Rare All Blacks triple for Turbos
As an unexpected bonus, Manawatu¯ ’s Turbos will get to play three of their four All Blacks in their final NPC match of the season against Southland tomorrow. Jackson Hemopo and Nehe Milnerskudder have been released after returning from South Africa and will join Ngani Laumape to play on the Oval. Fielding three current All Blacks will be quite a milestone. That hasn’t happened since the mid-1980s, more than 30 years ago, when Manawatu¯ was in its heyday. In 1982, Gary Knight, Mark Shaw and Geoff Old were in the team. They were also there in 1984 and 1985, but by then Old had finished his international career. Fullback Mark Finlay came in to tour Fiji at the end of the 1984 season and hooker Bruce Hemara was an All Black to Argentina at the end of 1985. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had originally stated none of the current players would be released after the rigours of their travel from South Africa. However, he relented following requests and with the All Blacks not due to play again until October 27 in Japan. The odd Manawatu¯ man out is test halfback Aaron Smith, who played his 43rd and last game for the Turbos at the end of the 2011 season. Milner-skudder didn’t play in Buenos Aires or Pretoria, so will need a gallop. Preferably it would have been at his preferred position of fullback in his fourth outing for Manawatu¯ this season, but he’s named on the wing. Hemopo played only 13 minutes against Argentina following his 44 minutes for Manawatu¯ in his fitesss test against Tasman on September 19. Laumape played his comeback match from his knee injury against Hawke’s Bay last Sunday only to be starved of ball. The Turbos have a dream backline tomorrow, including Kayne Hammington, Otere Black, Ngani Laumape, Rob Thompson, Milner-skudder, Junior Laloifi and Sam Malcolm.