- Josh Moorby (Ngāti Maniapoto), Max Hicks (Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāi te Rangi) and Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) to debut
- Strong Hurricanes representation with nine players from the Super Rugby club named in the team
- Final match of the Māori All Blacks v Ireland presented by Chemist Warehouse two-match series
The matchday 23 is as follows (Province/Super Rugby Club, and Iwi in brackets, debutants in bold).
1. Ollie Norris (Waikato/Chiefs/Ngāpuhi)
2. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty/Blues/Ngāti Kahu)
3. Tyrel Lomax (Tasman/Hurricanes/Muaupoko/Ngāi Tūhoe)
4. Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders /Ngāti Raukawa/Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawkes Bay/ Hurricanes/Ngāti Porou)
6. Reed Prinsep (Canterbury/Hurricanes/Te Rārawa)
7. Billy Harmon (Canterbury/ Highlanders/Ngāi Tahu)
8. Cullen Grace (Canterbury/Crusaders/Ngāti Whakaue/Ngāti Raukawa)
9. TJ Perenara© - Kāpene Paheko (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāti Rangitihi)
10. Josh Ioane (Otago/Chiefs/Te Rārawa)
11. Connor Garden-Bachop (Wellington/Highlanders/Ngāti Awa)
12. Alex Nankivell (Tasman/Chiefs/Ngāti Pikiao)
13. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato/Hurricanes/Ngāti Kahungunu)
14. Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour/Chiefs/Ngāpuhi)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland/Hurricanes/Ngāti Maniapoto)
16. Leni Apisai (Auckland/Ngāti Awa)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury/Crusaders/Ngāpuhi)
18. Marcel Renata (Auckland/Blues/Ngāti Whānaunga/Ngāi Takoto)
19. Max Hicks (Tasman/Highlanders/Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāi te Rangi)
20. Caleb Delany (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
21. Brad Weber© - Kāpene Paheko (Hawkes Bay/Chiefs/Ngāti Porou)
22. Ruben Love (Wellington/Hurricanes/Te Atiawa)
23. Billy Proctor (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāi te Rangi/Ngāpuhi)
Māori All Blacks Head Coach Clayton McMillan (Ngāi te Rangi/Ngāi Tamawhariua/Te Rangihouhiri) has named a strong team to challenge Ireland in their closing match at Sky Stadium. Following a win in Hamilton, the side sees a few changes to last week’s team with a strong contingent of local Hurricanes players named to take the field.
The starting front row remains unchanged, Ollie Norris (Ngāpuhi) will start at loosehead prop alongside tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax (Muaupoko / Ngāi Tūhoe) and hooker Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu). Leni Apisai (Ngāti Awa), Tamaiti Williams (Ngāpuhi) and Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whānaunga / Ngāi Takoto) will provide impact off the bench.
Locking duo of Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Ngāti Raukawa / Ngāti Tūwharetoa) and Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngāti Porou) will start, with debutant Max Hicks (Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāi te Rangi) on the bench. Experienced campaigner Reed Prinsep (Te Rārawa) alongside Billy Harmon (Ngāi Tahu) and Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue / Ngāti Raukawa) make up the starting loose forward trio, with Hurricanes player and debutant Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) on the bench.
In the backs, Hurricanes halfback and Kāpene Paheko (Co-Captain) TJ Perenara (Ngāti Rangitihi) will take the field with Josh Ioane (Te Rārawa) at nine and ten. Kāpene Paheko (Co-Captain) Brad Weber (Ngāti Porou) will provide impact from the bench.
The midfield sees a new combination, with Alex Nankivell (Ngāti Pikiao) and Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu) to start at 12 and 13.
The back three is made up of Connor Garden-Bachop (Ngāti Awa) on the left wing, Shaun Stevenson (Ngāpuhi) on the right, with Josh Moorby (Ngāti Maniapoto) debuting at fullback, Hurricanes teammates Ruben Love (Te Atiawa) and Billy Proctor (Ngāi Te Rangi/Ngāpuhi) to be injected off the bench.
Māori All Blacks Head Coach Clayton McMillan (Ngāi te Rangi/Ngāi Tamawhariua/Te Rangihouhiri) said: “We are anticipating Ireland to come back strong on Tuesday, we have learnt a lot from that first match in Hamilton as I am sure they have too.”
With three debutants named in Tuesday’s match, McMillan is excited for Max Hicks, Josh Moorby and Caleb Delany to get the chance to pull on the Māori All Blacks jersey.
“The first match was really special, with nine debutants up against Ireland and this week the remaining three debutant players get that same opportunity to represent not only the team but their whānau and their iwi.”
“Last time the Māori All Blacks took the field at Sky Stadium it was amidst the Covid-19 outbreak with no crowds allowed at the match, McMillan said the team are excited to take the field and showcase Māori rugby in front of our Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) whānau.”
Media Notes:
- 2021, was the last time the Māori All Blacks took to the field in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). The Māori All Blacks hosted Manu Samoa with no crowds at Sky Stadium.
- Māori All Blacks won 32-17 in their first match against Ireland in Hamilton on 29th June.
- This will be the Māori All Blacks 127th international game.
- It has been one hundred years since the Māori All Blacks first played in Wellington. On August 19, 1922, they played the All Blacks at Athletic Park and were beaten 21-14.