Maori All Blacks to unleash Ioane brothers

Rieko Ioane. Photo / Getty

The youngest member of the Maori All Blacks is preparing to be unleashed on Fiji today.

He is 18, full of running, and his father played for Manu Samoa. So it was some surprise when Rieko Ioane, along with his older brother Akira, was named in this Maori squad. But his Te Whanau-a-Apanui blood comes via his mother.

This team was not even on the younger Ioane's radar, not because of any doubt over his ancestral links, but because of a perceived lack of 15s game time.

"I wasn't even too sure if they had a tour this year. I never expected to be named in this team because I hadn't played much 15s since the 7s finished (in May)," said Ioane. "I thought my brother might get in, but I was really happy when I got the call."

He may not have played a lot of 15s, but he sure made an impression in that short time.

Ioane marked his first five games of premier club rugby for Ponsonby with a splash, scoring 10 tries for a struggling team, alternating between centre and the wing. His pace, guile and strength were all to the fore. There has not been a more auspicious introduction to Ponsonby's senior ranks since a certain Va'aiga Tuigamala started terrorising club players fresh out of Kelston Boys' High in 1988.

But Ioane has not just started turning heads in the last few weeks. Just 10 months ago he was helping Auckland Grammar win the 1A First XV title, later captaining NZ Schools to two wins, and carving up for the All Blacks Sevens, firstly at Wellington to widespread acclaim, and then onwards until the close of the world series. He had to forsake the New Zealand Under 20s, but he would have made that team too.

He and his brother, who starred for the Under 20s and the Blues, have yet to play for Auckland and will feature for the Blues in 2016.

"There's been a lot of rugby my way, but I'm enjoying every minute of it with all the different levels."

Fiji pose several threats out wide, among them Nemani Nadolo, Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Napolioni Nalaga.

"Hopefully (Nadolo) will be on the other wing," laughs Ioane, "but no, they've got a good team, with a lot of Super Rugby experience under their belts, so I'm sure it'll be a good challenge."

Maori assistant coach Tabai Matson has already hinted that Ioane will be used mainly on the wing, where he starts today, though he does prefer the No 13 jersey. There is plenty of versatility, let alone talent, in that Maori backline, with Kurt Baker and Matt Proctor also covering the flanks.

The Maori are today looking to extend an extraordinary 18-match, 12-year unbeaten run against full international sides. This stretches back to 2003, when England beat them 23-9 in New Plymouth. The Maori have, ironically, lost to sides such as the England Saxons and Leicester since then.