Auckland 2018
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@tim said in Auckland 2018:
Beer confirmed the World Cup was also set to make it very difficult to retain the core group of this year's title-winning squad who lost just once in 2018 and snapped a run of nine championships in 10 years by the Red and Blacks.
"We'll be looking to work through the contracting with players, which Alama is across" added the Auckland boss. "But we've got to be considerate of what players might be available for Rugby World Cup selection across different nations. A few of them could be picked off by different countries, such as Canada, Australia and the Pacific Island nations.
Guys who might not be available next season:
Evan Olmstead, Mike Sosene-Feagai, Fa'atiga Lemalu, Leon Fukofuka, Dalton Papali'i, Akira Ioane(with 10+ backrow injuries, it could happen).
I can easily see both Melani Nanai and Tumua Manu putting their names forward for Samoa. Both turn 26 next year and might want to go to a World Cup while they're in their primes.
Let's say all those guys are unavailable, this is what the line-up might look like next season:
15 Jordan Trainor
14 Vince Aso
13 Tanielu Telea
12 TJ Faiane
11 Salesi Rayasi
10 Harry Plummer
9 Jonathan Ruru
8 Hoskins Sotutu
7 Blake Gibson
6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
5 Taleni Seu
4 Jack Whetton
3 Marcel Renata
2 Robbie Abel
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth16 Kurt Eklund
17 Sam Prattley
18 Marco Feapuleai
19 John Akau'ola-Laula/Lyndon Dunshea
20 Sione Havili/Adrian Choat
21 Desma Liaina
22 Daniel Kirkpatrick
23 Caleb ClarkeActually not that bad to me, but this teams needs to stay pretty healthy to win it again.
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@kiwimurph what position do you invisage him playing..?
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@steven-harris from what i've seen he plays 8 (for St Peter's and for NZ Schools). Handy as Akira will be away in the AB setup
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@kiwimurph on the driving Maul last night we covered off the ASB rugby awards I picked Alama as the coach as the coach of the year over Scott Robinson and I also picked TJ Faiane as the Mitre 10 Cup player of the year over Luke Ramano and Fletcher Smith..
Might sound biased,but I reckon they are both a real chance -
@steven-harris said in Auckland 2018:
@kiwimurph on the driving Maul last night we covered off the ASB rugby awards I picked Alama as the coach as the coach of the year over Scott Robinson and I also picked TJ Faiane as the Mitre 10 Cup player of the year over Luke Ramano and Fletcher Smith..
Might sound biased,but I reckon they are both a real chance@steven-harris said in Auckland 2018:
@kiwimurph on the driving Maul last night we covered off the ASB rugby awards I picked Alama as the coach as the coach of the year over Scott Robinson and I also picked TJ Faiane as the Mitre 10 Cup player of the year over Luke Ramano and Fletcher Smith..
Might sound biased,but I reckon they are both a real chanceSome good calls, but I'd go with Romano. He was some player for Canterbury this season - good though Faiane was, I think if Romano stays on the field, Canterbury win the title.
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@kiwimurph 2019 Tour Schedule:
Friday 22 February Auckland v Brumbies A Vikings Park, Canberra
Friday 1 March Auckland v Waratahs Venue TBC
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Eroni Clarke, a veteran of more than 150 games for the blue and white hoops, was elected President and will look to oversee what is hoped to be a fruitful spell for the province off the back of their Mitre 10 Cup success in 2018.
“I bleed blue, and being able to use my experiences from on and off the field while also working with some amazing leaders at a governance level all the way down to the grassroots is a wonderful way to be able to contribute to Auckland Rugby and come alongside to grow the brand and the game,” said Clarke of his election as President.
Clarke replaces the retiring Bruce Gemmell.
