v Maori

[Lizard]

No teams are named yet but the Lions will surely have a shadow test side.

My guess for the Maori is:

1. Ben May
2. Hika Elliot
3. Kane Hames
4. Tom Franklin
5. Joe Wheeler
6. Elliot Dixon
7. Akira Ioane
8. Liam Messam (c)
9. Bryn Hall
10. Otere Black
11. James Lowe
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Matt Proctor
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. Damian McKenzie
16. Ash Dixon
17. Chris Eves
18. Mike Kainga
19. Leighton Price
20. Reed Prinsep
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22. Ihaia West
23. Tim Bateman

Dixon might get the nod ahead of Hika as his legs might last longer with Hika’s experience being useful if the close is tight. Black v West for starting 1st 5/8 is a close one. Ihaia’s impact off the bench for the Blues tells me that is the best use for him – quick-stepping against tired defences. In the midfield, Bateman/Proctor/Thompson are all a bit uninspiring so this is a bit of crap shoot. Lowe has been named as a mid-fielder but that’s bollocks. He is a winger and should play there. NMS has to play to get for the AB’s. The balance of backs on the bench is a bit tricky. McKenzie could cover 10, but West should be used.

[zer0]

Kerr-Barlow is, apparently, being released for this match. He'll presumably be starting.

[Lizard]

Kerr-Barlow is, apparently, being released for this match. He'll presumably be starting.

Yes, of course.

[cashead]

It'll be interesting to see if any of the MAB players on the fringe of All Blacks selection can kickstart their test careers through this game, much like how Jono Gibbes briefly resuscitated his in 2005 after a massive performance for the NZ Maori side that beat the Lions.

[Lizard]

It'll be interesting to see if any of the MAB players on the fringe of All Blacks selection can kickstart their test careers through this game, much like how Jono Gibbes briefly resuscitated his in 2005 after a massive performance for the NZ Maori side that beat the Lions.

Indeed. Ioane, Ngatai, both Dixons and MacKenzie are probably in that camp.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I don't see Black v West being in any way close. Black every time.

[Lizard]

I don't see Black v West being in any way close. Black every time.

I'm probably being swayed by West's performance for the Blues v Lions.

[zer0]

Gatland has named his Lions side for the match:

1. Mako Vunipola (England)
2. Jamie George (England)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. George Kruis (England)
6. Peter O'Mahony (C) (Ireland)
7. Sean O'Brien (Ireland)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
9. Conor Murray (Ireland)
10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
11. George North (Wales)
12. Ben Te'o (England)
13. Jonathan Davies (Wales)
14. Anthony Watson (England)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

16. Ken Owens (Wales)
17. Jack McGrath (Ireland)
18. Kyle Sinckler (England)
19. Iain Henderson (Ireland)
20. Sam Warburton (Wales)
21. Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
22. Owen Farrell (England)
23. Elliot Daly (England)

[Lizard]

Nearly full noise, then? That's your 1st XV other than perhaps in the flankers, half backs, and perhaps 19 & 20, don't you think?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Nearly full noise, then? That's your 1st XV other than perhaps in the flankers, half backs, and perhaps 19 & 20, don't you think?

LHP could swap but probably not.

Henderson being given a chance to show he can be an impact lock. Some strong counter-rucking and finally some decent carries against the Highlanders may have shown his worth. Surely even Gatland doesn't see the point in AWJ on the bench.

Looks like a final trial between POM nd SOB in the back row to see who's pairing with Warburton.

I'll be surprised if Webb isn't simply being given a break as the bench 9.

I'll be astonished if Farrell doesn't start at 10, despite being a vastly inferior player to Sexton anywhere near the peak of his powers. I guess he could be choosing between Sexton at 10 and Te'o at 12 to see who's partnering Farrell.

[zer0]

And the Maori team:

1. Kane Hames
2. Ash Dixon (C)
3. Ben May
4. Joe Wheeler
5. Tom Franklin
6. Akira Ioane
7. Elliot Dixon
8. Liam Messam
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Matt Proctor
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. James Lowe

16. Hikawera Elliot
17. Chris Eves
18. Marcel Renata
19. Leighton Price
20. Kara Pryor
21. Bryn Hall
22. Ihaia West
23. Rob Thompson

Nine players with All Black caps (though only two are tights forward) and a couple of fringe test candidates. A workman like pack coupled with what is basically an all out attack backline.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

And the Maori team:

1. Kane Hames
2. Ash Dixon (C)
3. Ben May
4. Joe Wheeler
5. Tom Franklin
6. Akira Ioane
7. Elliot Dixon
8. Liam Messam
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Matt Proctor
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. James Lowe

16. Hikawera Elliot
17. Chris Eves
18. Marcel Renata
19. Leighton Price
20. Kara Pryor
21. Bryn Hall
22. Ihaia West
23. Rob Thompson

McKenzie at 10 is interesting. i wonder whether Hansen is thinking of having him on the bench rather than Sopoaga. I'd have been sure it would be Black.

[zer0]

Hansen said about a week ago that he wanted to see more of McKenzie at 10 to see if he could fulfill B.Barrett's former 10/15 impact spot from the bench. So it's certainly plausible. I too had Black starting, with McKenzie at fullback and Lowe on the bench (simply to make way for the AB wingers).

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Hansen said about a week ago that he wanted to see more of McKenzie at 10 to see if he could fulfill B.Barrett's former 10/15 impact spot from the bench. So it's certainly plausible. I too had Black starting, with McKenzie at fullback and Lowe on the bench (simply to make way for the AB wingers).

I wonder is Jordie trialling for the same 10/15 position but a bit longer term.

[Lizard]

No teams are named yet but the Lions will surely have a shadow test side.

My guess for the Maori is:

1. Ben May
2. Hika Elliot
3. Kane Hames
4. Tom Franklin
5. Joe Wheeler
6. Elliot Dixon
7. Akira Ioane
8. Liam Messam (c)
9. Bryn Hall
10. Otere Black
11. James Lowe
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Matt Proctor
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. Damian McKenzie
16. Ash Dixon
17. Chris Eves
18. Mike Kainga
19. Leighton Price
20. Reed Prinsep
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22. Ihaia West
23. Tim Bateman

Dixon might get the nod ahead of Hika as his legs might last longer with Hika’s experience being useful if the close is tight. Black v West for starting 1st 5/8 is a close one. Ihaia’s impact off the bench for the Blues tells me that is the best use for him – quick-stepping against tired defences. In the midfield, Bateman/Proctor/Thompson are all a bit uninspiring so this is a bit of crap shoot. Lowe has been named as a mid-fielder but that’s bollocks. He is a winger and should play there. NMS has to play to get for the AB’s. The balance of backs on the bench is a bit tricky. McKenzie could cover 10, but West should be used.

So A. Dixon did get the nod over Hika, as suspected, and Akira and E. Dixon have been named the wrong way round otherwise I'm spot on for the pack.

As called out on, I did miss TKB being available. McKenzie at 10 is a good call although he was named as back 3 in the squad so I don't feel too bad missing that one (and I did say he could cover there). I nailed the mid-field pairing. I wasn't sure if Reiko was available, but he is and starting him is the right call. I was also right that NMS would play and naming Lowe as a midfielder was bullshit.

On the bench I was way off: it's Renata not Kainga, Pryor not Princep, Hall drops down knocking out TTT, and Thompson not Bateman.

[Mellsblue]

So, that's pretty much the test team. I'd concur with 99% of what EW says.

[Banquo]

So, that's pretty much the test team. I'd concur with 99% of what EW says.

yep.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

What's the 1% ye feckers?!

[Mellsblue]

You neglected to state that Robshaw should be on tour and should be first choice six.....

[Stom]

Gatland has named his Lions side for the match:

1. Mako Vunipola (England)
2. Jamie George (England)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. George Kruis (England)
6. Peter O'Mahony (C) (Ireland)
7. Sean O'Brien (Ireland)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
9. Conor Murray (Ireland)
10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
11. George North (Wales)
12. Ben Te'o (England)
13. Jonathan Davies (Wales)
14. Anthony Watson (England)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

16. Ken Owens (Wales)
17. Jack McGrath (Ireland)
18. Kyle Sinckler (England)
19. Iain Henderson (Ireland)
20. Sam Warburton (Wales)
21. Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
22. Owen Farrell (England)
23. Elliot Daly (England)

Pack looks good. Backs look...well, a little cementy...

If I was picking, I'd swap out Davies and Halfpenny for Joseph and one of Daly or LWilliams, with the other taking the bench spot. It'll also surely be Webb in the 21 shirt. Oh, and this is Sexton's last chance to show any kind of form, right. Hopefully he does.

[cashead]

In late news, Owen Farrell has been ruled out with a muscle strain, and Dan Biggar is now on the bench.

[Banquo]

What's the 1% ye feckers?!

principle

[skidger]

Bit of an odd line up in some respects and not sure what that is saying about Warburton. Surely he needs to start if in contention to start the test and i see this as more of an audition for POM and SOB win a test spot. If Warburton is not starting then he is not worth putting on the bench and they would be better off with Tupiric or Stander.

[Timbo]

All it says about Warburton is that he played nearly 70 minutes a couple of days ago. Same with AWJ who played 80 mins last Saturday and 50 odd on Tuesday. Both will be in the test team I reckon.

[bruce]

Looks like Sanjay has dropped out of contention for the tests, which is a shame.