ODT Rugby Chat: Little separating quarterfinal opponents
Their two teams meet at Kettle Park on Saturday, and we ask what they have been working on this week to ensure they make it to next week?
We ask Macca why it has taken him so long to reach the ton and why he is playing first five when he's the best fullback in the competition?
We ask the injury-hit Max how he has stayed on the field for nearly a whole season and was it a good thing having a bye last weekend?
We get their thoughts on the other two games and update our Form XV.
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RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Big night looms for Otago's new All Blacks
Dunedin is gearing up to host the first All Blacks test of the year and local fans are confident the home side can take care of a depleted French team in Ōtepoti. A couple of local players will also debut at a soldout Forsyth Barr Stadium, making the occasion even more special for them and their families. Kings High School rugby players performed a stirring haka to welcome a trio of All Blacks to their school for some skills and drills, with the teenagers happy to come to college in the holidays for the chance to meet the players. One of those players was uncapped Hurricanes loose forward Du Plessis Kirifi, who will make his All Blacks debut from the bench. Du Plessis Kirifi will make his All Blacks debut against France in Dunedin. Photo: Brett Phibbs / "It's good to see so many smiling boys and they are very skilful as well," he said. "It's nice to be back here [at a high school], giving back to the community. It's been a big week of that, which has been nice. "It's been reminding us all where we came from." Kirifi is one of four debutants , alongside prop Ollie Norris, No.8 Christian Lio-Willie and lock Fabian Holland, with the latter pair both starting. Christian Lio-Willie in action for the Crusaders. Photo: Iain McGregor/ActionPress Lio-Willie was initially only in the squad as cover , before he was called up to replace the injured Wallace Sititi, and he never expected to start in Dunedin. "Heck no, no way," he said. "When I saw my name on that screen, I just sort of numbed out. "Don't even know [who] the second half of the team was. It's pretty awesome." While he plays Super Rugby Pacific for the Crusaders, Lio-Willie represents Otago in NPC and plays club rugby for Kaikorai in Māori Hill. He will become the 15th All Black from the club. "Kaikorai is a huge part of my journey," he said. "The coach at the time, Ryan Martin, came up to Auckland, when I was at school, Massey High, and he is the one that got me down here. "I played all of my club footy for them. I love my footy down here, and the club culture and everything. "I'm one away from 50 [games] for the club. It's a pretty special place." All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho takes young rugby players through some drills. Photo: Joe Porter/RNZ Lio-Willie looks forward to making his international debut alongside Otago teammate and Highlanders lock Fabian Holland in Dunedin. "We both had our first starting debut together at Forsyth Barr and it's sort of a full circle moment to be able to debut together for the All Blacks in Dunedin again," Lio-Willie said. "I've still got a lot of friends and loved ones down here that have been supporting me since day one, so I'm just keen to go out there and make them proud." Dunedin schoolboys Isaac, Jai and Mason were at the skills session, and will cheer for Holland and Lio-Willie. Dunedin schoolboys Isaac, Jai and Mason will be cheering on the late All Black debutants. Photo: Joe Porter/RNZ The trio are confident the All Blacks can get the job done against an inexperienced France team that contain eight debutants . "We'll win easy, yeah easy win, easy win," they said. "We're way better than them. I think the score will be 100-0 to the All Blacks." Holland, who moved to New Zealand as a teenager to chase his All Blacks dream, will also have plenty of family and friends in his adopted city supporting him. Fabian Holland in action for the Highlanders. Photo: Steve McArthur All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said the 22-year-old lock was over the moon, when he found out he would start. "From Zealand to New Zealand, he's come a long way," Robertson said. "It's a great story. "He's pretty singleminded to make that call to come over and represent another country in the game he loves, and he saw the All Blacks as the ultimate. "It's movie sort of stuff, isn't it?" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
A big night looms for new Otago All Blacks
Dunedin is gearing up to host the first All Blacks test of the year and local fans are confident the home side can take care of a depleted French team in Otepoti. A couple of Otago players are set to make their debuts at a sold out Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night, making the occasion all the more special for them and their families. Joe Porter reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 4 July
Christian Lio-Willie. Photo: John Cowpland / action press Christian Lio-Willie will make his debut for the All Blacks when the team meets France in Dunedin on Saturday in the first of three test matches. The Crusaders number eight, who is of Samoan heritage, replaced injured Wallace Sititi in the squad last week and has been thrown straight into the starting lineup. Another player with Samoan heritage, Du'Plesis Kirifi, looks set to also make his debut off the bench. The duo join seven other players with Pasifika origin in the All Blacks match-day 23 named by head coach Scott Robertson. PNG Hunters rugby league head coach Paul Aiton says the team can still finish in the top four if the players are focused on what they need to do. The National reported last year's late surge is something Aiton is using to remind the players, as they fight to get back into the top eight. The Hunters face the Townsville Blackhawks in Port Moresby on Sunday. Aiton said the players just need to believe in themselves and get the job done. Papua New Guinea boxer Sheilla Yama has booked her spot at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The National newspaper reports the super lightweight boxer, currently ranked 20th by BoxRec, has qualified for both the Glasgow Games and the Oceania senior championship in Tahiti in September. Yama qualified after winning the Professional Boxing Commission international super lightweight title, beating Ireland's Louise Crevan in Auckland. PNG Boxing Union president Gideon Kendiono said they are proud of the boxer, who also won the gold medal in the women's 66-kilogram categtory at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara. Tonga will now be able to host sports events under lights, following the commissioning of new lights at Te'ufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa. The island kingdom lost out on hosting the Moana Pasifika and Chiefs Super Rugby Pacific clash in March because the lights had not been installed, as the game was scheduled for the evening. Tonga's Ministry of Sports said having the lights installed will mean more sporting activities, including international events, at the stadium. Talks are underway to have either an internatinal rugby union or rugby league game at the venue in August. Two more players of Pasifika origin have been named to play for the combined Australia/New Zealand Invitational XV against the British and Irish Lions on 12 July. Kiwi duo Ngani Laumape and Joshua Fusitu'a, who have Samoan origins, join three others of Pasifika origin named on Monday. Laumape played 15 tests for the All Blacks, while Fusitu'a has been impressive for the Blues in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. The duo join fellow Pasifika heritage players, Crusaders captain David Havili, Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava and former All Black Shannon Frizell. Fiji women's football team head coach Angeline Chua is confident her team has what it takes to lift the trophy at the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025, which kicks off on Saturday in Suva, Fiji. The Fijians are in group B with Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu and have eight overseas-based players in their squad. Solomon Islands coach Moses Toata said they are excited for the opportunity to test themselves against the best in the region. Tonga head coach Kilifi Uele said they have blended local talent with a handful of US-based players in a youthful squad; while Vanuatu's Jean-Robert Yelou stated their preparation has had its challenges.
