There s no denying the weekend s games have further highlighted the uneven playing field for tier 2 nations, and the need for discussions around eligibility laws to change, but for Manu Samoa and Ikale Tahi fans on the night, it was about showing up for the love of their nations. Ikale Tahi fans cheering for Tonga against the All Blacks.
Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2021 www.photosport.nz
Samoa played the Māori All Blacks in the curtain raiser at Auckland s Mount Smart Stadium, before Tonga took on New Zealand, in preparation for their upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifying matches.
Esmeralda Lo Tam was one of more than 15 thousand people there to watch the double-header.
All Blacks record result shines a spotlight on Tonga s plight
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Stuff Sports
3 July, 2021, 3:10 pm
The All Blacks will play their first ever test at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night against Tonga. Picture: STUFF SPORTS.
Veteran All Blacks hooker Dane Coles is always a good gauge of this team’s mindset heading into a new season. And there is a simmering discontent about the tough front-rower that bodes well for what lies ahead.
The All Blacks kick off a 2021 campaign that is expected to grow to 15 tests with an historic international against Tonga on Saturday night in a Pasifika-themed double-header at the home of the New Zealand Warriors, Mount Smart Stadium.
“Not from our side of the coin,” he said. “It’s a test match, they’re representing their country, and we expect the same passion we’d expect out of any international team.” In many ways what happens on Saturday night (the All Blacks have an average winning score of 70-7 against the Tongans) is irrelevant. This, and the following two weeks against a more capable Fiji outfit, are mere stepping stones for what Foster hopes will be a return to the mountaintop in 2021. The coach has set the No 1 world ranking as this team’s driving ambition, and after failing to win half of their tests in a user-friendly schedule last year, it has been made clear that significant improvement is a non-negotiable for this campaign.
Marc Hinton19:20, Jul 03 2021
SKY SPORT
Māori All Blacks ease past Samoa again.
Job done. Clayton McMillan’s Māori All Blacks marked their 125th international appearance, and Otere Black’s farewell, by completing a clinical sweep of a gallant but outmatched Manu Samoa side at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday. Opening an historic Pasifika-themed double-header at the home of the Warriors, the Māori worked their usual mixture of forward grunt and backline enterprise to go two from two against the Samoans with a 38-21, six tries to three, victory. Backing up from last weekend’s convincing success over the same opponents in Wellington, this was another top-drawer effort from a side that continues to grace the international stage with aplomb. This was their 12th win from as many matches against the Samoans.
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