All Blacks Named For First Fiji Test

All Black coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Fiji in the second match of the Steinlager Series at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7.05pm, Saturday 10 July.

The side features 13 changes to the starting side that faced Tonga last week, with only centre Rieko Ioane and winger George Bridge remaining to start. Halfback Aaron Smith will captain the side for the first time, in his 98th test, and will pair with Beauden Barrett at first five. Brodie Retallick also starts his first match for the All Blacks since 2019, and partners Patrick Tuipulotu at lock. 

All Black Team: 

1. George Bower 
2. Codie Taylor 
3. Nepo Laulala 
4. Patrick Tuipulotu 
5. Brodie Retallick 
6. Shannon Frizell 
7. Ethan Blackadder 
8. Hoskins Sotutu 
9. Aaron Smith - captain
10. Beauden Barrett 
11. George Bridge 
12. David Havili 
13. Rieko Ioane 
14. Sevu Reece 
15. Jordie Barrett 

Reserves:

16. Dane Coles 
17. Ethan de Groot 
18. Tyrel Lomax 
19. Samuel Whitelock 
20. Luke Jacobson 
21. Finlay Christie 
22. Damian McKenzie 
23. Will Jordan 

Fiji Team:

1. Peni Ravai
2. Samuel Matavesi
3. Mesake Doge
4. Temo Mayanavanua
5. Leone Nakarawa
6. Johnny Dyer
7. Mesulame Kunavula
8. Albert Tuisue
9. Simione Kuruvoli
10. Ben Volavola
11. Nemani Nadolo
12. Levani Botia (c)
13. Waisea Nayacalevu
14. Eroni Sau
15. Kini Murimurivalu

Reserves:

16. Peni Narisia
17. Haereiti Hetet
18. Leeroy Atalifo
19. Tevita Ratuva
20. Peceli Yato
21. Setareki Tuicuvu
22. Eneriko Buliruarua
23. Manasa Mataele

Maori All Blacks Win Second Match

 The Maori All Blacks have won their second straight match against Samoa, with a 38-21 victory at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.

Maori All Blacks: 38 

Tries: Ash Dixon, Jonah Lowe 2, Sean Wainui, 2 Penalty tries, Conversions: Otere Black, Josh Ioane

Manu Samoa: 21 

Tries: Neria Fomai, Tomasi Alosio, Kalolo Tuiloma tries; Henry Taefu 3 con). HT: 19-7

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