On 23 May 2013, it was announced by the New Zealand Rugby Union that following a successful tour in 2012, the Māori All Blacks would tour North America to take on Canada and the United States. The fixtures would not be the first time the national sides have met the invitational side, as the teams participated in the now defunct Churchill Cup, and the Māoris faced Canada during their 2012 tour where the Māoris were victorious 32-19.
The head coach for the tour was announced as Taranaki's head coach Colin Cooper. He was assisted by Crusaders assistant coach Tabai Matson, and former All Black Carl Hoeft as the scrummage coach.
Fixtures
Canada
FB 15Matt EvansRW 14Jeff HasslerOC 13Ciaran Hearn IC 12Harry JonesLW 11Conor TrainorFH 10Liam Underwood SH 9 Phil Mack N8 8 Aaron Carpenter (c)OF 7 John MoonlightBF 6 Nanyak Dala RL 5 Tyler ArdronLL 4 Jon Phelan TP 3 Doug Wooldridge HK 2 Ray Barkwill LP 1 Hubert BuydensReplacements:PR 16Jake Ilnicki PR 17Ryan MarchLK 18Aaron Flagg FL 19Kyle Gilmour FL 20Adam Kleeberger SH 21Jamie Mackenzie CE 22Pat Parfrey FH 23Connor Braid Coach: Kieran Crowley FB 15Robbie Robinson RW 14Andre TaylorOC 13Charlie NgataiIC 12Jackson Willison LW 11Zac Guildford FH 10Tim Bateman (c)SH 9 Jamison Gibson-ParkN8 8 Elliot DixonOF 7 Luke Braid BF 6 Liam SquireRL 5 Joe Wheeler LL 4 Jarrad HoeataTP 3 Ben Afeaki HK 2 Hika Elliot LP 1 Kane Hames Replacements:PR 16Chris Eves PR 17Nick Barrett HK 18Ash Dixon N8 19Blade Thomson FL 20Shane Christie FB 21Kurt Baker FH 22Ihaia West WG 23Matt Proctor Coach: Colin Cooper Man of the Match: Zac Guildford (Māori All Blacks)
Touch judges: USA Appt (United States) USA Appt (United States) Television match official: USA Appt (United States)
United States
FB 15Adam SiddallRW 14Luke HumeOC 13Seamus KellyIC 12Andrew Suniula LW 11Tim MaupinFH 10Toby L'Estrange SH 9 Mike PetriN8 8 Cam DolanOF 7 Peter DahlBF 6 Todd Clever (c) RL 5 Tai TuisamoaLL 4 Graham HarrimanTP 3 Shawn Pittman HK 2 Phil Thiel LP 1 Nicholas WallaceReplacements:HK 16Zach Fenoglio PR 17Titi Lamositele PR 18Olive KilifiLK 19John CullenFL 20Kyle Sumsion SH 21Shaun DaviesWG 22Zachary Pangelinan FH 23Folau Niua Coach: Mike Tolkin FB 15Robbie RobinsonRW 14Kurt Baker OC 13Charlie NgataiIC 12Tim Bateman (c)LW 11Matt ProctorFH 10Ihaia WestSH 9 Jamison Gibson-ParkN8 8 Blade Thomson OF 7 Luke BraidBF 6 Shane ChristieRL 5 Joe Wheeler LL 4 Jarrad HoeataTP 3 Ben Afeaki HK 2 Ash Dixon LP 1 Kane Hames Replacements:HK 16Joe Royal PR 17Chris Eves PR 18Nick Barrett LK 19Luke Katene N8 20Elliot Dixon SH 21Chris SmylieCE 22Jackson WillisonWG 23Zac Guildford Coach: Colin Cooper Man of the Match: Cameron Dolan (United States)
Touch judges: David Smortchevsky (Canada) Andrew McMaster (Canada) Television match official: Bryan Arclero (Canada)
Squad
New Zealand Māori 29-man squad for the 2013 North America November Tour, facing Canada (3 November) and United States (9 November).
Head coach: Colin Cooper
Note: Bold denotes players that have represented the Māori All Blacks in previous tours. Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality. PlayerPositionDate of birth (age)Club/provinceIwiNgāti Tahinga Ngāti Awa Ngāi Tahu Te Whakatōhea / Ngāi Tahu Te Arawa / Ngāti Whātua Ngāti Awa Ngāti Kahungunu Tainui Ngāi Tūhoe / Ngāti Porou Ngāti Kahungunu / Ngāi Tūhoe Ngāti Toa Ngāi Tahu Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu Ngāti Kurī Ngāpuhi Ngāi Tahu Ngāpuhi Ngāti Porou / Ngāi Tai Ngāti Mutunga Te Whakatōhea / Ngāi Tahu Ngati Kahungunu / Ngāti Porou Ngāi Tahu Ngāti Porou / Te Whanau-a-Apanui Ngāti Mahuta Ngāti Kahungunu / Ngāi Tahu Ngāi Te Rangi / Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi Ngāti Tuwharetoa Ngāti Tuwharetoa / Ngāti Kahungunu
Squad notes Tim Bateman took captaincy from Tanerau Latimer, who has made himself unavailable to have surgery on a long-standing arm injury. Several players were not considered due to injury including Ross Filipo and Bronson Murray. Ash Dixon replaced Corey Flynn after being ruled out of the tour through injury. Hika Elliot and Piri Weepu sustained injuries during the North American Tour and were replaced by Quentin MacDonald and Chris Smylie.
Player statistics Key Con: Conversions Pen: Penalties DG: Drop goals Pts: Points
NameOverallCardsPlayedTriesConPenDGPtsRobbie Robinson215101800Jamison Gibson-Park230001500Tim Bateman220001000Nick Barrett21000500Zac Guildford21000500Matt Proctor21000500Luke Katene11000500Andre Taylor10200400Ihaia West20100200Ben Afeaki20000000Kurt Baker20000000Luke Braid20000000Shane Christie20000000Ash Dixon20000000Elliot Dixon20000000Chris Eves20000000Jarrad Hoeata20000000Kane Hames20000000Charlie Ngatai20000000Blade Thomson20000000Joe Wheeler20000010Hika Elliot10000000Joe Royal10000000Liam Squire10000000Jackson Willison10000000Corey Flynn–––––0––Piri Weepu–––––0––
References