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All Blacks confirm historic July test schedule against Pasifika neighbours
New Zealand Rugby [NZR] have confirmed the All Blacks will host their Pacific Island neighbours in an historic test window in July.
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In an announcement made on Monday, NZR confirmed the All Blacks will kick-off their international campaign against Tonga in what will be their first-ever test at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, traditionally a rugby league and football venue, on July 3.
The match at the Penrose-based stadium will be preceded by a clash between the Maori All Blacks and Manu Samoa as part of a double-header.
The action then moves to Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 10, when Fiji returns to Dunedin to face the All Blacks a decade after they were thumped in their last meeting the New Zealanders 60-14 in the final test at Carisbrook in 2011.
Ian Foster’s side will then round out their July test schedule against Fiji at FMG Stadium Waikato on July 17 as part of a double-header in Hamilton that will see Manu Samoa square off against Tonga in a World Cup qualifier beforehand.
The match between the All Blacks and Fiji will mark the first time in history the two nations have played back-to-back tests against each other.
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said he was excited to for the All Blacks and Maori All Blacks to host Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in two months’ time.
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“We’re absolutely delighted to be able to confirm what will be a fantastic series of matches featuring the All Blacks, Maori All Blacks and our Pacific neighbours, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa,” he said.
“We look forward to welcoming the Flying Fijians to New Zealand for what will be an historic, first-ever, back-to-back All Blacks test series against them.
“We know the passionate All Blacks and Maori All Blacks fans, together with the fanatical Pasifika fans, will make these game days very special occasions.”
Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor added that head coach Vern Cotter is doing all he can to assemble a top-quality squad despite the nation’s second wave of COVID-19 infections.
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“We would like to thank New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby for their support in giving us this great opportunity for our players and, likewise, our coaching panel,” O’Connor said.
“We are excited about this great opportunity and will be doing all we can to prepare well for the two test matches.”
Tonga Rugby Union boss Peter Harding was similarly excited about the prospect of the ‘Ikale Tahi facing off against the All Blacks for the first time since 2019, when the New Zealanders romped to a 91-7 victory in Hamilton.
“The Tonga Rugby Union is proud to be presented with the opportunity to play the All Blacks. The connection between the two countries is very strong and this connection is amplified through rugby,” Harding said.
NZR noted details a second World Cup qualifier between Manu Samoa and Tonga are expected to be confirmed in due course.
Likewise, fixtures for this year’s Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship will be announced at a later date, with Auckland’s Eden Park and Wellington’s Sky Stadium expected to host numerous matches in those campaigns.
All Blacks July test schedule
July 3: vs Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland at 7:05pm (Maori All Blacks vs Manu Samoa, kick-off time TBC)
July 10: vs Fiji at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 7:05pm
July 17: vs Fiji at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton at 7:05pm (Manu Samoa vs Tonga, kick-off time TBC)
Comments on RugbyPass
If rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
23 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
23 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
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