Auckland v Waikato

[KiwiMurph]

The other factor is Auckland left a lot of their bench until quite late last weekend so they should be pretty fresh so I wonder if they will go to the bench earlier.

Regarding the scrum, it definitely looks more stable this year. Some decent signs.

Waikato will be up for this one given how theyve started and that they won at Eden Park last year.

[Tim]

What's the plan for midfield cover? Plummer to 12 if Faiane is injured, and Plummer to 12 with Faiane to 13 if Manu is injured?

[Dice]

@tim Umaga probably covers 12 and 13. He lined up at centre when he came on last week. Not sure how much experience he has there though.

[KiwiMurph]

Manu can also cover 12

[Bovidae]

Waikato take on Auckland at Eden Park in Auckland on Thursday night, kick-off is at 7.35pm.

Toby Smith (Hamilton Old Boys)
Mike Mayhew (Hautapu)
Joshua Iosefa-Scott (Melville)
Tim Bond (University)
Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)
Adam Burn (Hamilton Old Boys)
Jahrome Brown (Melville)
Jordan Manihera (Hamilton Old Boys)
Jack Stratton (University)
Fletcher Smith (University)
Sevu Reece (Hamilton Old Boys)
Dwayne Sweeney – Captain (Morrinsville Sports)
Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)
Mosese Dawai (Otorohanga)*
Tyler Campbell (University)

Samisoni Taukei’aho (Fraser Tech)
Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu)
Sosaia Fale (Hamilton Old Boys)
James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)
Jono Armstrong (Hautapu)
Kylem O’Donnell (Melville)
Matty Lansdown (Fraser Tech)
Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

*=Waikato debut

Waikato Team Named to Take on Auckland

Waikato has named their side to face Auckland at Eden Park, in the Battle of the Bombay s this Thursday night in week 3 ...

[Stargazer]

That was great team try for Auckland. Chip kick from Manu, finished by Trainor. Plummer misses the conversion.

Auckland leads 5 - 0.

[nzzp]

@stargazer said in Auckland v Waikato:

That was great team try for Auckland. Chip kick from Manu, finished by Trainor. Plummer misses the conversion.

Auckland leads 5 - 0.

and one miss and Waikato are in. 7-5

[nzzp]

Was about to write a grumpy post abiout the ref making some weird calls at the breakdown, but then saw on replay he was probably right. Despite TJ and the comms. Player looked to have won the ball on his feet, and then fallen over... hence a waikato ball.

[booboo]

Glancing at this occasionally.

When I do Nanae looks sharp, Akira looks a beast.

Entertaining but more skill errors than I'm used to from Super.

[Dice]

We look way more talented than them, but discipline and a few calls not going our way keeping this close.

[nzzp]

@booboo said in Auckland v Waikato:

Glancing at this occasionally.

When I do Nanae looks sharp, Akira looks a beast.

Entertaining but more skill errors than I'm used to from Super.

Yep. Still suprisingly physical - I"m enjoying it.

Was thinking of wandering down to the Pork to see it, but family commitments ...

[nzzp]

@dice said in Auckland v Waikato:

We look way more talented than them, but discipline and a few calls not going our way keeping this close.

I'm seeing much more commitment from Auckland this year. Good to see.

[booboo]

That was a maul and a half

[nzzp]

@booboo said in Auckland v Waikato:

That was a maul and a half

I got a wee chubby

[Tim]

An Auckland team that can maul!

[Dice]

@tim From 15 out too.

[Dice]

And another one.

Now a scoreline that reflects how this game is going.

Waikato can only get into our half through penalty kicks to touch.

[African Monkey]

Good finish to what was a pretty average half from us. We kept them in it with our poor discipline and lineout at times. Defence has been good however apart from Rayasi's slip with our loose trio and Robbie Abel leading the charge.

[KiwiMurph]

Brilliance by Papali'i on halftime. He is some player.

Fukofuka had a bit of shocking first 20.

Tight 5 looking handy

[African Monkey]

Fukofuka's gone from our best last week to our worst tonight.