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All Blacks hooker Dane Coles about to show his mastery of the draw and pass. Kelleher joined Ireland s greatest test hooker Keith Wood, No 8 Brian Robinson and wing Dennis Hickey as Ireland s joint top try-scorers in an international. Blamire took his test tries tally to four in two matches - a record any self-respecting wing would be happy with. Admittedly, the rakes inexorable progress to the opposition try-line has generally been off the back of effective rolling mauls - often from attacking lineouts - rather than nifty footwork (desperate Coles dexterity in the latter department).
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“But I have no doubt that these guys would present a significant challenge. “But it’s a congested window, they belt the hell out of each other regularly anyway. “But it would be interesting.” McMillan’s comments come on the back of All Blacks coach Foster dismissing the concept when asked before the Tonga game about his interest in it.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images “Not a big fan of it,” Foster had said. “I think we both represent our country with pride and from a slightly different angle, and that’s a great quality of both teams. So, do I see them pitted against each other? I don’t really think that’s the right thing.”
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.