Full-strength Wallabies expected to face Maori

By CHRIS RATTUE

The New Zealand Maori side look set to be granted their wish to face Australia's top lineup at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

Australian rugby coach Rod Macqueen was to have revealed his 22 players for the match - out of the 30-man squad - today. But that has been put back until tomorrow, apparently because the announcement that rugby league star Mat Rogers is switching to union will take precedence today.

Macqueen's starting XV will then be revealed at the official launch to the Wallaby season in Sydney on Thursday, another indication it will be their No 1 side.

The staggering of the announcements gives the distinct impression that the PR machine is in top gear at Wallaby headquarters.

And it means the Maori team may have to wait until late in the week to see what plans Macqueen has in positions like fullback, where Chris Latham is tipped to keep out Matt Burke.

Wallaby spokesman Djuro Sen said last night: "With the Lions tests coming up we can't afford to mess around. You can rest assured the test side will be lining up against the Maori team."

That will please the Maori, and new front row prop Deacon Manu is relishing the prospect.

"Australia are the world champions and whatever side they put out it will be very strong," he said. "But it would be fantastic if they put out their top side. We are going out there to win and I don't think our preparation is a problem. We won't have many sessions together but it's what we do in those sessions that counts."

For players such as Manu, who are just making their mark at the top, the match is not only a career highlight but also a royal chance to show they can play at the highest level.

"This is a very exciting week for all of us," said Chiefs and Waikato forward Manu, who will have family members flying from his old home town of New Plymouth to Sydney for the match. "It's a big step up from the Super 12 ... We're just concentrating on this match rather than looking ahead to things like All Blacks selections though."

One worry for the Maori team is how their six players in the All Blacks training squad - Roger Randle, Ron Cribb, Troy Flavell, Taine Randell, Norm Maxwell and Mark Cooksley - come through what is expected to be a torrid session in Palmerston North today.

They will have their first full training session with the rest of the Maori side in Auckland tomorrow.