All Blacks Beat Tonga In First Test Of 2021

The All Blacks have started their 2021 test season with a 102 point win against an understrength Tonga side at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.

The All Blacks scored 16 tries, with wing Will Jordan getting five tries, halfback Brad Weber three, and open side flanker Dalton Papalii two. 

New Zealand All Blacks: 102

Tries: Damian McKenzie, Dalton Papalii 2, Brad Weber 3, Will Jordan 5, Luke Jacobson, Richie Mo'unga, Rieko Ioane, Patrick Tuipulotu, George Bridge, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 7, Beauden Barrett 4

Tonga: 0

The next match for the All Blacks in the 2021 Steinlager Series is against Fiji, this Saturday at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Maori All Blacks Named For Second Samoa Match

After beating Samoa 35-10 last week in Wellington, Maori All Blacks coach Clayton McMillan has named his side for their second match against Samoa at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday 3rd July 4.30pm. Lock Pari Pari Parkinson will start in his first match for the Maori since 2019, while debutants Ollie Norris and Rameka Poihipi are named on the bench.

Māori All Blacks: 

Josh Ioane, Jonah Lowe, Billy Proctor, Alex Nankivell, Sean Wainui, Otere Black, Sam Nock, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Billy Harmon, Reed Prinsep, Pari Pari Parkinson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Josh Hohneck, Ash Dixon (c), Tamaiti Williams. 

Reserves: 

Kurt Eklund, Ollie Norris, Marcel Renata, Isaia Walker- Leawere, Josh Dickson, Bryn Hall, Rameka Poihipi, Shaun Stevenson. 

All Blacks Named To Face Tonga In First Test For 2021

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his first side for 2021 to face Tonga at Auckland's Mt. Smart Stadium, Saturday 3rd July 7.05pm.

The All Blacks side features second five Quinn Tupaea making his starting debut, while prop George Bower, loose forward Ethan Blackadder, and halfback Finlay Christie are named on the bench. Starting first five is Richie Mo'unga, fullback Damian McKenzie, and halfback Brad Weber, with both Beauden and Jordie Barrett in the reserves.

Because of Covid travel issues and European player unavailability, Tongan coach Toutai Kefu has had to source New Zealand based players, resulting in nine players making their starting debut. The side will be captained by Toulon halfback Sonatane Takulua, and has Chiefs forward Zane Kapeli, former Crusaders halfback Leon Fukofuka and ex-Highlander Nasi Manu.

All Blacks team:

1. Karl Tu’inukuafe, (17)
2. Dane Coles (74)
3. Angus Ta’avao (14)
4. Scott Barrett (36)
5. Samuel Whitelock (122) – captain
6. Akira Ioane (2)
7. Dalton Papalii (4)
8. Luke Jacobson (2)
9. Brad Weber (7)
10. Richie Mo’unga (22)
11. George Bridge (10)
12. Quinn Tupaea (new cap)
13. Rieko Ioane (33)
14. Will Jordan (2)
15. Damian McKenzie (27)
16. Asafo Aumua (1)
17. George Bower (new cap)
18. Tyrel Lomax (6)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (35)
20. Ethan Blackadder (new cap)
21. Finlay Christie (new cap)
22. Beauden Barrett (88)
23. Jordie Barrett (23)

Tonga:

James Faiva, Hosea Saumaki, Fine Inisi, Nikolai Foliaki, Penikolo Latu, Kalione Hala, Sonatane Takulua (c); Sione Tu’ipolotu, Solomone Funaki, Mateaki Kafatolu, Zane Kapeli, Don Lolo, Sila Puafisi, Sam Moli, Duke Nginingini. 

Reserves: Siua Maile, Jethro Felemi, Tau Koloamatangi, Harrison Mataele, Viliami Taulani, Nasi Manu, Leon Fukofuka, Walter Fifita.

All Blacks Named To Face Fiji And Tonga For 2021

All Blacks selectors, Ian Foster, John Plumtree and have named the first squad for the 2021 Steinlager Series Tests against Fiji and Tonga in July. 

Forwards

Hookers

Asafo Aumua (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)

Dane Coles (34, Hurricanes / Wellington, 74)

Codie Taylor (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 56)

 

Props

George Bower (29, Crusaders / Otago, uncapped)

Ethan de Groot (22, Highlanders / Southland, new cap)

Nepo Laulala (29, Blues / Counties Manukau, 29)

Tyrel Lomax (25, Hurricanes / Tasman, 6)

Angus Ta’avao (31, Chiefs / Auckland, 14)

Karl Tu’inukuafe (28, Blues / North Harbour, 17)

 

Locks

Scott Barrett (27, Crusaders / Taranaki, 36)

Brodie Retallick (30, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 81)

Patrick Tuipulotu (28, Blues / Auckland, 35)

Tupou Vaa’i (21, Chiefs / Taranaki, 4)

Samuel Whitelock (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 122) – captain

 

Loose Forwards

Ethan Blackadder (26, Crusaders / Tasman, new cap)

Shannon Frizell (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 13)

Akira Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 2)

Luke Jacobson (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 2)

Dalton Papalii (23, Blues / Counties Manukau, 4)

Ardie Savea (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 49)

Hoskins Sotutu (22, Blues / Counties Manukau, 5)

 

Backs

Halfbacks

Finlay Christie (25, Blues / Tasman, new cap)

Aaron Smith (32, Highlanders / Manawatu, 97)

Brad Weber (30, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 7)

 

First five–eighths

Beauden Barrett (30, Blues / Taranaki, 88)

Richie Mo’unga (27, Crusaders / Canterbury, 22)

 

Midfielders

Braydon Ennor (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 1)

David Havili (26, Crusaders / Tasman, 3)

Rieko Ioane (24, Blues / Auckland, 33)

Anton Lienert-Brown (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 49)

Quinn Tupaea (22, Chiefs / Waikato, new cap)

 

Outside backs

Jordie Barrett (24, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 23)

George Bridge (26, Crusaders / Canterbury, 10)

Will Jordan (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)

Damian McKenzie (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 27)

Sevu Reece (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 8)

The 2021 Steinlager Series

Saturday 3 July, All Blacks vs Tonga, 7.05pm, Māori All Blacks vs Manu Samoa, 4.30pm, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Saturday 10 July, All Blacks vs Fiji, 7.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Saturday 17 July, All Blacks vs Fiji, 7.05pm, Tonga vs Samoa 4.00pm FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Blues Win 2021 Trans-Tasman Super Rugby Title

The Blues have taken out the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby final for 2021 with a 23-15 win over the Highlanders, to get their first title in 18 years.

Blues: 23

Tries: Mark Telea, Blake Gibson, Conversions: Otere Black, Harry Plummer, Penalties: Plummer 2, Black

Highlanders: 15 

Penalties: Mitch Hunt 4, Josh Ioane

Round Three Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Team Lists

Due to the 7 day Covid-19 lockdown that Melbourne has gone into this week, the match between the Highlanders and Rebels scheduled to be played in Queenstown has been transferred to Leichardt Oval in Sydney on Sunday.

Hurricanes v Force,  Friday 28 May, 7.05pm, McLean Park, Napier

Hurricanes:

1: Xavier Numia 2: Asafo Aumua 3: Tyrel Lomax 4: Isaia Walker-Leawere 5: Scott Scrafton 6: Reed Prinsep (c) 7: Du’Plessis Kirifi 8: Gareth Evans 9: Luke Campbell 10: Orbyn Leger 11: Salesi Rayasi 12: Ngani Laumape 13: Peter Umaga-Jensen 14: Wes Goosen 15: Jordie Barrett

Reserves: Ricky Riccitell, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Alex Fidow, James Blackwell, Ardie Savea, Cameron Roigard, Billy Proctor, Vince Aso

 Force:

1: Tom Robertson 2: Andrew Ready 3: Santiago Medrano 4: Jeremy Thrush 5: Sitaleki Timani 6: Fergus Lee-Warner 7: Kane Koteka 8: Tim Anstee 9: Tomas Cubelli 10: Domingon Miotti 11: Jordan Olowofela 12: Kyle Godwin (c) 13: Richard Kahui 14: Toni Pulu 15: Rob Kearney

Reserves: Feleti Kaitu’u, Angus Wagner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Jack McGregor, Tevita Kuridrani.

Waratahs v Crusaders, Saturday 29 May, 5.05pm, WIN Stadium, Sydney

Waratahs:

1: Angus Bell 2: David Porecki 3: Harry Johnson-Holmes 4: Jeremy Williams 5: Jack Whetton 6: Lachlan Swinton 7: Jack Dempsey 8: Will Harris 9: Jake Gordon (c) 10: Ben Donaldson 11: Alex Newsome 12: Lalakai Foketi 13: Izaia Perese 14: Jack Maddocks 15: Will Harrison

Reserves: 16: Joe Cotton 17: Tetera Faulkner 18: Darcy Breen 19: Sam Caird 20: Carlo Tizzano 21: Jack Grant 22: Tepai Moeroa 23: Mark Nawaqanitawase

 Crusaders:

1.  George Bower 2. Codie Taylor (vc) 3. Michael Alaalatoa 4. Quinten Strange 5. Scott Barrett (c) 6.   Whetukamokamo Douglas 7. Sione Havili Talitui 8. Cullen Grace 9. Mitchell Drummond 10. Richie Mo'unga 11. Leicester Fainga'anuku 12. Dallas McLeod 13. Braydon Ennor 14. Sevu Reece 15. Will Jordan

Reserves: 16. Nathan Vella* 17. Tamaiti Williams 18. Oliver Jager 19. Samuel Whitelock 20. Mitchell Dunshea 21. Bryn Hall 22. Fergus Burke 23. Manasa Mataele

Blues v Brumbies, Saturday 29 May, 7.15pm, Eden Park, Auckland 

Blues:

15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 AJ Lam, 10 Otere Black, 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson (c), 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.

Reserves: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Mark Telea.

 Brumbies:

1. Scott Sio 2. Connal McInerney 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c) 4. Darcy Swain 5. Nick Frost 6. Rob Valetini 7.Tom Cusack 8. Henry Stowers 9. Nic White 10. Noah Lolesio 11. Tom Wright 12. Irae Simone

13. Len Ikitau 14. Solomone Kata 15. Tom Banks

Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga'a 17. Harry Lloyd 18. Sefo Kautai 19. Tom Hooper 20. Luke Reimer 21. Ryan Lonergan 22. Bayley Kuenzle 23. Mack Hansen

Reds v Chiefs, Saturday 29 May, 9.45pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Reds:

1. Feao Fotuaika 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 3. Taniela Tupou 4. Ryan Smith 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 6. Angus Scott-Young 7. Liam Wright 8. Harry Wilson 9. Tate McDermott 10. James O’Connor 11. Filipo Daugunu 12. Isaac Henry 13. Hunter Paisami 14. Suliasi Vunivalu 15. Bryce Hegarty

Reserves: 16. Josh Nasser 17. Dane Zander 18. Zane Nonggorr 19. Seru Uru 20. Fraser McReight 21. Kalani Thomas 22. Hamish Stewart 23. Ilaisa Droasese

Chiefs:

1: Aidan Ross 2: Bradley Slater 3: Angus Ta’avao 4: Mitchell Brown 5: Tupou Vaa’i 6: Pita Gus Sowakula 7: Lachlan Boshier 8: Luke Jacobson 9: Brad Weber (c) 10: Damian McKenzie 11: Chase Tiatia 12:Alex Nankivell 13:  Anton Lienert-Brown 14: Bailyn Sullivan 15: Kaleb Trask

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Reuben O’Neill, Sione Mafileo, Zane Kapeli, Liam Messam, Xavier Roe,  Quinn Tupaea, Shaun Stevenson

Highlanders v Rebels, Sunday 30 May, 5pm NZT, Leichardt Oval, Sydney

Highlanders: 

1. Ethan De Groot 2. Liam Coltman 3. Siate Tokolahi 4. Pari Pari Parkinson 5. Josh Dickson 6. Shannon Frizell 7. James Lentjes 8. Hugh Renton 9. Aaron Smith (cc) 10. Mitch Hunt 11.  Jona Nareki 12. Scott Gregory 13. Michael Collins 14. Patelesio Tomkinson 15. Josh Ioane

Reserves: 16. Ash Dixon (cc) 17. Ayden Johnstone 18. Jeff Thwaites 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit 20. Kazuki Himeno 21. Kayne Hammington 22. Ngatugnane Punivai 23: Billy Harmon

 Rebels: TBC

Round Two Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Results

For the second week in a row the New Zealand sides have beaten all their Australian opposition in Round Two of the 2021Trans-Tasman Super Rugby Competition.

Hurricanes: 35  

Tries: Julian Savea 2, Billy Proctor, Wes Goosen, Asafo Aumua, Conversions: Jordie Barrett 5 

Rebels: 13 

Tries: Michael Wells, Campbell Magnay, Penalty: Matt Toomua

Force: 15 

Tries: Tomas Cubelli, Angus Wagner, Conversion: Domingo Miotti, Penalty: Miotti 

Highlanders: 25 

Tries: Jona Nareki, Ayden Johnstone, Scott Gregory 2, Conversion: Mitchell Hunt, Penalty: Hunt

Blues: 48 

Tries: Bryce Heem 3, Tom Robinson, Kurt Eklund, Rieko Ioane, penalty try, Conversions: Otere Black 4, Penalty: Black

Waratahs: 21 

Tries: Angus Bell, Jake Gordon, Dave Porecki, Conversions: Will Harrison 3 

Chiefs: 40 

Tries: Luke Jacobson 2, Tupou Vaa'i, Damian McKenzie, Alex Nankiville, Anton Lienert-Brown, Conversions: McKenzie 5

Brumbies: 19

Tries: Len Ikitau, Bayley Kuenzle, Rob Valetini, Conversions: Noah Lolesio 2

Reds: 28 

Tries: Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Suliasi Vunivalu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Penalties: James O'Connor 4

Crusaders: 63

Tries: Richie Mo'unga 3, Sevu Reece 2, Cullen Grace, Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, penalty try, Conversions: Mo'unga 8