The Maori All Blacks piled on 17 unanswered second-half points to steal a 27-26 victory over Fiji at Suva’s National Stadium on Saturday.
The win extended their 12-year unbeaten run against full international sides to 19 matches, but it took a solid second-half effort to secure the win after Fiji led 26-10 at halftime.
Maori Captain Charlie Ngatai said Fiji worked hard to shut down the Maori All Blacks in the opening 40 minutes.
“They trapped us in that first half, stuck us in our own half and we couldn’t get out,” he said afterwards.
“We had to get the ball down their end, and build pressure and phases and hold onto the ball.”
Fiji came out firing from the first whistle, with centre Vereniki Goneva setting up the first try after barely two minutes when he sliced through the midfield before finding fullback Kini Murimurivalu out wide.
Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo missed the conversion for Fiji but his 13th-minute penalty extended the margin to 8-0 before Marty McKenzie nailed a penalty of his own at the 20-minute mark.
Nadolo restored the margin three minutes later with another penalty, only for the Maori All Blacks to hit back with a try to Rieko Ioane.
The 18-year-old winger powered over from an attacking scrum with Fiji a man down after flanker Malakai Ravulo was sin-binned as the half-hour mark neared.
However, No.8 Blade Thomson’s yellow card soon after evened the numbers, and Nadolo knocked over another penalty before crossing for his 15th Test try five minutes from halftime.
Fijian skipper Akapusi Qera extended the lead in the last minute before the break. He was unstoppable from close range in barrelling straight through the Maori defence.
With Nadolo sidelined through injury, first five-eighth Josh Matavesi slotted the conversion to give the home team a 26-10 halftime lead.
A 40m Marty McKenzie penalty kickstarted an up-tempo second half from the Maori All Blacks, while brother Damian’s elusive running and explosive speed was rewarded with a try after 51 minutes.
They hit the front 27-26 with less than 10 minutes remaining when Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon crashed over and Otere Black added the extras to steal the lead at exactly the right time.
Jemain Okinga
Roar Rookie
It wasn't stolen CS in the second half Fiji's lineout fell apart.
Hayley
Guest
Nah, we have league now as well ;)
Buk
Guest
Yes I would rate Ngatai as particularly valuable at a RWC. Has a very good boot on him, has very good pace, and can play inside or outside centre, wing and full back. Formed a great combination with Tamanivalu for Taranaki
Ra
Guest
A good question and thats up to the Aussies to answer Bakkies. I know they do favor rugby league and are AFL mad, and history shows, a number who do choose to play rugby are absolutely gifted at it.
Jerry
Guest
I thought we got over that discussion when Tony Brown and Paul "skin so white it's translucent" Tito played for the Maori.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Someone blood test Weber and the MacKenzies. Whiter boys I have never seen.
pjm
Roar Rookie
IT'S ALL THEY HAVE!
Riccardo
Guest
Great post Ra. Billy Bush was a helluva player, whatever team he was in. A popular name in my house when I was growing up, which was white and in Remuera. Even me Bro!
Riccardo
Guest
Kia kaha Kuruki. Love your passion mate...
Riccardo
Guest
You don't rate Kane Hames?
Riccardo
Guest
Couldn't agree more...
Riccardo
Guest
You're right Dan. And he couldn't keep the Fijians onside. I thought a couple of their turnovers were pretty dodgy too. Anyway, you were saying?
Bakkies
Guest
Where would you pull a capable enough squad from?
Ra
Guest
Chivas bro I have attempted to answer or support some of your write up below. Comments please bro.
Ra
Guest
Read my backgrounder below on my take on Maori All Black rugby bro
Ra
Guest
Bro, Matt te Pou were preparing the Maori All Black to play the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and the so called NZ Juniors or NZ B Team represented at the Pacific Cup. Matt wanted us to also challenge world rugby and the Maori team went to the Churchchill Cup tournament instead after among the Lions. From an Aussie perspective, this being an Aussie webpage, it would be nice to see a Dream Team emerge like they have in the ARL/NRL.
Ra
Guest
Sorry guys I've been away from this thread for the last couple of days and coming back I see my comments have raised debate. I think to understand my description of mana Maori in rugby terms demands knowledge of background of Maori rugby which has been sporadically talked about here. Yes the NZRU was a poor custodian of Maori rugby over the past 40 years until just recently. Yes we had games against our Pasifika cousins but were relegated to playing games against second and third division provinces at home, with the odd game against touring tier 1 sides. We had our own selection programme based on inter tribal matches then the North-South Prince of Wales cup match to select our national side which the main body NZRFU at the time would pick the eyes out of and make players ineligible because they were required at another level. Maori All Black status was pushed down below provincial representation in some cases and was below the Junior All Blacks (u23) and even NZ Colts (u21) in national status but ahead of NZ Universities and Combined services. There were All Blacks like Buck Shelford,Zinzan and his Brooke brothers, Bill Osborne, Eddie Stokes, Tiny Hill, Billy Bush and the Going brothers who absolutely loved Maori rugby and would make themselves available all the time. But it's status lowered status in NZRFU meant many of it's core younger players like Graham Mourie were drawn away to fill other teams. Inter tribal rugby unearthed a lot of talent, in fact Taranaki still picked its Maori representative provincial sides this way right up through the 1980s until the world stock market crash made our competitions unmanageable. The NZRU was about to put a knife through the Maori All Blacks when Matt Te Pou stepped up to the plate in the 1990s to coach our national side and challenged the NZRU over it's shoddy treatment of Maori rugby. He brought Maori culture back into the side, demanded top players be made available and for a better calendar against tougher opposition to return the mana (status and dignity) to Maori rugby. They had noho marae (like camp outs) to re-acquaint our players with Maori culture. To Matt, being a rugby player wasn't enough, they had to know their culture too. Matt himself said the NZRU wanted to sack him, but the boys were playing winning rugby.The outcome and legacy for mana Matt te Pou the former Army drill sergeant is etched in all those wins against international tier 1 sides culminating in the scalp of the British & Irish Lions in 2005 and the pride of place the Maori All Blacks have within the NZRU and wider NZ community fabric today. The great Maori and All Blacks prop Big Billy Bush added his political voice to the challenge to the NZRU over it's treatment of Maori All Black rugby and it's great that the NZRU has taken ownership of it's responsibilities to Maori rugby, it's status (mana) for all New Zealanders to support and enjoy. Yes Chevas, even you bro !
canadiankiwi
Guest
Old Bugger. The only point of this match is the future for the very reason you point out in your first paragraph above.
Old Bugger
Guest
Chivas E tu tahi tatou katoa, toku hoa. (We all stand together, my friend.)
Old Bugger
Guest
All too true Chivas....well said.