Taranaki vs Auckland

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland team named

Auckland team to play Taranaki:

Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs)
Robbie Abel (College Rifles)/Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
Marcel Renata (University)
Fa’atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
Dalton Papali’i (Pakuranga)/Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)/Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)

Jonathan Ruru (University)
Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
TJ Faiane – Captain (Pakuranga)/Tanielu Tele’a (Marist)
Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

Bench
Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)/Leif Schwencke (Suburbs)
Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
Lyndon Dunshea (University)
Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)/Jamie Lane (Ponsonby)
Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
Jacob Umaga (Eden)
Tanielu Tele’a (Marist)/Joe Ravouvou (College Rifles)

Unavailable due to injury: Blake Gibson (quad), Sam Prattley (head), Dan Kirkpatrick (neck), Michael Fatialofa (knee), Taleni Seu (back – season), Taniela Koroi (arm – season)

Auckland looking to take the bull by the horns

Auckland are looking to beat Taranaki for the first time since 2015 Both sides will see the match as significant...

[Stargazer]

Taranaki

1 Chris Gawler
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Reuben O’Neill
4 Jarrad Hoeata
5 Leighton Price
6 Pita Sowakula
7 Tom Florence
8 Mitchell Crosswell (cc)
9 Brendon Leonard
10 Stephen Perofeta
11 Manasa Mataele
12 Teihorangi Walden (cc)
13 Seta Tamanivalu
14 Regan Ware
15 Beaudein Waaka

Reserves:
16 Donald Maka
17 Jared Proffit
18 Kyle Stewart
19 Tupou Va’ai*
20 Jack White*
21 Logan Crowley
22 Ciarhan Matoe
23 Brayton Northcott-Hill

*debutants

Unavailable due to All Black duties: Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Waisake Nahalo, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Angus Ta'avao.

Not available for this game: Xavier Roe (ankle), Kane Thompson (hamstring), Jesse Parete (suspension) Lachlan Boshier (shoulder), Toa Halafihi (shoulder) and Daniel Waite (shoulder).

Season ending injuries: Bradley Slater (back), Mitchell Graham (leg), Fin Hoeata (shoulder), Mitchell Brown (knee), Sean Wainui (shoulder), Kiniviliame Naholo (ankle), Marty McKenzie (hip).

Perofeta to return for Yarrows Taranaki Bulls

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls first five-eighth Stephen Perofeta will return for the amber and blacks as they host competition ...

[Gunner]

That Akira Ioane is a bit rubbish, can certainly see why he continues to be overlooked for the All Blacks...

Try to Akira after 1m.

[nzzp]

Gunner said:

That Akira Ioane is a bit rubbish, can certainly see why he continues to be overlooked for the All Blacks...

Try to Akira after 1m.

29 seconds fella...

[KiwiMurph]

Gunner said:

That Akira Ioane is a bit rubbish, can certainly see why he continues to be overlooked for the All Blacks...

Try to Akira after 1m.

Haha.

Bit of a dangerous game for Auckland for this I think. A desperate Naki team with some big names.

[Gunner]

nzzp said:

Gunner said:

That Akira Ioane is a bit rubbish, can certainly see why he continues to be overlooked for the All Blacks...

Try to Akira after 1m.

29 seconds fella...

Sorry, my bad 😂

[Anonymous]

nzzp said:

Gunner said:

That Akira Ioane is a bit rubbish, can certainly see why he continues to be overlooked for the All Blacks...

Try to Akira after 1m.

29 seconds fella...

Too lazy. His competition would have got it in 28.

[Machpants]

nzzp said:

Gunner said:

That Akira Ioane is a bit rubbish, can certainly see why he continues to be overlooked for the All Blacks...

Try to Akira after 1m.

29 seconds fella...

Meh, record is 7. That's four times slower, what a slacker

[nzzp]

The ref's call on ripping the ball for a tackler is strictly correct, but frustrating. If knees hitting groudn is a tackle, enforce that shit for the 'held up' mauls, and the 'not held' standing up and running again.

[nzzp]

Also, Auckland is going to lose because Hometown is Hometown.

[Dice]

Crap. Papali'i missed his very first tackle this season. I was hoping he'd reach 100 before missing one.

[KiwiMurph]

Why would Ruru go left there. Weird decision. Rayasi is a talent.

[nzzp]

That's just shit. The Auckland tackler never released the player, but Jackson doesn't care? Weirdly random referee. I don't like watching his games much.

[KiwiMurph]

Yep Auckland are in trouble here.

This Naki side has come to play.

[Tim]

Perofeta has made a big difference, and Tamanivalu is fired up and playing very well.

Taranaki look a different team tonight.

[Stargazer]

@tim I always liked having Tamanivalu on the ABs fringes; a good player to have in case of injury. It's a pity he's leaving after the M10 Cup season.

[KiwiMurph]

Scoreline is flattering Auckland here. Taranaki are dominating.

[nzzp]

KiwiMurph said:

Scoreline is flattering Auckland here. Taranaki are dominating.

Yeah. We seem to have the edge in the outside backs, making good metres, but getting beaten up everywhere else.

Hopefully Naki lack conditioning - Auckland look fit thisyear

[nzzp]

That is a peach of a kick option. Wow.

[Tim]

@nzzp Taranaki playing with a strong wind.