Auckland vs Otago

[African Monkey]

A very young backline. I expect this to be a close game similar to the Taranaki game.

[Dice]

That squad should get the job done, but it's a potential banana skin game with all the changes. All the new combos might cause some chemistry issues.

[Duluth]

A 6/2 split

Midfield cover isn't great

[KiwiMurph]

@duluth I think fullback cover is actually worse.

[nzzp]

Looking forward to going along.

especially as I've scored a corporate box - not bad for my first NPC game for a few years

[KiwiMurph]

@nzzp you deserve it after going along to all the Blues games this year bro.

[nzzp]

KiwiMurph said:

@nzzp you deserve it after going along to all the Blues games this year bro.

It's been hard going, that's for sure.

[Nogusta]

African Monkey said:

A very young backline.

Average age from no.6 to 15 would be around 21...ish...!

[Nogusta]

Duluth said:

@KiwiMurph said:

Excited to see Tele'a's first start. Same with Riedlinger-Kapa off the bench.

Choat is another one who could make a debut from the bench. They seem to rate him highly, he's probably the reason Havili missed out on the squad

Choat and Kapa were the standouts for Auckland B against Counties B on Saturday. Good to see coach Ieremia sticking to his word in terms of rewarding form players when and where possible.

[African Monkey]

@nogusta Yesh he's done it all year. I am interested to see how Jacob Umaga goes at the back. Trainor's been solid without being anything special and hopefully some time away in the lower grades has done Caleb Clarke some good. Glad that they haven't just picked him for the sake of picking him and forcing him to learn on the job when he didn't deserve to be there. Hopefully he puts in a better performance than what he did against Waikato.

[SouthernMann]

Otago seemed to have named a secondish XV with eight changes, basically deciding to throw the game as unwinable even if they put out their best. So it should be an absolute pumping.

[Chris B.]

@southernmann Where's Geoff Toovey?!!!

[Stargazer]

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Ruru can cover 10, but that would leave Plummer covering 15? Or perhaps Rayasi? He has a decent boot.

[KiwiMurph]

Clarke is going to have his defence tested by Nareki - one of the form wingers in the comp.

[KiwiMurph]

Telea clearly not fit if he gets injured that early.

[Dice]

I think Telea missed an overlap there.

Hope he's OK.

[Stargazer]

That weird yellow card again. Deliberately knocking a ball back into touch. Very similar to "that" SBW card. I don't agree with it.

[KiwiMurph]

@stargazer I do. Fuck off Collins.

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph Would you have agreed with it, if it had happened at the other side of the field?