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Former All Black Liam Messam will start at number 8 for a Maori team from New Zealand that has eight rookies.
New Zealand Maori coach Clayton McMillan’s team features several veterans like Messam and loose head mainstay Josh Hohneck, as well as some exciting young talents for their one-off match against Moana Pasifika in Hamilton on Saturday.
Lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit, midfielders Quinn Tupaea and Billy Proctor, plus fullback Kaleb Trask, will earn their first internationalization with the New Zealand Maori on the race side.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Liam Messam last played with MÄ ?? ori of New Zealand against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
Hooker Kurt Eklund, prop Tamaiti Williams, forward Ethan Roots and midfielder Rameka Poihipi are likely to make their debuts off the bench.
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“It’s a really proud opportunity for those young men and their whānau and their iwi hapū to represent the Māori All Blacks,” McMillan said of the debutants.
“It represents a little changing of the guard, we have had some real fans who have moved abroad or are not available for this particular campaign and that opens the door for some of those young people to come in and show us what I have and what we experience. is to be in our environment ”
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
The hooker from NZ MÄ ?? ori Ash Dixon will be the team captain against Moana Pasifika.
Hohneck has not played for New Zealand Māori since 2015 and Messam’s last appearance was the 2017 game against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
McMillan said the value of the experience the couple brings to the team cannot be underestimated.
“We feel like people like Liam and Josh, guys who have been in the jersey historically, gone off and practiced their trade overseas, have come back and added real value to their Miter 10 Cup teams,” said McMillan.
Kerry Marshall / Getty Images
Kaleb Trask’s standout season for Bay of Plenty has earned him his first Maori call-up from New Zealand.
“It’s a no-brainer for us, they’re still good enough, but the peripheral stuff that they bring, the mana and the knowledge and their ability to set really high standards for the youngsters to follow has been instrumental in bringing these guys together.”
Bryn Hall has won the disputed starting running back jersey over former All Black Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Fletcher Smith has missed Matchday 23 with Otere Black starting in the first five eighths.
Experienced loose striker Reed Prinsep was not available for selection.
Maori from New Zealand: Caleb Trask, Shaun Stevenson, Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea, Sean Wainui, Otere Black, Bryn Hall, Liam Messam, Billy Harmon, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Isaiah Walker-Leawere, Marcel Renata, Ash Dixon (Captain), Josh Hohneck. Bookings: Kurt Eklund, Dark Racket-Stones, Boy Williams, Ethan Roots, Mitchell Karpik, Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Rameka Poihipi, Jonah Lowe.
