Filipo and the coaching staff will announce their kāpene (captain) at a special team session later this evening.

1 Joe Moody (Ngāi Tahu)
2 Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu)
3 Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāi Takoto)
4 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngāti Porou)
5 Laghlan McWhannell* (Ngāti Kahungunu)
6 Cameron Suafoa (Ngāpuhi)
7 Billy Harmon (Ngāi Tahu)
8 Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue)
9 Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi)
10 Rivez Reihana* (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
11 Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu)
12 Quinn Tupaea (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru, Waikato)
13 Daniel Rona* (Te Ātiawa)
14 Josh Moorby (Ngāti Maniapoto)
15 Cole Forbes* (Ngāti Awa)

16 Tyrone Thompson (Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri)
17 Ollie Norris (Ngāpuhi)
18 Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngāpuhi)
19 Max Hicks* (Ngāti Ranginui)
20 Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe)
21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa)
22 Rameka Poihipi (Ngāti Whakaue)
23 Tana Tuhakaraina* (Ngāti Hauā)

*denotes debut

@Bovidae said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

8 Cullen Grace

Maybe not in Wellington then

For those in Aus this is on Stan

A stronger starting XV than I was expecting.

@Chris Kirsty Stanway, also confirmed he was there at some stage,

@george33 said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

@Chris Kirsty Stanway, also confirmed he was there at some stage,

On breakdown ? I watched those.

@KiwiMurph said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

A stronger starting XV than I was expecting.

It's not the most balanced of teams though. Would Grace play 7 if Harmon goes off? Having Broughton on the bench instead of Howden would have made more sense.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant Referee 2: Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

I'm not familiar with the Irish ref.

I'm picking Billy Harmon to do well and his fellow loosies -that is an exciting combo.

So weak at ten, a pity Plummer isn't eligible

@Machpants said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

So weak at ten, a pity Plummer isn't eligible

I don’t mind Reihana, but I would’ve selected Kemara to start.

@Machpants considering Reihanas backline has Tani and Chiefs players is probably why he got the go ahead over Kemara. Experience playing together is crucial when the turn around is short.

Rate the kid too

@Ruginmel said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

@Machpants considering Reihanas backline has Tani and Chiefs players is probably why he got the go ahead over Kemara. Experience playing together is crucial when the turn around is short.

Rate the kid too

I rates him, both of them, for the future. Now neither are really SR level, let alone international. Still, hopefully this sort of game will accelerate their development!

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

@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

@Ruginmel said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

Do we have an update on captain yet?

This graphic seems to suggest that the captain is Harmon.

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

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

Umm what?

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

@Machpants said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

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

Japan look good with the ball in hand.

Moody is on the bench Norris starting at LH.

Is it an Irish reffing team?

@Chris said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

Moody is on the bench Norris starting at LH.

Moody out, I think

@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

Is it an Irish reffing team?

ref and TMO

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

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

Nice try MABs

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

@Machpants happened right in front of him

MABs scrum getting destroyed

Norris getting munted

Card a matter of time

Jeff Wilson effort by the Japanese winger

Suafoa carded

Sheesh, the TMO is just hunting for shit.

@Nepia said in Māori All Blacks v Japan XV:

Sheesh, the TMO is just hunting for shit.

Huh? Was obvious it needed a look in real time

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.

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