Battle of Brown v Mauger
THE new Highlanders coach will go up against the former one when the Maori All Blacks take on Moana Pasifika in Hamilton early next month.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown has been named as an assistant coach of the Maori team while Aaron Mauger, who has been replaced by Brown at the Highlanders, will be the assistant coach for the Pasifika team.
Brown will be joined by Highlanders forwards in hooker Ash Dixon and lock Manaaki SelbyRickit in the Maori side.
New Highlanders loose forward signing Billy Harmon has also been picked in the 24man Maori squad.
Also named in the squad is Otago prop Josh Hohneck, who was playing for Gloucester but returned home when Covid19 struck.
He signed for Otago and played strongly for the blue and golds in the Mitre 10 Cup. Hohneck last played for the Maori team in 2015.
Whether he is picked up for a Super Rugby franchise next year will be known next week when the teams are announced.
He may be crowded out at the Highlanders as tighthead props Jeff Thwaites, Siate Tokolahi and Jermaine Ainsley are likely to be in the squad.
The Maori team, which will be captained by Dixon, contains eight new caps.
Among the new caps are midfield players Billy Proctor, Rameka Poihipi and Quinn Tupaea. Fullback Kaleb Trask is also a new cap.
The new faces in the forwards are 20yearold Canterbury prop Tamati Williams, Crusaders and North Harbour loose forward Ethan Roots, Bay of Plenty and Blues hooker Kurt Eklund and SelbyRickit.
At the other end of the scale is Liam Messam.
The 36yearold last played for the Maori All Blacks in the side’s 2017 loss to the British and Irish Lions.
One player will be added to the squad in coming days.