Auckland 2018
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Bovidae said:
Not sure where to post this, but what has happened to the Auckland women's team? Last year was the first time they failed to make the final after being winners from 2007-15.
This year they've been thrashed by Manawatu and today Waikato beat them 45-14.
I have the impression - rightly or wrongly - that there have been major player movements in the women's NPC the last few years, with some Black Ferns 7s players moving closer to their sevens base in Mt Maunganui (BOP has mainly benefitted from this), but also some players moving back to their home province.
I could be wrong, but maybe Auckland have lost a few players?
Or maybe other provinces are finally catching up in player development? Auckland always had a better competition and better development programme for female players (helped by a larger player pool as well). With NZR investing more in grassroots women's rugby now also in other regions, there may more development opportunities outside the big smoke? I have no proof of this; it's just an impression.
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@kiwimurph the irony,there were not as many Blues players that White had to deal with..if you know what I mean..
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No idea who played for them today but a lot of the Black Ferns starting XV are from Auckland. I read that Charmaine Smith moved across the bridge too.
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@bovidae I just looked at the Auckland Storm line-up for today's game and their tight five are all Black Ferns! Their 10 and fullback, too. I only recognise one BF in the Waikato squad, their 10 (who usually plays in the midfield)!
Storm to tackle Waikato in Taupiri
Storm looking to get their season kick-started in Taupiri A victory puts them well and truly in the frame for a...
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@steven-harris yea those players you mentioned all had strong games today. East certainly stood out, the loose trio all tackled exceptionally well and carried stongly - (No.8 Ezra Meleiseia in particular). Also thought the replacement hooker who came on early performed well.
In the backs I thought both halfbacks (Cowley and Liania) went good and centre Tevita Latu was strong and got some outrageous offloads away. Caleb Clarke was dangerous in the time he got to play.
Whilst Auckland played well Counties basic skills were very poor today - crooked lineout throws, passes that went to ground/forward. -
@steven-harris So we should expect to see them turning out for Ta$man in the next week or so?
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@african-monkey may as well many Auckland players propping up many of the provinces with loan players or players that have club or schooled in Auckland;something that gets by the lazy Media
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Auckland Representative Results – 22 September
Auckland B v Counties Manukau B The Auckland B side have wrapped up the 2018 Northern Region title with a match to...
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This is a very good read.
It confirms Tai Lavea is looking after the attack.
Even before that his first – and some might say most important – task came in assembling his coaching team. He felt the task required a heavyweight crew, so that's what he put together, bringing in ex-Sunwolves boss, and two-test AB, Filo Tiatia as forwards assistant, coaching legend Sir Graham Henry, no less, as defensive guru, and highly successful St Kentigern College first XV coach Tai Lavea as attack chief. "The profile of the team demands the profile of the coaches," Ieremia told Stuff after a recent training session. "We have a very young team, so we needed coaches who had experience at a very high level, and we had to have smart coaches who knew when to coach and when to push a different button. "I wanted coaches to give us the profile you see on the field. That forward pack has got Filo's statement all over, our defence (best in the entire competition) has Ted (Henry) all over it, and our attack and kick strategies is Tai's portfolio. "My job is to make sure we work effectively, that we don't over-coach, and we keep the boys on edge to make sure we're learning and not just ticking boxes." -
Gibson had to have surgery due to his quad injury:
“He’s had surgery so he’s out for the rest of the season. A big disappointment for him and I feel for him as a captain,” Ieremia told RugbyPass.
Filling the All Blacks' openside void
A loose forward crop that was once the envy of international rugby teams the world over now looks abnormally thin with veteran All Blacks openside Sam Cane going down with a neck fracture.
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Ieremia, in the first year of a three-year contract at Auckland, believes this is just the start. In February he will take the team on an overseas tour which will bring them together even tighter as a group and over the next few months he will work on helping non-professional players get the best out of themselves, and better align the schools and clubs in the city, plus the relationship between his organisation and the Blues.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12150272
