Auckland Rugby 2019
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@KiwiMurph said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
Auckland are training at Blues HQ. Finally some sensible stuff going on between Auckland and Blues.
Redman gets pushed and then the ridiculous ban is lifted..
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Auckland B team to play the Auckland Colts (24/08/19):
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs)
Mike Sosene-Feagai (Marist)
Marco Fepulea'i (Ponsonby)
Marcel Barnard (unattached)
Felix Kalapu (Grammar TEC)
Hau Paea (Mt Wellington)
Sioeli Alofi (Te Papapa)
Dylam Lam - Captain (Grammar TEC)
Desma Liaina (Eden)
Johnny Cooper (Ponsonby)
Freedom Vaha'akolo (Ponsonby)
Paul Roache (Ponsonby)
Solofa Silipa (Papatoetoe)
AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
Matt Storm (Grammar TEC)
Te Ariki Te Puni (University)
Herman Huch (Ponsonby)
Simi Kata (Marist)
Isi Manu (College Rifles)
Rilloy Suesue (Ponsonby)
Sasa Tofilau (College Rifles)
Hawaii Ahokovi (Pakuranga)
Beau Birtwistle (University) -
@Tim The lock Marcel Barnard appears to be from Durban. He is listed as playing for the Sharks U21 team this season. Maybe looking at him as cover for Scrafton.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Would be nice if he's decent enough to give our starting locks some rest, especially Whetton. We obviously don't trust Peter-Chanel Tagaloa enough, as both Lane and Whetton played 80 on the weekend.
Some tough games coming up, so Whetton could be playing some big minutes until the Southland game in round 9. We're going to have to hope for some early blowouts to get him subbed off.
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@Dice Interesting about Tagaloa as I liked the look of him when he came on against Northland despite the fact we were well ahead when he played. Hope to see Plummer back for Waikato as well. Leuila's doing alright in his absence but our attack functions better with Plummer out there.
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@African-Monkey Plummer has a torn quad so definitely won't be back this week and probably not for a few weeks. I would start Dan Kirkpatrick with Leuila off the bench. Be nice to get Trainor back too at the back. Tumua Manu for mine goes straight into 13 too if/when he's fit.
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Leuila did great up in Northland but found it tougher going this weekend
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@Nogusta Hmm no good thanks for that though. Manu and Trainor also bring more balance to the backline as we're virtually playing with 4 wingers out there. I include Tele'a as a winger as his distribution still needs working on for me. Manu is a far more rounded player at this stage.
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@African-Monkey my thoughts exactly re Tele'a/Manu. His (Tele'a) work at the breakdown not the best for a dude his size.
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@Dice said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
Would be nice if he's decent enough to give our starting locks some rest, especially Whetton. We obviously don't trust Peter-Chanel Tagaloa enough, as both Lane and Whetton played 80 on the weekend.
Could one of the loosies cover lock? They are probably all slightly too small?
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@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Dice said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
Would be nice if he's decent enough to give our starting locks some rest, especially Whetton. We obviously don't trust Peter-Chanel Tagaloa enough, as both Lane and Whetton played 80 on the weekend.
Could one of the loosies cover lock? They are probably all slightly too small?
Riedlinger-Kapa could maybe cover lock. He was a lock coming through the ranks, but he'd definitely be on the smaller side for a lock at this level. I probably wouldn't start him at lock, but I think you can get by with him as a bench lock in the M10.
He's taller than Blackwell and he's only a cm shorter than Waikato lock, Tim Bond. I'm sure there are other locks who are around the same height as him in the comp.
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If anyone is interested in buying a 2019 Auckland jersey you can message the Auckland Rugby Facebook page and they'll direct you to the contact to email.
Alternatively if you want the email address - DM me and i'll let you know.
I managed to get mine to ship to Australia so it looks like international shipping is available.
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Auckland B team to play Bay of Plenty (31/08/19):
Note - Jordan Trainor returning at last from his injury at fullback and Mike Sosene-Feagai at reserve hooker, so maybe he did not get make the USA world cup squad?
1.Fatongia Paea (Pakuranga)
2.Michael Lea (Marist)
3.Simi Kata (Marist)
4.Marcel Barnard (unattached)
5.Hau Paea (Mt Wellington)
6.Isi Manu (College Rifles)
7.Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
8.Dylan Lam - Captain (Grammar TEC)
9.Rilloy Suesue (Ponsonby)
10.Johnny Cooper (Ponsonby)
11.Hawaii Ahokovi (Pakuranga)
12.Paul Roache (Ponsonby)
13.Ma'ake Taulahi (College Rifles)
14.Freedom Vaha'akolo (Ponsonby)
15.Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)
16.Mike Sosene-Feagai (Marist)
17.Marco Fepulea'i (Ponsonby)
18.Aleks Dabek (Ponsonby)
19.Presley Tufuga (Ponsonby)
20.Brad Moyer (Suburbs)
21,TBC (TBC)
22.Matt Storm (Grammar TEC) -
Representative Results - Saturday 24 August 2019
Both Under 19s teams came away with victories on Saturday in the second round of qualifying matches ahead of the Jock...
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Thoughts on the season so far? At least we're unbeaten - but I think that's probably the main positive. The team doesn't seem as effective as last year; still mentally tough in hanging in there, but some of the errors on Saturday night were abysmal. Dropping kickoffs is purely mental, and lets the opposition into games.
I think we're good enough for a top 4 spot, but I struggle to see how we're going to beat (say) Ta$man. Reckon we're in with a shot for most others if we show up in the right headspace.
Canterbury this weekend will be a doozy. If we can rock up and dominate in the forwards, all will be well ... but if they get Angry Owen back, things could get interesting out there.
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@nzzp said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
Thoughts on the season so far? At least we're unbeaten - but I think that's probably the main positive. The team doesn't seem as effective as last year; still mentally tough in hanging in there, but some of the errors on Saturday night were abysmal.
The forwards are mostly going ok, a couple of issues in the backs are putting us under massive pressure
Rayasi has a huge boot but not that accurate. We are basically playing without quality kicking option in the back 3.
Plummer is missed at ten, his kicking from hand was a work in progress, but it was considerably better than DL.The 9 and 10 are also struggling to get quality ball to the midfield. Ruru/Plummer worked last year and the backline was humming.
I think part of that was Plummer's fast hands made up for Ruru's slow service.. this year Ruru has gone backwards as he is getting more and more frustrated.
I would start Tusitala and Kirkpatrick.The forwards and scramble defence is keeping us in matches
However the 2nd row pairing reminds me of the first half of the Blues season. A good lock at this level (Whetton in the NPC and Tuipulotu at SR) partnered with a physical non-entity.
Compare that to last year: Lemalu did a great job, Whetton, cameos from Tuipulotu & Fatialofa and cover was provided by Olmstead. It's a big step down.Canterbury are big favourites but it's hard to judge where they are at. The season's have been similar apart from the results. Three poor performances and running up a score against one of the worst sides.
I doubt Canterbury will have Franks
The season from here is about limiting damage until people come back from injury and get back in form. Still, we are second and unbeaten despite the injuries and mixed form.
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@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@nzzp said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
Canterbury are big favourites but it's hard to judge where they are at. The season's have been similar apart from the results. Three poor performances and running up a score against one of the worst sides.
Really? I don't think they are favourites at all. The last sentence of this quote says it all. IMO Auckland are easily the favourites for this game, especially because they're playing at home.
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@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
However the 2nd row pairing reminds me of the first half of the Blues season. A good lock at this level (Whetton in the NPC and Tuipulotu at SR) partnered with a physical non-entity.
I saw this graphic before the Waikato-Auckland game. Sums up Lane around the field.
