Destiny looming for NZ Maori

By CHRIS RATTUE

Coach Matt Te Pou has labelled the New Zealand Maori side's clash against Australia tonight as the biggest game in their history.

And Te Pou says the All Black selectors will be forced to promote his players up the selection rankings if they can put a major dent in Australian rugby pride at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Wallabies have been hit by late defections, with wing Joe Roff (ankle) and blindside flanker Matt Cockbain (eye infection) ruled out.

Veteran back Matt Burke and utility forward Mark Connors will start, with wing Graeme Bond and openside flanker Phil Waugh joining the reserves.

All Black No 8 Ron Cribb (calf muscle) was also ruled out last night, and is replaced in the Maori reserves by Hurricanes lock Dion Waller.

Cribb is expected to be fit for selection in the All Blacks to play Samoa at Albany next Saturday.

Te Pou last night backed All Black coach Wayne Smith over his statement that most of the Maori side would not be able immediately to force their way into the test team.

Apart from the players already in the test squad of 30, Smith said others would have to bide their time.

But Te Pou said: "This is the biggest game in Maori history, to play the world champions, and I think New Zealanders have become much more relaxed about where the Maori team sits in terms of our game ... we're all under one flag.

"I know that the selectors are continually ranking players in each position and if any of our players do particularly well against the Australian side, they must go up the ranking order.

"I think people now understand that the Maori team is an important part of what we do in New Zealand rugby."

It is folly to doubt almost anything involving Australian rugby these days, but in the cold light of day, there is a strange fragility to their line-up tonight.

Burke is not the dominant player of old, Chris Latham is still largely untested, Elton Flatley is out of position at inside centre, and the front row of Glenn Panoho, Jeremy Paul and the uncapped Nick Stiles is hardly fearsome, especially in the tight exchanges.

Captain John Eales is coming back from another injury and could, like Burke, be past his best.

Others, such as Toutai Kefu, were good but not great in the Super 12. And should injury strike Australia's brilliant halves, there is nothing menacing about who would replace either George Gregan or Stephen Larkham.

On the other hand, there is an amazing sense of confidence in Australian rugby, akin to that which fuelled the great All Black teams of not so long ago.

Tonight will be a major test of a 21-match winning streak started by the Maori in 1994, and an early test of how good the Wallabies might be this season.

The Maori players have individual targets to aim for, namely All Black selection, but a victory in Sydney could also dent Australian confidence and put question-marks in coach Rod Macqueen's mind.

One of the unknowns is the effect of the new maul law, which allows teams to be static for five seconds.

Te Pou believes his team are on a wavelength regarding rules with South African referee Mark Lawrence, who insisted during an hour-long meeting with the Maori coach last night that he would deal only with the captain on the field.

In many ways, discipline is the key message for the Maori side - uncontrolled aggression would play into the hands of an Australian team who always seem finely honed these days, whatever line-up they put on the field.

Kick-off is at 9 pm (NZ time).

Australia: Chris Latham, Andrew Walker, Daniel Herbert, Elton Flatley, Matt Burke, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan; Toutai Kefu, George Smith, Mark Connors, John Eales (c), David Giffin, Glenn Panoho, Jeremy Paul, Nick Stiles. Reserves: Graeme Bond, Nathan Grey, Chris Whitaker; David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Ben Darwin, Michael Foley.

New Zealand Maori: Carlos Spencer, Roger Randle, Caleb Ralph, Daryl Gibson, Bruce Reihana, Glen Jackson, Rhys Duggan; Deon Muir (capt), Taine Randell, Troy Flavell, Mark Cooksley, Norm Maxwell, Deacon Manu, Norm Hewitt, Greg Feek. Reserves: Rua Tipoki, David Hill, Brendan Haami; Matua Parkinson, Dion Waller, Paul Thomson, Slade McFarland.