Auckland Rugby 2019
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@ACT-Crusader
Whetton 2m, 119kgs
Lane 2.01m, 110kgs
Scrafton 2m 114kgs
Dunshea 1.94m ,112kgs
Sotutu 1.93m, 116kgs
Riedlinger-Kapa 1.94m 108kgs
Don't know stats for Suafua and Tagaloa but they are both solid units.
Then add Papalii, Ioane, Gibson and Choat, I think they will be fine. They played most or all of last season without Whetton and Scrafton who are both bigger units than Olmstead and Lemalu and similar size to Fatialofa. -
@Tim broken jaw. Won't be playing M10. So Jamie Lane and Whetton to get first dibs with Dunshea as lock cover? With Akira having a break Sotutu will start at 8 with Reidlinger Kapa being rewarded for his good form last year for the Bs and a good club season with first shot at the 6 spot.
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@Tim I'm surprised that Freedom Vaha'akolo is not in the B squad after a stellar club season and trialling with the M10 squad preseason. Maybe he is injured or moved away?
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2019 Auckland U19A
Team to play Taranaki (Pre-Season):
Shalom Viliamu Soane Vikena Mase Neemia Rob Rush Cameron Finefeuiaki Damien Naufahu Noah Perelini John Latu Taufa Funaki Zarn Sullivan Joel Cobb Patrick Elia JJ Wilson Leweni Mocevakaca, Jack Gray Champagnat Solomono-Mua Sione Ahio Mateo Taiseni Eric McLoughlin Terepai King, Chris Gabriel Joe Fabish Likau Alatini Sam Wye Thomas Strachan Louis Saena Heremaia Murray Junior Mafileo2019 Under 19 Development Wider Squad
Forwards
Vincent Liku, Lani Iloahifaiva, Nathaniel Crocker-Valu, Oliver Malolo, Mase Tuala Tauaosi, Jarred Mataia, Mark Tuisalega, Tualamiu Tauasosi, Thomas Drumm, Vaa Maelega, Brodie Jennings, Ben Plummer, Okustino Paseka, Jonathan Tupi, Daniel Bugden, Marcel Faaofo, Sione Maasi, Kitona Leitufia, Likau Alatini, Talitua Salinia – Satuia, Sione Maasi,
Backs
Cody Mitchell, Sam Fihaki, Tino Adam, Jermaine Malaga, Armani Wright, Josh Porter, Matt Maasi, Jake Forrest-Pain, Sosene Mataena, Marcel Milo-Harris, Latu Taufoou, Yuta Nakamura, Tai Hoeter, Connor Moors, Jayden Bell, Iosefo Lam Sam, Boston Waihape, Uta Fale, Joeli Filipo, Mateaki Maasi, Latu Taufoou.
Currently unavailable due to injury.
Matt Wulff, Jacob Jackson, Liekina Litolo, Keegan Watene, Reven Storey.
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@Daffy-Jaffy They still need to name one back, so maybe he's in the running for that?
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@Tim I wonder if Noah Perelini is son of Apollo? I had Apollo in a team when he was a teenager. An awesome young man, it would be great to see a son of his coming through.
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@Tim Looking at the squad I think Hawaii Ahokovi would be a good fit as he covers Fullback wing and kicks goals. He impressed me for the Bues dev. team earlier this season. Or maybe with Scrafton going down they may change to look for another lock?
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@Daffy-Jaffy I'm wondering if they need another midfielder? Solofa Silipa?
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@Tim I think they are covered at 13 with Manu, Tele'a and I heard that they may use Clarke there also. I don't know much about Silipa bar some brief video I saw of him. Certainly looks big and strong. If they are wanting 12 cover for Faiane, Paul Roache may be an option. He is a very good ball player but is very small by midfield standards these days.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Plummer and Kirkpatrick at 12 too. Can Leuila play there?
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@Tim When you look at it there is a lot of versatility in the backs with Tele'a and Manu both being able to cover wing also. Fullback will be the fascination for me if Trainor is not ready to go yet, especially with Heatherley. They must have seen something in him preseason that Waikato didn't. They might use Rayasi at Fullback initially.
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@KiwiMurph said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Nogusta Thanks. Is Akira Ioane's break injury related, or fatigue?
Think fatigue - he has been in Hawaii until a couple of days ago.
There's a Burger joint on every street corner there. That should do wonders for his conditioning.
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@Daffy-Jaffy I think they might see Telea as the 12 cover. He started at 12 against Otago last year when they rested TJ. He played quite a bit of 12 under Tai Lavea at St Kents, but then got moved to centre/wing once Braydon Ennor left school.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Tim I wonder if Noah Perelini is son of Apollo? I had Apollo in a team when he was a teenager. An awesome young man, it would be great to see a son of his coming through.
Yup, that's the Terminator's son. Like dad, he plays openside too.
I think Apollo's been living in Dubai for awhile now.
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