Maori All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Match

[Crucial]

The matchday 23 is as follows (Province/Super Rugby Club, and Iwi in brackets, debutants in bold).

1. Ollie Norris (Waikato / Chiefs / Ngāpuhi)

2. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty / Blues / Ngāti Kahu)

3. Tyrel Lomax ( Ta$man / Hurricanes / Muaupoko / Ngāi Tūhoe)

4. Josh Dickson (Otago / Highlanders / Ngāi Tahu)

5. Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawkes Bay/Hurricanes/Ngāti Porou)

6. Cameron Suafoa (Auckland / Blues / Ngāpuhi)

7. Billy Harmon (Canterbury / Highlanders / Ngāi Tahu)

8. Cullen Grace (Canterbury /Crusaders / Ngāti Whakaue / Ngāti Raukawa)

9. Brad Weber - Kāpene Paheko (Hawkes Bay / Chiefs / Ngāti Porou)

10. Josh Ioane (Otago /Chiefs / Te Rārawa)

11. Connor Garden-Bachop (Wellington / Highlanders / Ngāti Awa)

12. Rameka Poihipi (Canterbury / Chiefs / Ngāti Whakaue)

13. Billy Proctor (Wellington / Hurricanes / Ngāi Te Rangi / Ngāpuhi)

14. Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour / Chiefs / Ngāpuhi)

15. Zarn Sullivan (Auckland / Blues / Ngāti Kahungunu)

16. Tyrone Thompson (Hawkes Bay / Chiefs / Ngāi Tāmanuhiri / Ngāti Rangiwewehi)

17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury / Crusaders / Ngāpuhi)

18. Jermaine Ainsley (Otago /Highlanders / Te Rārawa / Te Arawa)

19. Maanaki Selby-Rickit (Bay Of Plenty / Highlanders / Ngāti Raukawa / Ngāti Tūwharetoa)

20. TK Howden (Manawatu / Hurricanes / Ngāi Tūhoe)

21. TJ Perenara - Kāpene Paheko (Wellington / Hurricanes / Ngāti Rangitihi)

22. Ruben Love (Wellington / Hurricanes / Te Atiawa)

23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato / Hurricanes / Ngāti Kahungunu)

[KiwiMurph]

Pleasantly surprised to see Suafoa at 6 and Poihipi at 12

[Duluth]

Disappointing to see Bailyn Sullivan on the bench. He's been the second best 13 throughout SR

[Stargazer]

@Crucial Proctor ahead of B. Sullivan :man_facepalming_medium_skin_tone:

[Crucial]

@Stargazer said in Maori All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Match:

@Crucial Proctor ahead of B. Sullivan :man_facepalming_medium_skin_tone:

Yeah. I don't get that either. I know they have to be flexible with the backs given the lack of wingers in the squad but CGB on the wing doesn't excite me either.
Maybe there is a plan to bring BS in and move Proctor out after seeing the pattern of play Ireland bring.

[nzzp]

Damn, I'm not going to be able to make it any more. Should be a cracking game

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph said in Maori All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Match:

Suafoa at 6

There were rumours he might be going overseas. Hopefully getting this sort of recognition convinces him to stay

Also they've listed him as an Auckland player. Pretty sure he's with Harbour?

[Stargazer]

@Crucial Bailyn is both a better centre and a better wing than Proctor. There are a lot of players in that backline (outside the halves) who can be moved to another position, so I guess the player who gets injured or has the weakest game will be subbed, and they'll move players accordingly.

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer I would have had Bailyn starting at centre and Moorby in that 23 somewhere, they are both in fine form.

[KiwiMurph]

They are clearly going with a '3 fullback' back 3.

[Crucial]

@KiwiMurph said in Maori All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Match:

They are clearly going with a '3 fullback' back 3.

That was always going to be likely from the squad selected. It's not some tactical genius just a complete lack of wing options.

Edit: are we sure that George doesn't have iwi affiliation? There's a well known māori song about him after all...

[Stargazer]

@Crucial Yep, apart from injured Jonah Lowe, we don't have too many Māori wingers good enough to be picked in the squad.

[Tim]

@Duluth Definitely with Harbour again this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfDZk0pvrJA/

[Daffy Jaffy]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1541119102537945089

[Bovidae]

I was expecting/hoping for a Nankivell-Sullivan midfield.

That backline from 11-15 looks as muddled as the Chiefs' selections throughout the season.

[Bovidae]

Also, no one has mentioned the P word yet. Unless he's injured?

[ARHS]

Some interesting selections. Just wonder if 1 or 2 non starters might be on standby for drafting to ab squad if more covid impact. Does not look like strongest 15 to me.

[Frank]

@Crucial said in Maori All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Match:

Cullen Grace

Wow, the one guy I thought there's no way he's Maori.

[Crucial]

@Frank said in Maori All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Match:

@Crucial said in Maori All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Match:

Cullen Grace

Wow, the one guy I thought there's no way he's Maori.

Why?

[Grooter]

@Crucial