Maori All Blacks

Crusaders back-row Cullen Grace has revealed his excitement about playing for the Maori All Blacks in their upcoming fixtures against Ireland.

He was encouraged to embrace it by Crusaders assistant coach Tamati Ellison, who represented the Maori All Blacks as well as New Zealand in the international arena. “I’ve got a lot to learn about my Maori side. McMillan, who has coached the Maori All Blacks since 2017, believes Grace’s story was one of the best things about the team as it allows him to grow and better understand his heritage.

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"To represent my whānau [community] on this stage is something that I’ve always wanted to do. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. "International rugby is so physical, and you've got to be able to get your body back to where it needs to be each week, and that was a big learning for me," said the Crusaders player, fresh off the back of another Super Rugby title. "My goal is to be a better athlete for my team, be a better player and a better person every single day. "Yes, I want to make teams, I want accolades and want to win because that’s all part of it. "Obviously, we wanted to be All Blacks as well, but my fondest memory isn't of the team so much, but it's about running around with my mate, talking about his koroua [elder family] and how we wanted to be a part of it.

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Grace managed just one solitary appearance off the bench in the six-match season, however, and after a bout of second-season syndrome in 2021, wasn’t recalled for last year’s international calendar. For Grace and a host of other players on the cusp of New Zealand’s national squad, such as halfbacks TJ Perenara and Brad Weber, the two-match series with Ireland offers a similar opportunity, with places in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad still up for contention. “We found out, fairly late, that Cullen was eligible.

Although they don't count as capped test matches, Ireland's two encounters with the Māori All Blacks are important, as they will give head coach Andy Farrell an ...

Mike Lowry missed the end of Ulster’s season due to a facial injury, although he has recovered in time to travel to New Zealand and is one of the most exciting attacking players in Ireland’s squad. James Hume seems to be getting better all the time, and a start against the Māori on Wednesday should set him up nicely for a role in at least one of the three tests against the All Blacks. He is yet to win a cap for Ireland, but Ciarán Frawley is well deserving of a chance in New Zealand, and offers something different to Ireland’s other centres as he is a play making number 12 in the mould of Owen Farrell. Ryan Baird has had his injury struggles this season and may be used in the back row more than in the second row on the tour, although he offers something that none of the other locks in the squad can thanks to his athleticism. Developing a back up to Johnny Sexton remains a priority for Ireland, and a start for Joey Carbery against the Māori could be invaluable, while he will also likely feature off the bench against the All Blacks the following Saturday. Leinster lock Joe McCarthy has had a breakthrough season as the 21-year-old forced his way into his province’s match-day squad for some of their biggest games this year, and his rise looks set to continue in New Zealand.

Crusaders back-row Cullen Grace has revealed his excitement about playing for the Maori All Blacks in their upcoming fixtures against Ireland.

He was encouraged to embrace it by Crusaders assistant coach Tamati Ellison, who represented the Maori All Blacks as well as New Zealand in the international arena. “I’ve got a lot to learn about my Maori side. McMillan, who has coached the Maori All Blacks since 2017, believes Grace’s story was one of the best things about the team as it allows him to grow and better understand his heritage.