Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge
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@kiwimurph said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
With Leon Macdonald in as backs coach I wouldn't be surprised if Ruru starts at 9 for the Blues. He clearly outplayed Hall today.
I'd start Ruru. He's been very impressive for Auckland.
I'd also sign Robbie Abel and start him. Olmstead needs to be in the squad as well.
Crusaders managed to shed Leon Fukofuka with a year still on his contract, so put in a phone call to the Ashburton District Council and ask Riach how it is done.
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@canes4life Excellent. He's a beast.
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@canes4life Is it a surprise call up as the writer states if we're all predicting it?
Also, he's going to confuse the fudge out of the NH scribes, they'll be sharpening their pens for some poaching fun then they'll take a look at him and see that he doesn't quite look like the profile.
Also also, where does this leave, love of some on the Fern, Blake Gibson - he might not be able to get a start with the Blues next year.
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@nepia said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
@canes4life Is it a surprise call up as the writer states if we're all predicting it?
Also, he's going to confuse the fudge out of the NH scribes, they'll be sharpening their pens for some poaching fun then they'll take a look at him and see that he doesn't quite look like the profile.
Also also, where does this leave, love of some on the Fern, Blake Gibson - he might not be able to get a start with the Blues next year.
Dalton is a better six than seven, so we can play both.
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@sparky said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
Dalton Papali'i has come on leaps and bounds during this Mitre 10 campaign. It was a master stroke to get Ted out of retirement and working again with talented youngsters.
I give a lot of credit to Filo Tiatia. It’s fascinating watching so many players from the Blues so much better under these coaches.
Such a shame the Blues board didn’t get rolled before Tana got the pointless one year extension (dead man walking). Changing the coaches can have an immediate positive impact.
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@kiwimurph said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
That bloke playing 8 for Auckland is pretty good too...
Wouldn’t look out of place in a black Maori jersey
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@nepia said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
Also, he's going to confuse the fudge out of the NH scribes, they'll be sharpening their pens for some poaching fun then they'll take a look at him and see that he doesn't quite look like the profile.
Yeah, I immediately imagined in my mind - Stephen Jones spending a few hours writing a scathing piece, then sending it in, attaching a note suggesting the editor to search for a photo of the player in question to attach to the piece... and getting the phone call soon after... "Ah, Stephen... "
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@sparky Papali'i was off for the last 10 as well.
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@african-monkey said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
Papali'i was off for the last 10 as well.
only made 1 tackle after he came back on though wasnt it, in the 82nd minute or so...slacker.
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@sparky said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
Dalton Papali'i made 23 tackles and 47 metres with the ball in hand in this game. Dillon Hunt made 12 tackles, missed 4 and made just 6 metres.
And one of those missed tackles was on an off balanced Akira, and cost his side a try.
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@kirwan said in Auckland vs. North Harbour - The Battle of the Bridge:
I give a lot of credit to Filo Tiatia. It’s fascinating watching so many players from the Blues so much better under these coaches.
Such a shame the Blues board didn’t get rolled before Tana got the pointless one year extension (dead man walking). Changing the coaches can have an immediate positive impact.
The last time Auckland had a home semi final was 2015 - the year before Nick White took over. The coach after Nick White also gets a home semi final
Not to shit on White too much, he's a very good scrum coach and maybe he'll be a head coach in the future.
(I suspect Geoff Moon was meant to hand hold White, but MAGs success in 2016 took him away from the Auckland team.. then the team got into a death spiral) -
