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Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Lowe, Howden to start for Māori All Blacks
Jonah Lowe warms up at training with the Maori All Blacks in Auckland on Tuesday. Two Highlanders are among the starting line-up, as a new crop of Māori All Blacks prepare to make their debuts this weekend against Japan. As well as the new faces, a new skipper will take the helm in the form of hooker Kurt Eklund. Highlanders loose forward TK Howden starts in the No6 jersey, while Jonah Lowe is set to start on the wing. Head Coach Ross Filipo said he's been thoroughly impressed with the players returning after their respective Super Rugby campaigns. "It's a tight turnaround for us with plenty of our players in the final on Saturday night and then coming straight into this environment. Selections were tough, and our coaching group spent quite some time together to make sure we had the right mix to take the field in Tokyo. We are determined to right a wrong from our last game in Aichi in 2024." Eklund anchors the scrum with debutant Jacob Devery as impact, alongside props 31-year-old Jared Proffit and Kershawl Sykes-Martin in his debut. Isaia Walker-Leawere and Laghlan McWhannell make up the locking duo, while Jahrome Brown and TK Howden have been named in the loose forwards. Cullen Grace completes an experienced forward pack at number eight. Three-time Māori All Black Sam Nock comes in as halfback and after a stellar Super Rugby Pacific season, Rivez Reihana has been named as first-five. Bailyn Sullivan and Gideon Wrampling will bring their strong ball carrying skills in the midfield, Jonah Lowe and Cole Forbes will start as wingers, with Zarn Sullivan rounding out the backs. Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Benet Kumeroa, Zach Gallagher, Caleb Delany, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Kaleb Trask and Xavi Taele have been named as reinforcements. Māori All Blacks v Japan XV Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, 9.05pm Saturday, 28 June Zarn Sullivan, Cole Forbes, Bailyn Sullivan, Gideon Wrampling, Jonah Lowe, Rivez Reihana, Sam Nock, Cullen Grace, Jahrome Brown, TK Howden, Laghlan McWhannell, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Kerswhal Sykes-Martin, Kurt Ekund, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakee-Stones, Benet Kumeroa, Zach Gallagher, Caleb Delany, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Kaleb Task, Xavi Taele.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Highlanders trio picked to play for Māori ABs
Three Highlanders have been named in the Māori All Blacks squad for a short international campaign. Loose forwards TK Howden (Tūhoe) and Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui) and winger Jonah Lowe (Ngāti Pikiao) have all previously worn the Māori jersey. Howden and Broughton are part of a strong loose forward crew that includes Crusaders No 8 Cullen Grace, Hurricanes utility man Caleb Delany and Chiefs wrecking ball Jahrome Brown. Lowe, who can also play centre, is part of a small group officially listed as outside backs and containing Blues players Zarn Sullivan and Cole Forbes, though others like Corey Evans and Bailyn Sullivan can play further out. Rivez Reihana will be favoured to wear the No 10 jersey after guiding the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Pacific title, while solid Blues hooker Kurt Eklund is awarded the captaincy. There are 11 uncapped players in the 29-strong squad for games against the Japan XV (Tokyo, Saturday) and Scotland (Whangārei, July 5). Māori All Blacks head coach Ross Filipo said he had selected a highly experienced squad led by 32-year-old Aucklander Eklund. "This team demands a strong leader with mana, and Kurt has shown that quality and more over a long period of time, for the Māori All Blacks, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Blues," Filipo said. "He has a lot of experience throughout the squad and that will be a strength for what will be two tough matches." New caps range from 20-year-old Blues midfielder Xavi Taele, the youngest member of the squad, to 31-year-old Taranaki prop Jared Proffit. "It's a proud moment for all the new caps and their whānau," Filipo said. "This is a special team, and these players know they are here to are represent something bigger than themselves — their whakapapa, their language, the jersey and Aotearoa." The Māori All Blacks have assembled in Auckland and will head to Japan today. Meanwhile, Highlanders fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has flown to Cape Town to play for the Barbarians against the Springboks this weekend. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, an outside contender for the All Blacks, will join former Highlanders flanker Shannon Frizell, Blues players Mark Tele'a and Hoskins Sotutu, former All Blacks captain Sam Cane and Irish veterans Conor Murray, Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy, among others. It is the first time the Barbarians, coached by former Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and All Blacks great Sam Whitelock, have played in South Africa. "It's definitely a different challenge to that which we've faced in the past because they have toppled some top teams, so it will be an ideal test for us at the start of the season," Springboks assistant and former Highlanders coach Tony Brown said. "For us, this is like a test match, and this means we need to perform to the best of our ability, and our coaching structures have to be right, so that we can live up to the standards we would like to see from our team." Māori All Blacks The squad Props: Benet Kumeroa (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs), Jared Proffit (Taranaki/Chiefs), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes), Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Tasman/Crusaders), Mason Tupaea (Waikato/Blues). Hookers: Jacob Devery (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes), Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty/Blues). Locks: Zach Gallagher (Canterbury/Hurricanes), Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato/Blues), Antonio Shalfoon (Tasman/Crusaders), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes). Loose forwards: Nikora Broughton (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders), Jahrome Brown (Waikato/Chiefs), Caleb Delany (Wellington/Hurricanes), Cullen Grace (Canterbury/Crusaders), TK Howden (Manawatū/Highlanders). Halfbacks: Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Auckland), Sam Nock (Northland/Blues). First fives: Rivez Reihana (Northland/Crusaders), Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs). Midfielders: Corey Evans (Northland/Blues), Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato/Hurricanes), Daniel Rona (Taranaki/Chiefs), Xavi Taele (Auckland/Blues), Gideon Wrampling (Waikato/Chiefs). Outside backs: Cole Forbes (Bay of Plenty/Blues), Jonah Lowe (Hawke's Bay/Highlanders), Zarn Sullivan (Hawke's Bay/Blues).
