Māori All Blacks to play Ireland?

Bovidae

@Nepia said in Maori All Blacks vs Ireland?:

Also, if it's everyone available then Coles and Taylor are probably the two hookers chosen.

They will be midweek games so likely no ABs involved, unless some squadies are released.

If Ainsley is now eligible for the ABs I suppose he is.

Definitely no to Jacobson.

Nepia

@Bovidae said in Maori All Blacks vs Ireland?:

@Nepia said in Maori All Blacks vs Ireland?:

Also, if it's everyone available then Coles and Taylor are probably the two hookers chosen.

They will be midweek games so likely no ABs involved, unless some squadies are released.

If Ainsley is now eligible for the ABs I suppose he is.

Definitely no to Jacobson.

Boo. Still @bobily2 did say if everyone was available so I was just going off that.

There was a bit of an Ioane sized hole in that lineup I didn't even pick up on if that was the case.

Bovidae

@Nepia Maybe DMac is back in time to play.

Nepia

@Bovidae said in Maori All Blacks vs Ireland?:

@Nepia Maybe DMac is back in time to play.

I didn't even realise he was coming back so soon. Good chance to get him back into NZ rugby and see how his form is.

Stargazer

@Bovidae If he's considered eligible without playing games in NZ first. TJP wasn't considered for the July Series, last year. Or are there different rules for ABs and MABs?

Edit: and obviously needs to sign a contract with NZR, too.

Bovidae

@Stargazer I was assuming he would have done all that. I honestly don't know what the latest is with DMac and his contract negotiations, other than he will be returning after the Japanese Top League has finished. Happy for him to play for Waikato too.

booboo

@Nepia said in Maori All Blacks vs Ireland?:

@Bovidae said in Maori All Blacks vs Ireland?:

@Nepia said in Maori All Blacks vs Ireland?:

Also, if it's everyone available then Coles and Taylor are probably the two hookers chosen.

They will be midweek games so likely no ABs involved, unless some squadies are released.

If Ainsley is now eligible for the ABs I suppose he is.

Definitely no to Jacobson.

Boo. Still @bobily2 did say if everyone was available so I was just going off that.

There was a bit of an Ioane sized hole in that lineup I didn't even pick up on if that was the case.

... Smith ...

Stargazer

Posted on the Fern's home page: article with list of contenders.

https://www.thesilverfern.com/post/undefined-maori-all-blacks-to-play-ireland

Bovidae

I would think that Jacob Norris would have to be included so they aren't just relying on Harmon as a 7. That's a position lacking some quality and depth for the Māori.

Stargazer

@Bovidae You'd think so, except that last year they initially only named 3 loosies (Prinsep, Harmon, Douglas), then later called up J Norris, who was named on the bench for the first game against Samoa, but left out of the second, when they gave Josh Dickson the 20 jersey. This move from Dickson from 19 to 20 was due to Parkinson returning into the squad. So they preferred Dickson as a reserve loosie over Jacob Norris.

Bovidae

Yeah, but Samoa isn't Ireland and you wouldn't want to have to use Prinsep at 7 if Harmon went off early. Hell, you could form a better loose forward trio without Prinsep altogether.

Stargazer

@Bovidae You'd hope they name a squad of at least 26 players, so there's room for at least 4 loosies. Whether they pick a reserve that covers 6/8 or 7 will probably depend on the quality of the eligible players that are available. There may be more eligible players than we're aware of. Who knows, they may suddenly discover that Adrian Choat or Blake Gibson have Māori ancestry! :man_shrugging_medium_skin_tone:

Bones

Cirikidaveta?

Stargazer

@Bones Technically, he doesn't play in NZ anymore, does he? It's a bit unclear now, as he may return to play for the Mako. Anyway, there's a chance he may be picked to play for Fiji. Agree he would be a good option for the Māori All Blacks though.