New Zealand Maori coach Colin Cooper has named his side to take on Fiji at ANZ Stadium in Suva this Saturday with two sets of brothers named in the starting XV.
Auckland’s Akira and Rieko Ioane line up at blindside flanker and right wing respectively while the Chiefs’ McKenzie brothers, Marty and Damien, have been named at fly-half and fullback.
Family tradition has been strong in New Zealand rugby for years now with the Whitelock, Savea and Franks brothers all paving the way for the next generation of powerhouse Kiwi rugby families.
Akira was named after a breakout season with the Auckland Blues while Rieko was rewarded with a call-up after a successful run in Gordon Tietjens’ sevens side.
The older Akira was widely tipped to be involved in the New Zealand national setup in someway or another, but younger brother Rieko was pleasantly surprised when he got the call from Colin Cooper to join Akira and the Maori’s for the Fiji Test.
“I wasn’t even too sure if they had a tour this year,” Rieko told The New Zealand Herald.
“I never expected to be named in this team because I hadn’t played much 15s since the sevens finished. I thought my brother might get in, but I was really happy when I got the call.”
The younger Rieko continues his rise through the ranks of New Zealand rugby after captaining the New Zealand schoolboys side last year to two wins before linking up first with the sevens in Wellington before retaining his spot in Tietjens’ side for the rest of the tour.
Meanwhile, Damian McKenzie joins brother Marty in the backline as the highly touted Chiefs brothers get an opportunity to showcase their prodigious talent on the international stage.
Coach Colin Cooper said the short turnaround for the squad had been difficult to deal with, but that he was pleased with how quickly the players bonded together.
“This squad has developed a great spirit very quickly and even though we had a long journey to Suva, we’re in good shape. We’re really looking forward to training today and adapting to the hotter conditions here,” Cooper told Radio NZ.
“We have a good mix in the team to take on Fiji. There are players who have come out of the Super Rugby finals series in great nick and those who have had a bit more of a layoff so I think that will work well for us. It’s great that we are also able to field some of the exciting, young players we’ve brought into this team and I know Saturday will be a very proud day for them.
“We’re certainly fit and raring to go against what we see is a very strong Fijian team so we’ll need to be at our best to honour our record against international teams.”
Māori All Blacks
1. Joe Moody * (Canterbury)
2. Ash Dixon (Hawke’s Bay)
3. Ben May (Wellington)
4. Jacob Skeen * (Waikato)
5. Hayden Triggs (North Harbour)
6. Akira Ioane * (Auckland)
7. Mitchell Crosswell (Taranaki)
8. Blade Thomson (Taranaki)
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow * (Waikato)
10. Marty McKenzie (Taranaki)
11. Kurt Baker (Taranaki)
12. Charlie Ngatai (Taranaki)
13. Matt Proctor (Wellington)
14. Rieko Ioane * (Auckland)
15. Damian McKenzie * (Waikato)
16. Quentin MacDonald (Tasman)
17. Brendon Edmonds (Hawke’s)
18. Josh Hohneck * (Waikato)
19. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis* (Manawatu)
20. Elliot Dixon (Southland)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Taranaki)
22. Otere Black * (Manawatu)
23. Jason Emery (Manawatu) N
Fixtures
Saturday July 11 – Fiji, ANZ National Stadium, Suva. Kick-off 3pm
Saturday July 18 – New Zealand Barbarians, Eden Park, Auckland. Kick-off 7.35pm
Jerry
Guest
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9jXauywXrrA/hqdefault.jpg
Gonzo
Guest
I think Jimmy Gopperth has that record.
Buk
Guest
Just curious - is the younger MacKenzie the first ever blonde-headed Maori All Black ?
Targa
Guest
Gore
Brawlsinmauls
Guest
Lol yeah thought I heard during the Chiefs/Highlanders final that the boys were from invercargil but wasn't sure.
Machpants
Roar Guru
I hope someone whacks it up on youtube, I couldn't watch as I was in the car but wish I had! Glued to the mobile and TVNZ live score :D
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Fiji much much better than I was expecting. The pool of death has now become the pool of "slow and painful" death. If any of Wales, England or oz do not dominate Fiji at scrumtime they will be in big trouble. With 2 more months together I reckon Fiji can really gel as a team in a similar way than their 7s boys do. great news.
Jerry
Guest
Hah! F'ing auto correct. Stutter would work better given his jinking running style.
atlas
Guest
Hi, it's a matter for the country's RU whether caps are awarded these days, as per example Wales who have given caps v barbarians when no one else does, as barbarians are not a test playing nation. Playing for barbarians dors not earn a test cap. So Fiji may have given this test match status, but Maori players cannot be awarded test caps, they do nit represent NZ, there can only be one!
moaman
Guest
My daughter reckons Milner-Stutter is better!
wardad
Guest
I thought they had test staus since 1910 ?
atlas
Guest
Fiji 26 Maori ABS 27 Halftime 26-10 Fiji had the lead until the 69th minute Maori AB match next week v NZ Barbarians may be more entertaining
atlas
Guest
Is he here? List of all All Blacks, tests and tour matches http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/atoz.asp?group=N Note tv commentator said Nadolo just scored his 15th test try in 19 test matches for Fiji. Maybe Fiji RU give this test status, like Wales gives out test caps for Barbarians matches?
Ra
Guest
Before WW2 Maori All Blacks games against Australia were given full test status. Uncle George Ngaia gained six caps.
atlas
Guest
They are not a test side, don't play tests.
wardad
Guest
So if the Maori ABS have won 18 tests on the trot why no record ?
wardad
Guest
And not with antici.....................pation .
wardad
Guest
Yes he does make other sides shudder .
Ra
Guest
Ouch ..... !!!! Tuwharetoa are claiming them I think but yeah just like Steven Pokere, they made it in the deep south....
Highlander
Guest
Actually laughed loud at that OB