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Harlequins v Maori All Blacks preview

Harlequins have named a blend of youth and experience to face the Maori on Wednesday evening, with former British and Irish Lion Adam Jones captaining the team.
In the backs, Ruaridh Jackson starts at full-back, with Tim Swiel at fly-half and summer signing Charlie Mulchrone at -half.
Academy players Sam Aspland-Robinson, Gabriel Ibitoye, Henry Cheeseman and Jonas Mikalcius complete an exciting backline.
Former Perpignan, Bordeaux, Wasps, London Irish and Samoan back-row Dan Leo is one of several players for the match and is named at blindside flanker.
Jones is joined in the front row by experienced Premiership players Dan Murphy and Joe Gray while academy graduates Stan South and Archie White will feature at lock and openside.
New Zealanders Mark Reddish and George Naoupu will relish facing their former countrymen and are also given a start while Auckland born Alofa Alofa will want to make an impact from the bench.
Further guest players Bill Harding (), Alex Bradley and Luke Peters (both ) are among the replacements.
Harlequins Director of John Kingston said: “We are honoured to host the Maori All Blacks at The Stoop tomorrow evening; it is a match which forms a central part of our 150th anniversary year celebrations.
“We have a number of younger players involved in the game and I am sure it will be a memorable occasion for the whole team, and indeed for everyone in attendance at The Stoop.”
The Maoris have named a strong side featuring capped All Blacks Kane Hames and Brad Weber as well as established players Ihia West, Matt Proctor and James Lowe.
Akira Ioane and Marty McKenzie will look to impress having seen their respective brothers Reiko and Damian move up from the Moaris to face Italy with the All Blacks last weekend.
Former All Blacks Tana Umaga and Carl Hoeft are assistant coaches on the tour, Harlequins are the stop for the Maoris who were defeated by 27-14 last week having smashed the USA 54-7 in Chicago the week before.
Head Coach Colin Cooper said: “We’ve gone for the most experienced team we can just because of the way the game is played over here.
“We’ve had to re-programme to adjust from playing the style of rugby we play back home to better adjust to the way they play rugby up here.
“It’s been a good learning for the players and for us as coaches.  We turned up in Munster on the back of a win in the US, and we weren’t ready for the style of rugby, particularly given the conditions, we faced in Munster”.
Harlequins: Ruaridh Jackson; Sam Aspland-Robinson, Gabriel Ibitoye, Henry Cheeseman, Jonas Mikalcius; Tim Swiel, Charlie Mulchrone; Dan Murphy, Joe Gray, Adam Jones (c); Mark Reddish, Stan South; Dan Leo (Guest), Archie White, George Naoupu
Replacements: Charlie Piper, Owen Evans, Matt Shields, Bill Harding (Guest), Alex Bradley (Guest), Luc Jones, Luke Peters (Guest), Alofa Alofa
Maoris: James Lowe; Ambrose Curtis, Matt Proctor, Tim Bateman/Jason Emery, Sean Wainui; Ihaia West, Brad Weber; Kane Hames, Ash Dixon (c), Ben May; Leighton Price, Tom Franklin; Whetu Douglas, Shane Christie, Akira Ioane
Replacements: Joe Royal, Chris Eves, Marcel Renata, Jacob Skeen, Reed Prinsep, Billy Guyton, Otere Black, Jason Emery/Marty McKenzie

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