Rugby: Five fresh faces to front for Maori All Blacks

Highlanders lock Joe Wheeler will start for the Maori All Blacks after originally being named in the Barbarians squad. Photo / Getty Images

There are five new faces in the Maori All Blacks to take on the NZ Barbarians tomorrow night at Eden Park.

Another week in camp and some intensive work on detail should see the Maori take favouritism into the enticing clash, along with the fact that they are seeking to preserve a home unbeaten streak which stretches back to 2003, when future World Cup winners England got the better of them 23-9 in New Plymouth.

Four of the new Maori caps will come off the bench, including young NZ Universities tighthead prop Marcel Renata, who will have to miss his Varsity's club semifinal with Pakuranga, home of another debutant, Joe Edwards.

It has not all been smooth sailing for the Maori this week, losing tighthead props Ben May to an ankle injury and Josh Hohneck to a leg infection.

"That's going to be a big battle there. That's probably why we've picked the most experienced pack we can get," said coach Colin Cooper.

Four of the in-form Highlanders are in the pack, with lock Joe Wheeler, who was originally in the Barbarians squad, named to start. Elliot Dixon, who scored the winning try against Fiji, goes to the back of the scrum, with Blade Thomson at No 6.

Young Taranaki and New Zealand Under 20s rep Sean Wainui will start at centre, pushing Matt Proctor to the wing. Wainui is one of nine Taranaki boys in the match, including three with the Barbarians, so it gives Cooper, wearing his provincial hat, a good look at some key men.

The Maori midfield defence will need to be staunch, as the Barbarians have paired George Moala and Seta Tamanivalu there.

Other features of the Baabaas see Andrew Horrell, a safe kicking option, at fullback, while Blake Gibson has another opportunity to shine on a wider stage, this time in the No 7 jersey. Luke Whitelock, at No 8, and Dominic Bird will want to prove that their All Blacks days are not over.

There is an interesting Barbarians connection with loosehead prop Mitchell Graham of Taranaki. His grandfather is former Waikato prop Sir Jim Graham, whose brothers are eminent Barbarians Sir John Graham and Bob Graham.

Maori halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow will look to continue his progress from a long layoff by playing more than the 50 minutes from last weekend. New All Black Brad Weber will offer spark from the bench.

Cooper feels the extra 10 days in camp will be a significant advantage for the Maori.

"The Baabaas have only had a week, so they are where we were at last week."