Rugby: Bay pair to crank up Maori ABs' engine

L-R Ash Dixon, and Chris Eaton. Hawke's Bay Magpies verses Wellington Lions. ITM Cup rugby at McLean Park in Napier. Ranfurly shield defence. 1st October 2014 HAWKE'S BAY TODAY Photograph by Paul Ta

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby hooker Ash Dixon will start for the Maori All Blacks against Fiji in Suva tomorrow.

The third season Maori All Black will be hoping to add an international scalp to his CV a week after his Super Rugby title entry, after coming off the bench for the Highlanders in their win against the Hurricanes in the final. His Magpies and Highlanders teammate, prop Brendon Edmonds, who started for the Highlanders last week, is likely to get game time off the pine for the Maori All Blacks.

Edmonds and Dixon will be doing all they can to secure starting berths against the Barbarians in Auckland on July 18. Their Magpies head coach Craig Philpott is an assistant coach of the Barbarians and Edmonds pointed out last week there have been some significant bets placed on the outcome of the match between Philpott and the pair.

Chiefs midfield back Charlie Ngatai will captain the Maori All Blacks, three days after making his debut for the All Blacks against Samoa. Among the nine new caps in the Maori All Blacks are the Ioane brothers, winger Rieko and blindside flanker Akira, and the McKenzie brothers, fullback Damian and first five-eighth Marty.

The form of former All Black halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow will be watched with interest. He is returning from a long injury enforced spell.

Coach Colin Cooper said the short assembly time has been challenging for the squad but he was pleased with how quickly the players had gelled as a unit.

"We have a good mix in the team to take on Fiji. There are players who have come out of the Super Rugby finals series in great nick and those who have had a bit more of a layoff, so I think that will work well for us. It's great that we are also able to field some of the exciting, young players we've brought into this team, and I know Saturday will be a very proud day for them."