Māori All Blacks Head Coach Ross Filipo says he’s been thoroughly impressed with the players (kaitākaro) returning to the team environment, and those new to the group, remarking on how well they have come together and focused on the campaign ahead.
“It’s a tight turnaround for us with plenty of our players in the Super Rugby Pacific final on Saturday night and then coming straight into this environment. Selections were tough, and our coaching group spent quite some time together to make sure we had the right mix to take the field in Tokyo. We are determined to right a wrong from our last game in Aichi in 2024.”
Hooker (Waekape) Eklund anchors the scrum (nonoke), with debutant Jacob Devery as impact, alongside props 31-year-old Jared Proffit and Kershawl Sykes-Martin in his debut. Isaia Walker-Leawere and Laghlan McWhannell make up the locking (poukūiti) duo, while Jahrome Brown and Te Kamaka Howden have been named in the loose forwards. Cullen Grace completes an experienced forward pack at no.8 (pouwaru).
Three-time Māori All Black Sam Nock comes in as halfback (poutoko) and after a stellar Super Rugby Pacific season, Rivez Reihana has been named as first five-eighth (topatahi).
Bailyn Sullivan and Gideon Wrampling will bring their strong ball carrying skills in the midfield, Jonah Lowe and Cole Forbes will start as wingers (parirau), with Zarn Sullivan rounding out the backs (pou muri).
Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Benet Kumeroa, Zach Gallagher, Caleb Delany, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Kaleb Trask and Xavi Taele have been named as reinforcements.
Māori All Blacks v Japan XV
1. Jared Proffit*, Ngāti Porou
2. Kurt Eklund, Ngāti Kahu (C)
3. Kerswhal Sykes-Martin*, Ngāti Porou
4. Isaia Walker-Leawere, Ngāti Porou
5. Laghlan McWhannell, Ngāti Kahungunu
6. Te Kamaka Howden, Tūhoe
7. Jahrome Brown*, Ngāti Porou
8. Cullen Grace, Ngāti Whakaue
9. Sam Nock, Ngāpuhi
10. Rivez Reihana, Ngāphui, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine
11. Jonah Lowe, Ngāti Pikiao
12. Gideon Wrampling*, Ngāpuhi
13. Bailyn Sullivan, Ngāti Kahungunu
14. Cole Forbes, Ngāti Awa
15. Zarn Sullivan, Ngāti Kahungunu
16. Jacob Devery*, Te Aitanga a Mahaki
17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, Ngāpuhi
18. Benet Kumeroa, Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi
19. Zach Gallagher*, Te Ātiawa
20. Caleb Delany, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
21. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara*, Ngāi Tai, Ngāti Porou
22. Kaleb Trask, Ngāpuhi
23. Xavi Taele*, Ngāi Tahu
Key facts:
- Tokowaru ngā kaitākaro hou kua whakaingoatia e Ross Filipo mō te kēmu tuatahi
- Eight debutants have made Ross Filipo’s first team of the campaign
- Kei te whai wehenga te kapa Māori i a Hapani XV hei rānaki i te utu o te kēmu tuarua i tērā tau
- The Japan XV and Māori All Blacks faced off in two matches in Japan in 2024, winning one a piece
- Kua toa i te kapa Māori ngā kēmu e toru o ā rātou kēmu e rima whakamutunga
- The Māori All Blacks have won three of their last five games
Where to watch:
For fans in New Zealand, the game will be broadcast live in Te Reo Māori on Whakaata Māori and MĀORI+, celebrating the cultural pride and heritage that sits at the heart of the Māori All Blacks legacy. A simulcast will also air on Sky Sport, ensuring fans across the motu (country) can enjoy the action on their preferred platform.
The match will be live on NZR+ in Australia, Pacific Islands, United Kingdom and Ireland, United States, South Africa, France and South America.
Kua whakaingoatia te 23 tuatahi mō te Kapa Ōpango Māori ka whakataetae atu ki te kapa Hapani XV ki te taiwhanga o Prince Chichibu Memorial a te 9.05pm Aotearoa, Hātarei 28 o Hune. Tokowhitu ka kaitākaro hou kua tohua ki te tīma, me te aha ka arahina e te kāpene hou, te tautōhito a Kurt Eklund o Ngāti Kahu. Kua tau te ngākau o Ross Filipo i te taunga, me te rite o ngā kaitākoro nō rātou ka hoki ki te kapa nei me te hunga kātahi anō ka whai wāhi atu. He tere nō rātou i tūhono ki te taiao, ki ngā tikanga, ki ngā kawenga whānui mō tēnei haerenga anō hoki.
“It’s a tight turnaround for us with plenty of our players in the Super Rugby Pacific final on Saturday night and then coming straight into this environment. Selections were tough, and our coaching group spent quite some time together to make sure we had the right mix to take the field in Tokyo. We are determined to right a wrong from our last game in Aichi in 2024.”
Mā te waekape a Eklund te nonoke e whakamau, ka tahia te papa mō tana hoa haere i te paehihiri a Devery. Tūia ko te whiunga tuatahi o ngā uri o Hikurangi maunga a Jared Proffit rāua ko Kershawl Sykes-Martin ki te mura o te ahi e kitea ai te uranga mai o te rā. Mā Isaia Walker-Leawere rāua ko Laghlan McWhannell ngā tūranga poukūiti e Manaaki, ka mutu ko Jahrome Brown, Te Kamaka Howden rātou ko Cullen Grace ngā kaitaunaki o ngā poumua tuatahi.
Tērā te tautōhito a Sam Nock ka toko ake i te kapa hei poutoko, ko tana hoa tākaro o Ngāpuhi, o Ngāti Hine a Rivez Reihana tēra kua whakaingoatia hei topatahi.
Tū mai rā Bailyn Sullivan rāua ko Gideon Wrampling hei toka tū moana mō ngā pouwaenga, ka taunakitia rāua e ngā parirau a Jonah Lowe rāua ko Cole Forbes.
Waiho mai ko te teina, a Zarn Sullivan hei kaimanaaki i te hiku o ngā mahi ki muri.
Ko ngā toa o te paehihiri ko Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Benet Kumeroa, Zach Gallagher, Caleb Delany, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Kaleb Trask rātou ko Xavi Taele.