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Six ‘fully deserving’ players to debut for Maori All Blacks against Japan XV

Cole Forbes of the Blues runs for a try during the Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Highlanders played at Eden Park in Auckland on May 18, 2024. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

Crusaders first five-eighth Rivez Reihana and Blues fullback Cole Forbes are among the six players in line to debut for the Maori All Blacks on Saturday evening [NZST] in the first of a two game series against a Japan XV.

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Laghlan McWhannell and Daniel Rona join the aforementioned 10-15 duo in the starting side, while utility forward Max Hicks and outside back Tana Tuhakaraina will come off the bench at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

The selection of Tuhakaraina in the No. 23 jumper might be the most interesting pick of the week with head coach Ross Filipo rewarding the potential debutant for strong form in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

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Tuhakaraina is from the Matamata region and trained with the Hamilton-based Chiefs as a replacement player but didn’t take the field. But coach Filipo has worked with the outside back with Waikato which has led to this selection.

“They are all fully deserving of their selections. I’m really excited for them and their whanau, it’s going to be a massive occasion whether they’ve travelled to watch or are watching at home,” head coach Ross Filipo said in a statement.

“To cap [six] debutants in one game is awesome for the team’s growth and I know they will all make a great contribution.

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“We are expecting a high tempo match and we know they have had plenty of preparation time so we will have to be at our best from the very beginning. We are looking forward to the challenge and the team is ready to go.”

All Black Joe Moody will pack down in the front along with Kurt Eklund and Marcel Renata. Debutant McWhannell starts at tighthead lock along with the Hurricanes’ Isaia Walker-Leawere in the middle row.

Blues enforcer Cameron Suafoa will line up at blindside flanker while the Highlanders’ departing backrower Billy Harmon will take his place at openside. The Crusaders’ Cullen Grace has been named as the No. 8 in the run-on side.

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Debutant Reihana joins Sam Nock in the halves, while Daniel Rona joins  familiar face in the midfield with Chiefs teammate Quinn Tupaea also named in the midfield.

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As for the outside backs, Bailyn Sullivan will combine with fellow-winger Josh Moorby and No. 15 Cole Forbes.

This match will kick-off at 10:00 pm NZST on Saturday.

Maori All Blacks to take on Japan XV

  1. Joe Moody (Ngai Tahu)
  2. Kurt Eklund (Ngati Kahu)
  3. Marcel Renata (Ngati Whanaunga, Ngai Takoto)
  4. Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngati Porou)
  5. Laghlan McWhannell* (Ngati Kahungunu)
  6. Cameron Suafoa (Ngapuhi)
  7. Billy Harmon (Ngai Tahu)
  8. Cullen Grace (Ngati Whakaue)
  9. Sam Nock (Ngapuhi)
  10. Rivez Reihana* (Ngai Tahu, Ghati Hine, Ngapuhi, Ngati Tuwharetoa)
  11. Bailyn Sullivan (Ngati Kahungunu)
  12. Quinn Tupaea (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru, Waikato)
  13. Daniel Rona* (Te Atiawa)
  14. Josh Moorby (Ngati Manipoto)
  15. Cole Forbes* (Ngati Awa)

Replacements

  1. Tyrone Thompson (Ngati Rangiwewehi, Ngai Tamanuhiri)
  2. Ollie Norris (Ngapuhi)
  3. Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngapuhi)
  4. Max Hicks* (Ngati Ranginui)
  5. Te Kamaka Howden (Tuhoe)
  6. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ngati Rangitihi, Ngati Pikiao, Tuhourangi, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Awa)
  7. Rameka Poihipi (Ngati Whakaue)
  8. Tana Tuhakaraina* (Ngati Haua)
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Comments

2 Comments
J
Jmann 237 days ago

They will anihilate Japan

S
Scott 238 days ago

That Maori lineup would win a lot of Super Rugby matches.

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kumar supriya 2 hours ago
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kumar supriya 2 hours ago
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MY NAME IS SUPRIYA KUMAR FROM INDIA PLEASE FIND TIME TO READ THIS CAREFULLY.              AS WE ALL KNOW INDIA IS NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF MAGIC SO DO NOT IGNORE THIS. BE CAREFUL HERE, NOBODY CAN HELP YOU FROM AFRICA OR EVEN SUGGEST HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR EX OR LOVE BACK, ANY TESTIMONIES OF MOST SPELL CASTER FROM AFRICA HERE MUST BE IGNORED, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE SCAM I MEAN REAL SCAM AND FROM AFRICA WHICH I WAS A VICTIM AND I GOT RIPPED OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE I WAS SO ANXIOUS TO GET MY HUSBAND JOHN BACK AFTER HE LEFT ME FOR OVER 2YEARS WITH MY 3YEARS OLD SON JERRY,I HAVE APPLIED TO 7 DIFFERENT SPELL CASTER HERE I MET ON THIS BLOG AND ALL TO NO AVAIL THEY ALL ASK FOR SAME THING SEND YOUR NAME YOUR EX NAME ADDRESS AND PICTURE PHONE NUMBER ETC WHICH I DID OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND MOST OF THEM WERE FROM AFRICA, I WAS SO CONFUSED AND I WAS ALWAYS SICK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS SO DESPERATE TO HAVE JOHN BACK TO ME I LOVE HIM SO MUCH AND COULD DIE FOR HIM. UNTIL A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE TEMPLE OF DREAMS THE GREATEST SPELL TEMPLE, (templeofdreams1@gmail.com) TEMPLE OF BLACK AND WHITE (GOOD AND EVIL) IN INDIA, AND I DECIDED TO SEND A MAIL TO THE TEMPLE. THE SECRETARY TOLD ME THAT ALL MY PROBLEM ARE OVER SINCE I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT INDIA FOR HELP, HE TOLD ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN ME AND MY EX HUSBAND JOHN AND I DID, I TOLD HIM ALL THAT HAPPENED FROM THE BEGINNING. AND HE SAID TO ME MY CHILD WHAT YOU JUST EXPLAINED TO ME NOW IS A LITTLE PROBLEM TO HANDLE COMPARE TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS THE TEMPLE HAS HANDLED, I WAS SO SHOCKED AND I SAID TO MY SELF WHAT PROBLEM COULD BE MORE SERIOUS THAN THIS. HE TOLD ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT WHAT HE SAID LOOK SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST(THAT I WAS TO PAY FOR THE ITEMS NEEDED), I WAS HAVING DOUBT ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF PAST EXPERIENCE, BUT I DECIDED TO TRY SINCE THE TEMPLE IS LOCATED IN INDIA (ASIA) AND NOT AFRICA (NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA) THEY COULD BE REAL AND DIFFERENT. SO I GAVE THEM 50% OF MY TRUST. THIS WAS LIKE A MAGIC AND DREAM COME TRUE TO ME, AFTER TWO DAYS WHEN THE SPELL HAS BEEN CASTEED, JOHN BEEPED MY PHONE AT ABOUT 9:PM I COULD NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE JOHN AND WANT HIM BACK. BY 7:AM THE NEXT MORNING HE GAVE ME ANOTHER  MISSED CALL I DECIDED NOT TO CALL BACK AS I WAS STILL ON SHOCK,   AT ABOUT 10:AM THAT MORNING HE CALLED AND I PICKED HE SAID CAN WE SEE AFTER WORK TODAY I SAID YES SO HE ENDED THE CALL IMMEDIATELY I GOT OFF WORK HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME WERE TO MEET HIM, I WAS STILL ON SHOCK, BEHOLD WHEN I GOT THERE I SAW JOHN CRYING WITH TEARS ALL OVER HIS EYES, AND HE SAID TO ME MY WIFE, I AM SO SORRY IMMEDIATELY I HUGGED HIM AND KISSED HIM WHICH I HAVE MISSED ALL THIS YEARS. ALL THANK TO TEMPLE OF DREAMS. IF YOU ARE A MAN OR A WOMAN READING THIS AND YOU ARE PASSING THROUGH SIMILAR PROBLEMS LIKE MINE, DO NOT FAIL TO CONTACT THIS GREAT TEMPLE. HE IS REALLY INDEED A REAL SPELL CASTER.           THE WORST OF ALL IS THAT I DON’T KNOW THE PARTICULAR DOCTOR THAT HELPED ME AS I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 SPELL CASTERS WORKING IN THE TEMPLE, UNLIKE THE SINGLE SCAM DOCTORS IN AFRICA. I AM NO LONGER AFRAID OF THE SPELL CASTERS IN AFRICA BECAUSE THE TEMPLE OF DREAMS ASSURED AND GAVE ME HUNDRED PERCENT PROTECTION AND ALSO HELPED ME RECOVER 50% OF MY MONEY THAT I PAYED TO SCAMS FROM AFRICA SOME SERVICES RENDERED IN THE TEMPLE OF DREAMS (1) If you want your ex back. (2) To cure HIV/AID or related illness (3) You want to be promoted in your office. (4) You want women/men to run after you. (5) If you want a child. (6) Are you a contractor and you want to win contract (7) You want to tie your husband/wife to be yours forever. (8) If you need help spiritually. (9) How you been scammed and you want to recover you lost money.     (10)Stop Divorce (11)Invoking of Money Ritual (12)To verify if your online lover is real (13)To verify if your online loan is real (14)To be very brilliant (15)If you are looking for a good job (16)If you are old and want to look young (17) If you want to be free from threats of spell caster in AFRICA And many more.. Email... templeofdreams1@gmail.com  

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