Islanders likely to get All Blacks test
Islanders likely to get All Blacks test
By
fijivillage.com
12/04/2008
The Pacific Islanders rugby side may get a chance to play against the All Blacks during the Tri Nations competition this year.
The All Blacks were hoping to play Argentina in Hamilton during a four-week hiatus between matches against South Africa on August 17 and Australia on September 13, but are resigned to being unable to lure a full-strength Pumas team south.
Because European clubs are reluctant to release their Argentinean players the NZRU is now seeking a team to fill the void.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said Pacific Islands team is an option because it is unlikely the All Blacks coaches will want to play a test team from one of the minnow nations, such as Japan, because there will be little value in risking players in a lopsided contest.
The All Blacks last played a Pacific Islands team in 2004 in a one-off test in Albany, which they won 41-26.
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