Match thread

taniwharugby

@Machpants unfortunately i think this year's crusaders wasn't good for either of them.

Bovidae

@Ruginmel Yes, Filipo has gone for some combinations in the backline - 9/10 and midfield. Eklund will need to be on with his throwing.

Do we have an update on captain yet? Or possibly at Jersey presentation

Anyone got any idea about how to watch this?

It's supposed to be available to stream on Maori TV but I signed up for an account and it still says "unavailble".

Ah, it might be because I'm a day early, lol. I keep thinking today is Saturday....

@Bovidae saw the news and also Rameka Poihipi

Nepia

Disrespectful Cantabs, DC yawning through the Maori part of the anthem, and Richie not singing it. :winking_face_with_tongue:

MAB looking under the pump already, 3 days prep or whatever it was

KiwiMurph

Bit different from Super. No friendly 5 second countdown from the ref

Chris

Moody is on the bench Norris starting at LH.

Nepia

Is it an Irish reffing team?

kiwiinmelb

Japs looked good against the poms early then got run over,

Be interesting to see if they can keep the pace up this time

KiwiMurph

Nice try MABs

knock on in lineout Japan, ignored fucking hell refs are shite nowadays

KiwiMurph

MABs scrum getting destroyed

Norris getting munted

KiwiMurph

Card a matter of time

KiwiMurph

Jeff Wilson effort by the Japanese winger

Suafoa carded

Nepia

Sheesh, the TMO is just hunting for shit.

Bovidae

Nock's passing is making Christie look Smith-like. Reihana will get a charge-down at some stage.

The Māori look rusty, and some stupid ill-discipline.

Stag

@taniwharugby they weren’t any good for this years Crusaders…

Stag

Not interested in watching a game when I can’t understand the commentators and there is no alternative option. Straight to the league.

KiwiMurph

Sloppy handling by both sides

Yeetyaah

@Stag you watching on Sky Sports? There's English and Reo commentary available.

KiwiMurph

Wild passage of play.

KiwiMurph

Suafoa has some serious skills

Bovidae

Feek will have some work to do this week with the scrum.

A pity they didn't score on the last play.

antipodean

Japan's scrum looked good against the English. Not surprised it's competitive against the MAB.

Chris

@antipodean said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

Japan's scrum looked good against the English. Not surprised it's competitive against the MAB.

Owen Franks doing some good work as Japans new scrum coach.

nostrildamus

Suafoa potential future AB?

Bovidae

@antipodean said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

Japan's scrum looked good against the English. Not surprised it's competitive against the MAB.

The Japanese front row are all short, and looked to be getting under the taller Māori props.