Hall soaks up unique experience

The bedtime stories aren’t exclusively for the kids this week it’s the New Zealand Maori squad who are revelling in the nightly ritual, as they hunker down for their big match against the British and Irish Lions in Rotorua on Saturday.

After assembling last Sunday the Maori have been steadily building on-field combinations on the training paddock, but, perhaps just as importantly, have been striking up their off-field mateship, in the unique way the Maori squad tends to do.

There’s a special bond the group are able to come together with, and the traditions and history of both the Maori team itself, and the culture in general, make up a big part of their week.

That’s no more evident than each night when the players and management gather as one and listen to stories. There are outsiders who come into the group to speak. The yarns vary, but all carry a similar tune, drawing on history and what it means to be in this environment, while also tailoring the messages to this particular group.

It’s a buzz for all involved, but particularly for those new to the squad. There are three uncapped players in the mix this time in midfielder Rob Thompson and halfbacks Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Bryn Hall, and their initiation also involves standing up in front of the group and talking about their background, where they’re from, and their family, before being presented with a gift.

Hall, 25, is in his sixth season of professional rugby and has also been a New Zealand Schools and New Zealand under-20 representative, but this is something different.

‘‘I’ve just been soaking up the experience,’’ he said. ‘‘For me, learning about the Maori history and the heritage within this team, it’s been really awesome to get to know that first-hand.

‘‘We have stories every night and have haka practice and what not, and [are] trying to really get back to our roots, and knowing what it is to be Maori.’’

For Hall, making this team has been a personal goal for some time. He didn’t crack last year’s end-ofseason tour to the UK, with Brad Weber and Billy Guyton preferred, but, coinciding with a move from the Blues to the Crusaders, he is now on track for his first cap.

With the All Blacks releasing Tawera Kerr-barlow to play in this fixture, Hall is likely to take a bench spot, and will have his Tauranga-based father in attendance.

For Hall, it will be a second outing against the tourists, following the hard-fought 12-3 loss with his Crusaders side in Christchurch last Saturday.

And while there is a solid game plan in place under coach Colin Cooper, assistant coach Tana Umaga and set-piece coach Carl Hoeft, Hall said there was also the will to go out and play ‘‘Maori rugby’’ - a brand renowned for its excitement.

‘‘I think it’s just expressing yourself, with the players that we’ve got, especially in our backline, there’s a lot of x-factor, you want to let that out,’’ he said.