Nelson Mail

At a glance

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might become available to us, post the Japan commitment­s,’’ he said.

There are nine new faces in the squad; hooker Robbie Abel, locks Isaia Walker-Leawere and Pari Pari Parkinson, loose forwards Hoani Matenga, Billy Harmon, and Mitchell Karpik, first-five Joshua Ioane, midfielder Matthew Landsown and outside back Jonah Lowe.

Those players who are with provinces in the Mitre 10 Cup playoffs will remain with them until knocked out and the team will fly to Chicago on October 28, the day after the Mitre 10 Cup finals.

While it’s good for provinces to keep hold of their best players at such an important time of the season, it does make it harder for McMillan to prepare the team in New Zealand Ma¯ ori: Chris Eves, Tyrel Lomax, Ben May, Marcel Renata, Ross Wright, Robbie Abel*, Ash Dixon (c), Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Isaia WalkerLeaw­ere*, Billy Harmon*, Akira Ioane, Mitchell Karpik*, Hoani Matenga*, Reed Prinsep, Bryn Hall, Jonathan Ruru, Brad Weber, Otere Black, Joshua Ioane*, Matthew Lansdown*, Matt Proctor, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Jonah Lowe*, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Shaun Stevenson*. Travelling as a replacemen­t for the USA leg only is Canterbury wing Caleb Makene. * Denotes debutant American tour:

❚ USA in Chicago on November 4 (12pm NZ time)

❚ Brazil in Sao Paulo on November 11 (11am NZ time)

❚ Chile in Las Condes on November 18 (9am NZ time) camp. ‘‘It has its challenges, but we’re well aware of them and the team has operated under those circumstan­ces for a number of years now.

‘‘From a preparatio­n point of view, we just have to keep things really simple and when they come into the fold get excited very quickly about playing an internatio­nal team,’’ McMillan said.

 ??  ?? Coach Clayton McMillan discusses the naming of the NZ Ma¯ ori team, where the main talking point was the selection of Akira Ioane, inset.
Coach Clayton McMillan discusses the naming of the NZ Ma¯ ori team, where the main talking point was the selection of Akira Ioane, inset.

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