NZ Maori locking power found in the provinces

By CHRIS RATTUE

The New Zealand Maori have turned to the provinces in an effort to find the locks to combat Australia in their one-off "test" next month.

While Super 12 players from the major NPC provinces dominate the 26-man squad, the Maori locks include an unheralded Aucklander and players from last year's Southland, Counties Manukau and Hawkes Bay sides.

The Matt Te Pou-coached Maori have been hit by the loss of top locks for the matches against Queensland and New South Wales, then Australia on June 15 in Perth.

"If I was Australia, I would be targeting that area. But we've got confidence in these guys," Te Pou said.

"They mainly come from first division provinces, and anybody who plays NPC first division in this country has to be respected."

The Maori had the luxury of being able to pick All Black squad members Norm Maxwell and Mark Cooksley last year, and the middle row also included Taine Randell and Troy Flavell in the 41-29 loss against Australia in Sydney.

But they are unable to call on All Blacks this time around - unless there are Maori players among the four who will drop out of John Mitchell's squad of 26.

Apart from Maxwell, the Maori have also lost potential lock selections Cooksley, Flavell, Paul Tito and Dion Waller through injury, along with No 8 Ron Cribb and first five-eighths Tony Brown and David Hill. Also missing is returned All Black midfield back Daryl Gibson, who played against Australia last year.

Chiefs utility Kristian Ormsby from Counties Manukau and Reece Robinson - who has transferred from second division Hawkes Bay to Taranaki - have survived from last year's squad. They are joined by new locks Steve Jackson from Southland and young Aucklander Bryce Williams.

Jackson, originally from Auckland, has finally won the call-up after years of battling at the Maori trials. Te Pou said the 29-year-old had been part of a Southland pack that had earned great respect. Jackson had a couple of games for Auckland in the late 1990s.

Williams first caught Te Pou's eye four years ago when drafted into Waikato Harlequins against the Maori, and stole five of the Maori lineout throws. Williams had five NPC matches for Auckland last year.

Williams, Corey Flynn, Tony Penn, Carl Hayman, Jackson, Jonno Gibbes, Riki Flutey, Willie Walker, Ryan Nicholas and Joe Maddock will make their Maori debuts.

"We were asked the same question last year, whether we could beat Australia, and I said that was our intention," said Te Pou.

"Are we capable of beating them? The answer is yes."