Auckland v Counties Manukau

[Stargazer]

Counties Manukau

1 Howard Sililoto, 2. Joseph Royal, 3. Kalolo Tuiloma or Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4. Viliame Rarasea, 5. Matiaha Martin, 6. Mike McKee, 7. Fotu Lokotui, 8. Sam Henwood ©; 9. Te Aihe Toma, 10. Latiume Fosita, 11. Tevita Nabura, 12. Orbyn Leger, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. Sione Molia, 15. Kalione Hala.

Reserves: 16. Gafatasi Su’a, 17. Mark Royal, 18. Coree Te Whata Colley or Abraham Falani, 19. Sikeli Nabou, 20. Matt Vaai, 21 Liam Daniela, 22. Cardiff Vaega, 23. Sam Furniss.

Not considered because of injury: Sean Bagshaw (hamstring), Luteru Laulala (knee), Toni Pulu (rib), Suetena Asomua (calf), Sione Fifita (calf), Daymon Leasuasu (shoulder), Dan Hyatt (hip), Jonathan Taumateine (season), Etene Nanai-Seturo (hamstring).

https://www.steelers.co.nz/steelers-heat/news/pic-steelers-look-to-retain-dan-bryant-memorial-trophy-in-mitre-10-opener.html

[Crucial]

Don’t you hate it when you see your teams squad name at the start of the season, get excited, then reality comes a running when the first team is named?

[Dice]

@crucial I thought it was a Heartland team...

Not sure why it's taking so long to name our Heartland team though.

[African Monkey]

@dice Probably still find a way to beat us.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Dice]

Hey...that's not the lock pairing I had in mind.

[KiwiMurph]

Plummer starting - good. Prattley not starting - good.

Olmstead/Sotutu covering lock I guess.

Tight 5 question marks but that would have to be the best loose forward trio in the comp (til one of/both Gibson and Papali'i get injured).

[Tim]

Seven debutants on the bench, nine in the team. Completely new tight five from last year. Interesting!

[Tim]

Counties come to town to kick-off the Mitre 10 season (plus programme)

Blake Gibson to Captain Auckland for the first time Ten potential debutants set to make their mark...

[Daffy Jaffy]

Notable omissions/unavailability's? Clarke, Ravouvou, Tele'a, Seu, Tuipolotu, Fatialofa, Renata. They will need some of those guys back if they are to trouble the top teams. Concern that Sosene has not played any preseason (named but pulled out of the last game) so his combination with his locks under pressure could be a worry.

[Dice]

Tight 5 is the biggest worry for me. I didn't realize we'd be missing Tuipulotu, Fatialofa and Renata for this game.

[Dice]

Just realized Gibson is captain. The last time he was captain was in school when Tai Lavea was his coach.

[cgrant]

Both teams are seriously under strength. It will be interesting to see how all these newbies fare.

[KiwiMurph]

Of course its TJ on comms....

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland concede the ball, a penalty and a try. This feels familiar...

[KiwiMurph]

...and give another penalty....

[KiwiMurph]

Rayasi!

Beautiful try - great pass Akira, Manu hits the gap and a great chip kick and Rayasi has enough pace to score.

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland scrum in trouble already.

[KiwiMurph]

Now Auckland smashed in a lineout drive. Again....familiar...

[gt12]

My god, three Blues loosies just watching on.