AUCKLAND, 01 DECEMBER 2020 (STUFF NZ) – Māori All Blacks assistant coach Tony Brown isn’t a fan of the ‘spectacle’ concept – he wants his side to beat Moana Pasifika in Hamilton on Saturday and expects them to be clinical in how they go about their business.
“It’s a pretty big test match so the physicality is going to go up,” Brown said on Monday, throwing down the gauntlet to Tana Umaga’s Pasifika outfit.
“It’s not going to be like the Mitre 10 Cup with the ball being thrown around everywhere.
“It’s going to be a physical game, with two pretty proud teams that are going to go at each other.”
Brown’s promise of fireworks will increase interest levels in the game that features a few unknowns.
It will take place at the end of a long season when tired bodies could be excused, while no one is quite sure if the talented but unfamilar Moana Pasifika squad can find the levels of cohesion needed to deliver a compelling performance.
However, Brown’s involvement with the Māori side he first represented as a player in 1996 has stirred up some genuine pride in the Highlanders coach, who has put his Super Rugby commitments on the backburner this week.
“Most of the Highlanders work around the squad [to be announced on Thursday] is completed, so it’s not very onerous at all around being involved with the NZ Māori team,” Brown said.
“I’m just really looking forward to this week. It’s a great team to be part of. My sole focus is performing and getting the boys to play well this weekend.”
That job will be made easier by some of the veterans in the squad.
Hooker Ash Dixon is coming off outstanding campaigns for both the Highlanders and Hawke’s Bay, while Waikato flanker Liam Messam will make sure that certain standards are met.
Messam has spilt plenty of blood in the Waikato, Chiefs and Māori jerseys over the years and his presence alone should make sure the Māori All Blacks bring intensity to the breakdown.
“It’s great to see Liam Messam back in,” Brown said. “He’s obviously an awesome rugby player and proud Māori, a really good leader so having guys like that in our environment just helps our coaching team drive what we want to achieve.”
Māori All Blacks coach Clayton McMillan instigated Brown’s involvement in the side, placing a phone call to Dunedin with an invitation that Brown says was quickly accepted.
The role has also brought some fond memories flooding back for Brown, who revealed that he was cheekily given the nickname Inanga ‘’Whitebait’ by Glen Osborne when he first represented NZ Māori in 1996.
Brown was also given a role that helped him understand that NZ Māori was far more than a representative footy side.
“I was pretty fresh when I first came in when I got the nickname, and then I had to be the Māori translator every time I got on the bus,” Brown said, confessing that until that point his command of te reo Māori was rudimentary. “That was my job when I first arrived in ‘96.
“I’d say 60-70 per cent of our time is learning about the culture and who we represent.”
The Māori All Blacks will name their side on Thursday, with Brown revealing the midfield options of Billy Proctor, Rameka Poihipi and Quinn Tupaea excited him.
Recent form in Mitre 10 Cup would go a long way towards selections, Brown said, but there was also a recognition that some players had clocked up significant minutes in 2020.
“We’ve been monitoring these players over the past two or three weeks in Mitre 10 Cup,” Brown said.
Quinn Tupaea gives the Māori All Blacks an exciting midfield option.
“We understand who’s playing some pretty good footy and who has had a massive workload.
“Our final selection won’t be done for a couple of days yet so they’ve got an opportunity to prove themselves during the next couple of days’ training.
“It’s a pretty competitive environment at the moment.”
