maori rugby 2012 team

[waiki]

hey just seen the maori all blacks are touring northern hemisphere in november just wondering people thorts on who the team will consist of.

 

[nickdnz]

Not including current All Blacks? (Gear, Tamati Ellison, Weepu, Messam, Aaron Smith, Kahui etc could possibly be dropped) My guess would be something like -

1. Jacob Ellison
2. Cane Coles/Hika Elliot
3. Ben Afeaki
4. Jarred Hoeata
5. Ross Filipo/Jason Eaton
6. Jarred Hoeata/Thomas Waldrom/Tanerau Latimer/Luke Braid
7. Tanerau Latimer/Thomas Waldrom/Luke Braid/Daniel Braid/Karl Lowe
8. No clue. Not many big name blindsides or #8 that are Maori to my knowledge
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow/TJ Peranara
10. Robbie Robinson
11. Zac Guildford
12. Jackson Willison/Charlie Ngatai
13. ?
14. Declan O'Donnell
15. Sean Maitland

It'll probably not look anything like that, but as a guess...

 

[Kiwiwomble]

not with Maitland out for the season, with robbie i good form at 15 surely he would get the nond there....Maori first fives at the moment?

 

[Darwin]

Nick has produced a very good list of the main contenders. A few others that may be in contention:

Props: Josh Hohneck, Ben May
Hookers: Quentin MacDonald, Corey Flynn (plenty of options here!)
Locks: Romana Graham (if he isn't suspended by then),
Loosies: Liam Messam (unlikely to be available though), Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Zac Hohneck, Warren Smith, Nick Crosswell
Halfback: Piri Weepu (if not with the AB's), Chris Smylie
First-five: Dan Waenga (maybe?), Trent Renata, Willie Ripia (perhaps a long-shot, but he is back playing rugby in NZ)
Mid-field: Robbie Flynn, Tamiti Ellison (unlikely to be available), Tim Bateman
Outside backs: Andre Taylor, Kade Poki, Hosea Gear (as the AB's selectors will have dropped him by then..... nah just saying that to wind up Nick )

There are probably a lot of others with Maori heritage that will certainly be in contention too.

From that lot I would go with a starting lineup, not including those likely to miss out due to injury (Dan Braid, Sean Maitland), or those likely to be with the AB's:

1. Ben May, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Ben Afeaki, 4. Jarrad Hoeata, 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Nick Crosswell, 7. Tanerau Latimer, 8. Luke Braid, 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Trent Renata, 11. Zac Guildford, 12. Tim Bateman, 13. Charlie Ngatai, 14. Andre Taylor, 15. Robbie Robinson
Reserves: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Josh Hohneck, 18. Ross Filipo, 19. Karl Lowe/Dan Braid, 20. TJ Perenara, 21. Jackson Willison, 22. Kade Poki

 

[BZHopenside]

What about Nasi Manu? Or is he not Maori?

 

[Darwin]

What about Nasi Manu? Or is he not Maori?

He is Tongan I believe.


Actually I think Nick Crosswell may have a bit of Maori heritage - he would be a great option at 6. I have adjusted my predicted team accordingly.

 

[welshglory]

I thought Fruean was Samoan?

 

[Darwin]

I thought Fruean was Samoan?

He is. That is probably one of the reasons he hasn't been mentioned

 

[welshglory]

Hasn't he?

Oh my bad i misread Robbie Flynn for Robbie Fruean