Rugby: Rakete-Stones shows power

Pouri Rakete-Stones.

Hawke's Bay frontrower Pouri Rakete-Stones fairytale-type run with the New Zealand under-20 rugby team continues.

Rakete-Stones was selected in the Baby Blacks squad for the Oceania Championship in Brisbane next week despite not being among the original 49 players selected to trial for the team last month. In the team's only match on New Zealand soil yesterday before flying to Brisbane today Rakete-Stones, who will be eligible for the team again next year, came off the bench in the 50th minute of a 27-22 win against the Blues Development side at Papakura.

Magpies head coach Craig Philpott, who is an assistant coach with the New Zealand team, said Rakete-Stones achieved a turnover at his first scrum.

"Up until that stage we had been battling against a Super Rugby front row at scrum time," Philpott said.

Magpies outside back Jonah Lowe, who started at right wing, played the entire 80 minutes and scored the first try for the Baby Blacks. Philpott said Lowe was solid in all aspects of play.

Hawke's Bay Sevens rep Marino Mikaele-Tu'u started at No8 and played 65 minutes. Philpott said he carried well and displayed good footwork in broken play as well as contact on defence.

Magpies winger Mason Emerson wasn't named in the Baby Blacks 25 for the match and Magpies prop Mason Kean was ruled out with a niggly injury. Philpott is confident Kean will be ready for action when the Baby Blacks take on Australia at Bond University on Tuesday and again the following Saturday at the same venue.

Philpott said the Blues Development team's coaching staff ran 30 players, many of whom have had Super Rugby experience.

"We knew it would be a very physical encounter and that's what we got. The boys are tired out," he added.

After the Oceania tournament the Baby Blacks squad, which will attempt to win a second consecutive World Under-20 Championship title in Manchester, England from June 7-25, will be named.

Hawke's Bay age group product and Canterbury-based fullback Caleb Makene is also in the squad, which leaves Auckland International Airport this afternoon.