Page 39 - MAB v The Lions

PREVIEW
Damian McKenzie will be hoping to ask questions of the Lions defence
history (whakapapa) Knowing their lineage and heritage adds strength to to the side overall While Maori of cially made their their rst tour overseas in 1910 their their connection with the the the New New Zealand Zealand game goes back as as far as as the the the rst New New New Zealand Zealand Zealand team in in 1884 and and and in in 1888-89 the the New New Zealand Zealand Native side both of which toured before the New Zealand Rugby Football Union was created in 1892 The All Blacks’ rst of cial Test on New Zealand soil was against a a a a a a a a a a representative British side Great Britain in in in in Wellington in in in in 1904 The All Blacks that day were captained by a a a a a a a a a Maori J W
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“Billy” Stead the Southland ve-eighth who was Dave Gallaher’s Vice Captain on the 1905-06 Originals tour to to Britain Ireland France and and North America Some have classed tonight’s game as as the the fourth “Test” of the the tour and and Head Coach Warren Gatland intimated from the the start of the the tour that he he he would be looking to to to to eld close to to to to a a a a a a a a a a shadow team against the the Maori Maori All All Blacks Blacks in in in Rotorua Given the the traditional Maori Maori All All Blacks Blacks fondness for playing an open game it shapes as as a a a a a fascinating contest between two styles It’s unlikely the the Lions will be be as as restrictive in in their game plan as as as they they were against the the the the Crusaders last weekend and they they may be able to capitalise on the the the opportunities they can create “Given the Maori fondness for playing an open game it shapes as as a a a a fascinating contest between two styles ” Maori All Blacks Head Coach Colin Cooper has fashioned an impressive record with the side in his ve ve years and has some experienced players to work alongside the newcomers selected for for tonight’s game Loose forwards
Liam Messam and and Elliot Dixon have 12 12 and and and 9 appearances respectively Prop Ben May has 12 12 and and and hookers Ash Dixon and and Hika Elliot have eight each In the mid eld Tim Bateman has 12 games while Charlie Ngatai and Matt Proctor have nine each Add to to that the inclusion of 2015 World Cup-winning wing Nehe Milner- Skudder who is is attempting to to win win win his way back into the All Blacks after a a a a a a a a a a long injury break and Damian McKenzie who earned his rst cap in in in in Argentina last year and there is is some genuine talent in the the the side side Most of the the side side have extensive Investec Super Rugby careers and they’ve been joined by by All Blacks Rieko Ioane Ioane and and Tawera Kerr-Barlow and and and Blues loose forward Akira Ioane Ioane Kerr-Barlow will be especially handy as the the two halfbacks named in the the squad Bryn Hall and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi are both new caps The immensely talented Rieko Ioane has already scored a a a a a a a a try against the the the Lions (for the the the the Blues) while two other tries were denied by the the the TMO With
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