday stopped into Ohinemutu Marae and it was full of Fijians. Turned out it was a welcome for the Fijian and Fijian U20s.
Was Aunty Suzie there serving her special pork bones and puha....
@ACT-Crusader said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
So I'm currently on a mini tour of NZ with some overseas friends and on Tuesday stopped into Ohinemutu Marae and it was full of Fijians. Turned out it was a welcome for the Fijian and Fijian U20s.
Was Aunty Suzie there serving her special pork bones and puha....
I didn't see Whaea Huhana anywhere but hopefully she was out the back during meal prep.
@Stockcar86 said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
So I'm currently on a mini tour of NZ with some overseas friends and on Tuesday stopped into Ohinemutu Marae and it was full of Fijians. Turned out it was a welcome for the Fijian and Fijian U20s.
Come along to the Maddison Trophy final at McLean Park on Saturday afternoon
It would have been awesome to cheer on Hastings R&S over the evil Napier empire but we left the Bay today after three days of non stop eating.
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NZ Māori U20
1 Kershawl Sykes Martin ( Ta$man) - Ngati Porou)
2 Te Ariki Te Puni(co-captain) (Auckland) - Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Porou, Rangitane o Manawatu, Ngai Te Rangi
3 Jonas Pomare (Bay of Plenty) - Ngapuhi
4 Josh Hill (Otago) - Ngai Tahu
5 Keelan Whitman (Wellington) - Ngati Rangiwewehi
6 Kaipo Brown (Bay of Plenty) - Te Aupouri, Te Arawa, Tainui, Ngai Te Rangi, Te Ati Awa
7 Tamarau McGahan (North Harbour) - Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Raukawa
8 Shamus Hurley Langton (Wellington) - Te Ati Awa, Taranaki
9 Cortez-Lee Ratima (Waikato) - Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Tama
10 Zarn Sullivan(co-Captain) (Auckland) - Ngati Kahungunu
11 Coel Kerr (Canterbury) - Ngati Ranginui
12 Leo Thompson (Wellington) - Ngai Ta Manuhiri, Ngati/Rangiwewehi
13 Tahu Kaa (Canterbury) - Ngati Porou, Ngai Tahu
14 Dennon Robinson Bartlett (Bay of Plenty) - Ngati Kahungunu
15 Bailey Gordon (Bay of Plenty) - Te Arawa)16 Tyrone Thompson (Wellington) - Ngai Ta Manuhiri, Ngati, Rangiwewehi
17 Benet Kumeroa (Bay of Plenty) - Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi
18 Tanara Haenga (Wellington) - Ngati Porou
19 Sam Smith (Wellington/Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Kahungunu)
20 Isaac Bracewell (Wellington) - Ngati Maniapoto
21 Tobias Manuel Wickham (Manawatu) - Ngati Porou, Ngati Tuwharetoa
22 Callum Bean (Auckland) - Ngai Tahu, Nga Puhi
23 Leo Ngatai Tafau (Counties Manukau) - Ngati Porou, Tainui -
Only a handful of names are familiar to me. Cortez-Lee Ratima would have been hoping to play in the Waikato club final today but his team (Otorohanga) got upset in the semi.
Is Tamarau McGahan another son of Hugh?
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@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:
Bloody h*ll, some very big lads in that Fiji U20 team!
I'm pretty sure that's not a swear word.
