Maori All Blacks named for tour closing match against Harlequins

Nov 15 • General News, International • 1203 Views • Comments Off on Maori All Blacks named for tour closing match against Harlequins

The Maori All Blacks side to play Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop on Thursday morning (NZT) has been named.

The team is:

		Province	Iwi
1	Kane Hames	Tasman	Ngai Tuhoe / Ngati Porou
2	Ash Dixon (Capt)	Hawkes Bay	Ngati Tahinga
3	Ben May	Hawkes Bay	Ngati Maniapoto / Tainui
4	Leighton Price	Taranaki	Waikato / Ngati Maniapoto
5	Tom Franklin	Otago	Ngati Maniapoto
6	Whetu Douglas	Waikato	Ngati Porou / Ngati Whakaue
7	Shane Christie	Tasman	Te Ati Haunui a Paparangi / Ngati Kurawhatia
8	Akira Ioane	Auckland	Ngapuhi / Te Whanau a Apanui
9	Brad Weber	Hawkes Bay	Ngati Porou
10	Ihaia West	Hawkes Bay	Ngati Kahungunu / Ngati Porou
11	Sean Wainui	Taranaki	Ngai Tuhoe/Te aitanga a Mahaki/Nga Arikikaiputahi/ Ngati Porou
12	Tim Bateman /	Canterbury	Ngai Tahu
12	Jason Emery	Manawatu	Ngati Haua / Ngati Maniapoto
13	Matt Proctor	Wellington	Ngapuhi / Ngaiterangi
14	Ambrose Curtis	Manawatu	Ngai Te Rangi
15	James Lowe	Tasman	Ngapuhi / Ngai Te Rangi

	Reserves
16	Joe Royal	Bay Of Plenty	Te Arawa / Ngati Whatua o arakei / Ngapuhi
17	Chris Eves	Manawatu	Waikato / Tainui
18	Marcel Renata	Auckland	Ngati Whanaunga / Te Aupouri
19	Jacob Skeen	Waikato	Ngapuhi
20	Reed Prinsep	Canterbury	Te Rarawa
21	Billy Guyton	Tasman	Ngapuhi / Ngati Pikiao / Ngati Raukawa
22	Otere Black	Manawatu	Ngai Tuhoe/Te Whanau-a-Apanui/Ngati Tawharetoa
23	Jason Emery /	Manawatu	Ngati Haua / Ngati Maniapoto
23	Marty McKenzie	Taranaki	Ngati Tawharetoa / Ngati Tahinga

Head Coach Colin Cooper has made three changes to his run-on side for their tour-closing match against the Harlequins. Whetu Douglas will start 6, Sean Wainui gets a run on the wing, moving James Lowe to fullback.

The Maori All Blacks are looking to end their tour on a high note after their 27-14 loss to Munster in front of a sold-out Limerick crowd.

“We’ve gone for the most experienced team we can just because of the way the game is played over here.

“We’ve had to re-programme to adjust from playing the style of rugby we play back home to better adjust to the way they play rugby up here,” Cooper said.

“It’s been a good learning for the players and for us as coaches. We turned up in Munster on the back of a win in the US, and we weren’t ready for the style of rugby, particularly given the conditions, we faced in Munster,” he said.

Cooper reflected on the tour and said the learnings would be important as they build toward the Maori All Blacks fixture against the British and Irish Lions next year.

“Knowing that the Lions will probably play a similar style, it has been a good learning curve for us and given us a good focus for our training this week.

“These guys here have a great opportunity to be part of the Lions, but again, players in Super Rugby in 2017 will have a great opportunity to play for a spot in the team, so that will be exciting to watch,” Cooper said.