All Blacks Named To Face Ireland In First Test

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Ireland in their first test at Eden park on Saturday night. Covid has hit the All Black camp this week, with Foster, assistant coaches John Plumtree, Scott McLeod and Greg Feek, mid-fielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue, and outside back Will Jordan all testing positive for Covid.

Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku will debut on the wing, with Scott Barrett named at blindside flanker, and Beauden Barrett at first five with Richie Mo'unga on the bench.

NZ All Blacks:

1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Scott Barrett, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Angus Ta'avao, Pita Gus Sowakula, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Richie Mo'unga, Braydon Ennor

NZ Maori Beat Ireland

New Zealand Maori have beaten Ireland 32-17 in Hamilton on Wednesday night in the first match for the touring side. The home side led 32-10 at halftime, playing an attacking game in wet, drizzly conditions, with tries to backs fullback Zarn Sullivan, wing Shaun Stevenson, halfback Brad Weber, and number eight Cullen Grace. Ireland came back in the second half, playing more competitively scoring the only try. Ireland will now face the All Blacks on Saturday night at Eden Park for the first test.

Māori All Blacks: 32

Tries: Zarn Sullivan, Shaun Stevenson, Brad Weber, Cullen Grace, Conversions: Josh Ioane 3, Penalties: Ioane 2

Ireland: 17

Tries: Bundee Aki, Gavin Coombes, Conversions: Ciaran Frawley 2, Penalty: Frawley

NZ Maori And Ireland Sides Named For First Match

New Zealand Maori coach Clayton McMillan has named his side to face Ireland at FMG Stadium Waikato, 7.05pm on Wednesday 29th June. The match is the first between the sides since 2010 where the Maori won 31-28.

Māori All Blacks: 
1. Ollie Norris 2. Kurt Eklund 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Josh Dickson 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere 6. Cameron Suafoa 7. Billy Harmon 8. Cullen Grace 9. Brad Weber (co-c) 10. Josh Ioane 11. Connor Garden-Bachop 12. Rameka Poihipi 13. Billy Proctor 14. Shaun Stevenson 15. Zarn Sullivan

Reserves: 16. Tyrone Thompson 17. Tamaiti Williams 18. Jermaine Ainsley 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit 20. TK Howden 21. TJ Perenara (co-c) 22. Ruben Love 23. Bailyn Sullivan

 
Ireland: 
1. Jeremy Loughman 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Kieran Treadwell 5. Joe McCarthy 6. Cian Prendergast 7. Nick Timoney 8. Gavin Coombes 9. Craig Casey 10. Ciaran Frawley 11. Keith Earls 12. Bundee Aki (c) 13. Jamie Hume 14. Jordan Larmour 15. Jimmy O’Brien

Reserves: 16. Niall Scannell 17. Cian Healy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Ryan Baird 20. Jack Conan 21. Conor Murray 22. Joey Carbery 23. Michael Lowry

Black Ferns Win Pacific Four Series

The Black Ferns have beaten the USA Eagles 50-6 in Whangarei on Saturday to win the Pacific Four Series. In a match played in wet conditions, the Black Ferns scored eight tries, with wing Ayesha Leti-I’iga scoring a hat-trick.  

In the earlier match Canada had beaten the Australian Wallaroo's 22-10

New Zealand Black Ferns: 50 

Tries: Ayesha Leti-I’iga 3, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Renee Holmes, Sylvia Brunt, Kendra Reynolds, Renee Wickliffe, Conversions: Hazel Tubic 3, Ruahei Demant, Renee Holmes 

USA Eagles: 6

Penalties: Megan Foster 2 

Crusaders Win 2022 Super Rugby Final

The Crusaders have beaten the Blues 21-7 in Auckland on Saturday night to win the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific title. The Crusaders had led 13-0 at half time on the back of superior defense and forced mistakes. The Crusaders had won nine lineout steals in the match, with six in the first half, and forced the Blues to make 216 tackles in the match to the Crusaders 141.

Crusaders: 21

Tries: Bryn Hall, Sevu Reece, Conversion: Richie Mo’unga. Penalty: Mo’unga 2, Drop goal: Mo’unga

Blues: 7 

Try: Finlay Christie, Conversion: Stephen Perofeta

Maori All Blacks Squad Named To Face Ireland

Maori All Blacks coach Clayton McMillan has named his squad for two mid-week matches against the touring Ireland side at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Wednesday, 29 June and Sky Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday, 12 July.

Māori All Blacks Squad: (*denotes new caps)

Props

Tamaiti Williams - Ngāpuhi (Canterbury/Crusaders)

Ollie Norris - Ngāpuhi (Waikato/Chiefs)

Marcel Renata - Ngāti Whānaunga / Ngāi Takoto (Auckland/Blues)

Jermaine Ainsley* - Te Rārawa / Te Arawa (Otago/Highlanders)

Tyrel Lomax - Muaupoko / Ngāi Tūhoe (Tasman/Hurricanes)

 

Hookers

Leni Apisai - Ngāti Awa (Auckland)

Kurt Eklund - Ngāti Kahu (Bay of Plenty/Blues)

Tyrone Thompson* - Ngāi Tāmanuhiri / Ngāti Rangiwewehi (Hawke’s Bay/Chiefs)

 

Locks

Isaia Walker-Leawere - Ngāti Porou (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes)

Manaaki Selby-Rickit - Ngāti Raukawa / Ngāti Tūwharetoa (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders)

Josh Dickson - Ngāi Tahu (Otago/Highlanders)

 

Loose Forwards

Reed Prinsep - Te Rārawa (Canterbury/Hurricanes)

Caleb Delany* - Ngāti Tūwharetoa (Wellington/Hurricanes)

Billy Harmon - Ngāi Tahu (Canterbury/Highlanders)

Te Kamaka (TK) Howden* - Ngāi Tūhoe (Manawatū/Hurricanes)

Cameron Suafoa* - Ngāpuhi (Auckland/Blues)

 

Half Backs

TJ Perenara* - Ngāti Rangitihi (Wellington/Hurricanes)

Brad Weber - Ngāti Porou (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs)

 

First Five

Josh Ioane - Te Rārawa (Otago/Chiefs)

Ruben Love* - Te Atiawa (Wellington/Hurricanes)

 

Midfield

Alex Nankivell - Ngāti Pikiao (Tasman/Chiefs)

Rameka Poihipi - Ngāti Whakaue (Canterbury/Chiefs)

Billy Proctor - Ngāi Te Rangi / Ngāpuhi (Wellington/Hurricanes)

Bailyn Sullivan* - Ngāti Kahungunu (Waikato/Hurricanes)

 

Outside Backs

Connor Garden-Bachop* - Ngāti Awa (Wellington/Highlanders)

Josh Moorby* - Ngāti Maniapoto (Northland/Hurricanes)

Zarn Sullivan* - Ngāti Kahungunu (Auckland/Blues)

Shaun Stevenson - Ngāpuhi (North Harbour/Chiefs)

All Blacks Squad Named For 2022

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his initial squad to contest the three test Steinlager Series against Ireland. 

All Blacks Squad 2022.

Props: George Bower, Nepo Laulala, Aidan Ross, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi

Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukeiaho

Locks: Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Sam Whitelock 

Loose forwards: Sam Cane (c), Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Pita Gus Sowakula

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Folau Fakatava, Aaron Smith

First fives: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Stephen Perofeta

Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Quinn Tupaea

Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece

All Black debutants are prop Aidan Ross, loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula, halfback Folau Fakatava, first five Stephen Perofeta, mid-fielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and outside back Leicester Fainga'anuku.

The first All Blacks v Ireland match is Saturday 2nd July, 7.05pm at Eden Park, Auckland.