Macqueen impressed at strength of Maori

Coach Matt Te Pou wants to produce a test-like performance, writes CHRIS RATTUE.

Australian coach Rod Macqueen admitted surprise last night at the strength of the Maori side who will take on the world champions in Sydney on June 9.

The All Blacks and Maori selectors have concocted a powerful side, including 14 test players - with only Tony Brown of the All Blacks training squad not made available - to take on Australia.

Maori coach Matt Te Pou said last night that his side would "not be throwing the ball around all over the place," and were determined to put on a test-like performance.

He was so set on putting out a formidable side against Australia that he told the All Black selectors three months ago that he needed Kees Meeuws as his tighthead prop, to make sure the team had strength and experience in a weak position in New Zealand rugby.

He also demanded quality loose forwards, knowing that he did not have the depth to cover that position with the back-ups.

The Maori side will have limited preparation for the match because their seven players in the All Black training squad will be in camp until four days before the game in Sydney.

But Te Pou is already holding sessions with players in certain sections of his team. For example, he will meet the loose forwards - apart from Taine Randell, who would have to fly up from Dunedin - in Hamilton tomorrow.

Macqueen wanted a tough lead-up match for his side before they play Graham Henry's Lions, and the Tri-Nations, but he told the Herald from Canberra last night that he was "completely surprised" by the strength of the Maori team.

Macqueen said he knew the All Blacks would release some players for the game, but did not expect them to allow so many to play.

"It's a great opportunity for the All Black selectors to see their players in a tough game," he said.

"But in all honesty, I didn't expect we would face a side quite like that. We wanted a hard warm-up game, but it is going to be a lot tougher than I thought it would be."

Macqueen said he would put out close to a full-strength side, although he was cautious when pressed on whether it would be his No 1 team.

Te Pou said he believed the Maori side could catch Australia on the hop.

"I suppose with all the analysis that goes on, Australia know everything about all the sides in the world," he said.

"But we may prove to be an unknown quantity for them.

"If we get our preparation right then I believe we can win. Australia is the benchmark in world rugby these days and if some of our players who have missed out [on the All Black training squad] can perform well, then they can force their way into the test team.

"That is my aim - the way to get a Maori team to the World Cup is to get 15 of our players into the team.

"The All Blacks are the ultimate side in New Zealand. Even if you are a Colts coach or a coach of a B team, the aim is to promote your players into the top side, and that is what we want to do with our players."

In one of the key decisions, Te Pou has elevated Deon Muir to the captaincy over Norm Hewitt.

Te Pou said Muir, who captained the Maori side which won five out of five in Scotland in 1998, had proven himself a leader with the Chiefs this season.

Maori: Leon MacDonald, Brad Fleming, Bruce Reihana, Roger Randle, Caleb Ralph, Rua Tipoki, Daryl Gibson, Glen Jackson, Carlos Spencer, Brendan Haami, Rhys Duggan; Ron Cribb, Deon Muir (c), Matua Parkinson, Troy Flavell, Taine Randell, Dion Waller, Norm Maxwell, Mark Cooksley, Kees Meeuws, Greg Feek, Deacon Manu, Slade McFarland, Norm Hewitt.