NZ Maori retains squad to face Flying Fijians at home

THE Maori All Blacks has retained faith in the 23 players who played against the Flying Fijians in Suva last week.

According to the All Blacks website, despite a disappointing 27-10 loss, a few positional changes, the main switch in this week’s team sees five of last week’s reserves pick up starting positions in Rotorua this weekend.

Among these changes are loose forward Whetukamokamo Douglas and halfback Bryn Hall, who along with Alex Nankivell, Jordan Hyland, and Pari Pari Parkinson will all run on for the Maori All Blacks this week.

They swap with Akira Ioane, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Fletcher Smith and Teihorangi Walden who join hooker Nathan Harris, as critical impact players from the bench.

Pouri Rakete-Stones has been bracketed alongside Haereiti Hetet.c Head Coach Clayton McMillan said after their loss they knew a lot of work had to be done.

“We came away from that game in Suva knowing we had a lot to work on, but actually there were some really positive things for us to take out of that match,” he said.

“The focus for us this week has been to sharpen our combinations and obviously we need to have a solid defence as well as an assertive attacking game if we are going to get the better of Fiji.

“They (Fiji) are a highly skilled and organised side. We will want to show more of our flair, but we have to nail our structure up front if we want to be competitive.

“This is a special match for many of us who have never experienced the Maori All Blacks playing at home in front of our whanau and friends. We are very excited about having home crowd advantage and we really hope our supporters come out in force on Saturday,” he said.

The Maori All Blacks have played Fiji 30 times with the Maori recording a 20-8-2 win/loss/ draw tally.

Until last Saturday, the Maori team was unbeaten against Fiji since 1957.

NZ Maori All Blacks 1: Ross Wright, 2: Ash Dixon (Captain), 3: Tyrel Lomax, 4: Tom Franklin, 5: Pari Pari Parkinson6: Reed Prinsep, 7: Mitch Karpik, 8: Whetukamokamo Douglas, 9: Bryn Hall, 10: Otere Black, 11: Sean Wainui, 12: Alex Nankivell, 13: Rob Thompson, 14: Jordan Hyland, 15: Shaun Stevenson, 16: Nathan Harris, 17: Haereiti Hetet, 18: Marcel Renata, 19: Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20: Akira Ioane, 21: Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22: Fletcher Smith, 23: Teihorangi Walden.