Chief’s halfback Tawera Kerr‑Barlow says they will not give Crusaders wing, Nemani Nadolo space to run ahead of their clash against the Vodafone Flying Fijians this Saturday.
Kerr-Barlow who was included in the recent All Blacks squad will not be joining them just yet, though he will seek to prove his form and fitness against the Flying Fijians.
Meanwhile Maori All Blacks coach Collin Cooper has named nine new caps to his final 23.
Rising star Akira Ioane is one of the nine new caps and is joined by his brother, Reiko, Tawera Kerr‑Barlow, the McKenzie brothers Marty and Damian, Otere Black, Heiden Bedwell‑Curtis, Jacob Skeen, Josh Hohneck and Joe Moody.
Fresh off his All Black debut against Samoa in Apia yesterday, Charlie Ngatai will start at inside center and will captain the side.
Cooper says they are looking forward to take on Fiji.
The Vodafone Flying Fijians will take on the Maori All Blacks at 3pm Saturday at the ANZ Stadium and you can catch the live commentary on our sister station Viti FM.
Maori All Blacks: 15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Rieko Ioane, 13. Matt Proctor, 12. Charlie Ngatai (c), 11. Kurt Baker, 10. Marty McKenzie, 9. Tawera Kerr‑Barlow, 8. Blade Thomson, 7. Mitchell Crosswell, 6. Akira Ioane, 5. Hayden Triggs, 4. Jacob Skyeen, 3. Ben May, 2. Ash Dixon, 1. Joe Moody.
Reserves: 16. Quentin MacDonald, 17. Brendon Edmonds, 18. Josh Hohneck, 19. Heiden Bedwell‑Curtis, 20. Elliot Dixon, 21. Jamison Gibson‑Park, 22. Otere Black, 23. Jason Emery.
