NZ July 2021 Tests (& other matches)

[waiopehu oldboy]

Māori All Blacks: Josh Ioane, Jonah Lowe, Billy Proctor, Alex Nankivell, Sean Wainui, Otere Black, Sam Nock, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Billy Harmon, Reed Prinsep, Pari Pari Parkinson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Josh Hohneck, Ash Dixon (c), Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Ollie Norris, Marcel Renata, Isaia Walker- Leawere, Josh Dickson, Bryn Hall, Rameka Poihipi, Shaun Stevenson.

 

[RebelYell]

13 (!) debutants for Tonga: Tonga: James Faiva, Hosea Saumaki, Fine Inisi, Nikolai Foliaki, Penikolo Latu, Kalione Hala, Sonatane Takulua (c); Sione Tu’ipolotu, Solomone Funaki, Mateaki Kafatolu, Zane Kapeli, Don Lolo, Sila Puafisi, Sam Moli, Duke Nginingini. Reserves: Siua Maile, Jethro Felemi, Tau Koloamatangi, Harrison Mataele, Viliami Taulani, Nasi Manu, Leon Fukofuka, Walter Fifita.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...-team-includes-13-debutants-for-mt-smart-test

Always thought Saumaki had been capped for Japan - just checked Wiki and he never was. Exciting player.

 

[zer0]

All Blucks team:

1. Karl Tu’inukuafe (17 test caps)
2. Dane Coles (74)
3. Angus Ta’avao (14)
4. Scott Barrett (36)
5. Samuel Whitelock (122) – captain
6. Akira Ioane (2)
7. Dalton Papalii (4)
8. Luke Jacobson (2)
9. Brad Weber (7)
10. Richie Mo’unga (22)
11. George Bridge (10)
12. Quinn Tupaea (new cap)
13. Rieko Ioane (33)
14. Will Jordan (2)
15. Damian McKenzie (27)

16. Asafo Aumua (1)
17. George Bower (new cap)
18. Tyrel Lomax (6)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (35)
20. Ethan Blackadder (new cap)
21. Finlay Christie (new cap)
22. Beauden Barrett (88)
23. Jordie Barrett (23)

 

[zer0]

6. Akira Ioane

7. Dalton Papalii

8. Luke Jacobson

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

 

[KiwiM]

Happy with that team considering who is available and the opposition.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

AB v Tonga match officials:

Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

Assistant referees: Jordan Way and Amy Perrett (both Australia)

TMO: James Leckie (Australia)

With T-T travel suspended due to Covid, "[Ben] O’Keeffe has now been handed the whistle for the clash at Mt Smart Stadium, replacing Damon Murphy, while Brendon Pickerill and Williams will be his assistants, taking the places of Jordan Way and Amy Perrett, and Shane McDermott will now be the TMO, rather than James Leckie."

Also some consequential changes to MAB v Samoa officials.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/a...cks-for-a-second-time-in-seasonopener-v-tonga

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

This seems bloody odd given DMac is buggering off....

Still just a rumour at this point, if it was definite I don't think even Foster would've picked him......

Speaking of people rumored to be potentially buggering off, I'm reasonably reliably informed that Brad Weber has just bought himself an apartment that's literally next to FMG Stadium & it's a condition that all apartments have to be owner-occupied so maybe he's planning on sticking around a while longer?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Tongan prop Tau Koloamatangi has been ruled ineligible & withdrawn from the Tongan lineup on account of having played for Hong Kong in 2019 BUT it's Tonga's position that he wasn't eligible for HK on account of not having met the three year residency requirement; therefore his HK cap doesn't count; therefore he should be allowed to play the upcoming WC qualifiers v Samoa.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...-rugby-team-on-eve-of-test-against-all-blacks

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Samoa: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Elisapeta Alofipo, 13 Stacey Ili, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Neria Fomai, 10 Rodney Iona, 9 Auvasa Falealii, 8 Henry Time-Stowers, 7 Alamanda Motuga, 6 Samuel Slade, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 3 Michael Ala'alatoa, 2 Ray Niuia, 1 Albert Anae. Replacements: 16 JP Sauni, 17 Tietie Tuimauga, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Teofilo Paulo, 20 Genesis Mamea-Lemalu, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 D’Angelo Leuila, 23 Joe Perez.

Sad that I had to go on PlanetRugby to find that, you'd think the Hurld & stuff.co.nz would be all over it.

I know it probably wasn't doable at short notice but imagine if, on finding out about Tonga's travel issues, everyone had got together & agreed to swap opponents i.e. AB v MAB with Samoa v Tonga beforehand.....

 

[Dan54]

Samoa: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Elisapeta Alofipo, 13 Stacey Ili, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Neria Fomai, 10 Rodney Iona, 9 Auvasa Falealii, 8 Henry Time-Stowers, 7 Alamanda Motuga, 6 Samuel Slade, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 3 Michael Ala'alatoa, 2 Ray Niuia, 1 Albert Anae. Replacements: 16 JP Sauni, 17 Tietie Tuimauga, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Teofilo Paulo, 20 Genesis Mamea-Lemalu, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 D’Angelo Leuila, 23 Joe Perez.

Sad that I had to go on PlanetRugby to find that, you'd think the Hurld & stuff.co.nz would be all over it.

I know it probably wasn't doable at short notice but imagine if, on finding out about Tonga's travel issues, everyone had got together & agreed to swap opponents i.e. AB v MAB with Samoa v Tonga beforehand...

Be great, but no way would Tonga have turned away a test against ABs, no matter how weak they are.
And let's face it a few boys are going to get capped . Actaully think AB offered it to Samoa first ,but Tonga jumped in.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

I imagine the crowd will be very small. There can't be much interest in watching second and third string Samoa and Tonga. If either team could field a competitive team then yes absolutely.

They had the Mount Smart CEO on tv news last night & while he was obviously pleased to be hosting a match, having not had one since August 2019, nothing was said about potential crowd size & nothing I've seen or heard anywhere else has mentioned it either which suggests to me the numbers ain't looking good, sadly. Hopefully it's a beaut day & they get some last-minute punters through the gates.

stuff.co.nz Tonga player profiles:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...t-who-are-these-tongans-facing-the-all-blacks

 

[Dan54]

Well I know this for July tests, but bought my tickets for Wellington Bledisloe game, just having a think should I go up to Auckland for the first one. Or maybe go back down to Wellington for Puma's test.
Mind you Oct 2nd for Boks in Auckland?? Still can only buy tickets for August at this stage. man spends too uch time having to make decisions

 

[Dismal Pillock]

massive day on the telly, replays etc

10am Swiss v Spain (soccer)
12pm Belg v Italy (soccer)
2pm MAB v Samoa
4pm NZ v Tonga
6pm SA v Georgia
8pm Ireland v Japan

 

[Dan54]

massive day on the telly, replays etc

10am Swiss v Spain (soccer)
12pm Belg v Italy (soccer)
2pm MAB v Samoa
4pm NZ v Tonga
6pm SA v Georgia
8pm Ireland v Japan

Geez DP in NZ add to that Ireland? St Kentigans/King College 2 pm,
Ireland/Japan 11.30
Wales/Canada 1.55am
B&I Lions /Emirates Lions 4am
Romania/Argentina 6am, maybe a stretch to far though

may have to do some recording, College game as I will be at rugby. and maybe Ire/Jpn and Wale/Can as I will be asleep, just may get up at 4 for Lions, but will set record in case bed feels good!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

MetService says it's sunny & 13C in Aux right now, staying fine & only dropping to 10C for the late game.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Bok: 40-odd
Georgia: 9

Fran Steyn and Willie le Roux? Really? Jesus.

Boks plod & plow route 1. Only up 19-9 at HT.

Georgia top defensive effort. Would certainly rattle Frizzle Fozzie's Frail Blacks.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Jesus, maori haka a bit of a production, went on like West Side Story, people kept popping up from all over the place to have a cameo song and dance.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Well I know this for July tests, but bought my tickets for Wellington Bledisloe game, just having a think should I go up to Auckland for the first one. Or maybe go back down to Wellington for Puma's test.
Mind you Oct 2nd for Boks in Auckland?? Still can only buy tickets for August at this stage. man spends too uch time having to make decisions

Dunners for the SA Centenary Test would be the go for a cashed-up man of leisure such as yourself, surely......

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Early days but both teams looking much more cohesive than last week.

Edit: except for Samoa's lineout......