Highlanders make up half Maori All Blacks’ forward pack

Maori All Black coach Clayton McMillan (left) and Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga take part in...
Maori All Black coach Clayton McMillan (left) and Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga take part in the powhiri for both teams at Turangawaewae Marae in Hamilton yesterday. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Highlanders will make up half of the Maori All Blacks’ starting forward pack when the side takes on Moana Pasifika in Hamilton tomorrow.

New signing flanker Billy Harmon gets a start in the No7 jersey and is joined by veteran lock Liam Messam and Whetu Douglas in the loose forwards.

Highlanders lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit, making his Maori All Blacks debut, will lock the scrum with big Hurricanes lock Isaia Walker-Leawere.

Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon is the hooker and will also skipper the side.

Beside him is Josh Hohneck, who was on Wednesday named in the Highlanders squad for next season, completing a successful return to New Zealand after a spell away in England playing for Gloucester.

Hohneck will play on the loosehead side of the scrum while Auckland’s Marcel Renata is on the tighthead side.

Overall, eight players are making their debuts for the Maori All Blacks.

Along with Selby-Rickit, the other new caps in the forwards are Bay of Plenty hooker Kurt Eklund, Canterbury prop Tamaiti Williams and North Harbour loose forward Ethan Roots. The midfield trio of Billy Proctor (Wellington), Quinn Tupaea (Waikato) and Rameka Poihipi (Canterbury) and Bay of Plenty fullback Kaleb Trask will also make their debuts.

The inside-back combination of Bryn Hall and Otere Black will be looking to have a big impact on the match.

An all-Chiefs back three of Sean Wainui, Shaun Stevenson and Trask will start on the left and right wings and fullback, respectively.

Josh Ioane will play at first five-eighth for the Moana Pasifica side outside Highlamders team-mate Folau Fakatava while Daniel Lienert Brown will start at loosehead prop.

Loose forward Nasi Manu has been named in the reserves.

Maori All Blacks v Moana Pasifika

Hamilton, tomorrow, 7.05pm
Maori All Blacks: Kaleb Trask, Shaun Stevenson, Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea, Sean Wainui, Otere Black, Bryn Hall, Liam Messam, Billy Harmon, Whetu Douglas, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Marcel Renata, Ash Dixon (c), Josh Hohneck. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tamaiti Williams, Ethan Roots, Mitchell Karpik, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Rameka Poihipi, Jonah Lowe.

Moana Pasifica: Stephen Perofeta, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Fetuli Paea, Vince Aso, Salesi Rayasi, Josh Ioane, Folau Fakatava, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Alamanda Motuga, Peseta Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Michael Alaalatoa, Leni Apisai, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Samisoni Taukie'aho, Jordan Lay, Sione Mafielo, Samipeni Finau, Nasi Manu, Dwyane Polataivao, Asaeli Tikoroituma, Etene Nanai-Seturo.

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