The Māori All Blacks prepare to face Fiji on Saturday. Te Kāea spoke to players Otere Black, Elliot Dixon and Māori All Black coach Colin Cooper this afternoon ahead of the team flying out to Suva tomorrow morning.
Following the Highlanders' successful Super Rugby campaign, Elliot Dixon has returned to fulfil his duties with the Māori All Blacks.
Dixon says, “I have been playing more of a role in the background just to get used to it, just to make my way back into it, get the body back into shape.”
Despite being overwhelmed with the Super Rugby success, all focus now needs to be on preparing the Māori All Blacks for the game against Fiji.
“It's going to be an awesome game they love to play a Māori style of rugby as well, there will be a lot of offloads,” says Dixon.
Same goes for Hurricanes player Otere Black.
The team is planning strategies before captain Charlie Ngatai returns from Samoa with the All Blacks.
Māori All Blacks coach Colin Cooper says Ngatai will join the squad for the game against Fiji after playing Manu Samoa.
“Charlie will join us not sure about Brad, and so we will keep Tawera for us, if the All Blacks want Tawera back then Brad will probably come back,” says Cooper.
However Brad Weber's position is uncertain, but for now, Dixon says, “The look really strong against Wales when the games loosen up, so we need to try keep them contain I hope.”
Get on with the job for the betterment of the squad.