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Maori All Blacks call in injury replacements


Elliot Dixon makes ground for the Maori All Blacks against the New Zealand Barbarians. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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The Maori All Blacks will take on Fiji in Suva this weekend in the first of a two match series – and already they’re dealing with a number of injuries.

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Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon has withdrawn from the squad whilst Hurricanes prop Ben May will also be unavailable for at least the first match of the series.

Canterbury and Crusaders flankers Billy Harmon, fresh off a title run, has joined the side to cover Dixon’s absence while a pair of inexperienced props will be tasked with filling in for May.

Haereiti Hetet (Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato) and Pouri Rakete-Stone (Ngapuhi, Hawke’s Bay), who are yet to play Super Rugby could both feature in this weekend’s encounter. Rakete-Stone has made almost 20 appearances for Hawke’s Bay while Hetet has run out for Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup just five times.

Harmon made his debut for the Maori All Blacks in 2018, but his experience at this level pales in comparison to the 22 caps shared by Dixon and May.

Fiji coach John McPhee has already confirmed that his side will be missing some key components for the Saturday clash, but it looks like the Maori won’t necessarily be able to field their top strength team either.

Both sides should be announced later today.

World Rugby have moved quickly to ban a potentially dangerous scrummaging technique:

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Phantom 33 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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