Thursday, November 9, 2017
Ross McCullough
FROM Opotiki to Vancouver, two former JAB rugby players are competing on the world stage.
Opotiki’s Tom Franklin and Sam Henwood were part of the Maori All Blacks’ 51-9 win against Canada in Vancouver on Saturday.
The BMO Stadium was packed out with a record crowd in attendance for a rugby International in Canada.
Franklin played the game at lock while Sam Henwood was on the Maori All Blacks’ bench, but didn’t get on to the field.
After plying his trade for the Highlanders down in the deep south in Super Rugby, Franklin returned home to play for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the Mitre 10 Cup this year.
Continuing his good form, in a crafty line-out move with experienced campaigner Ash Dixon, Franklin managed to get over for a well-worked try just before half-time.
That left the Maori All Blacks with a 27-9 lead at the stanza.
They predictably went on to win the game comfortably in what was the side’s biggest win over Canada in six outings, in spite of conceding two yellow cards.
The Maori All Blacks had outclassed Canada, with seven tries to none.
The Clayton McMillan-coached Maori All Blacks side round off their tour this Saturday with a match against a French Barbarians side in Bordeaux.