Taranaki v Auckland

[Duluth]

1 Chris Gawler, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 3 Donald Brighouse, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Josh Lord, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 7 Kaylum Boshier, 8 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 11 Jayson Potroz, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Sean Wainui, 14 Waisake Naholo, 15 Daniel Waite.

Reserves: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Kyle Stewart, 19 Tom Florence, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Lisata Milo-Harris, 22 Matthew McKenzie, 23 Liam Blyde

[Bovidae]

Two kids at lock for the Naki. They have 3 players out with concussion in that position.

[KiwiMurph]

that's a pretty handy Naki XV. I reckon they will take this one.

[Bovidae]

@KiwiMurph said in Taranaki v Auckland:

that's a pretty handy Naki XV. I reckon they will take this one.

Less experienced than the team Waikato beat last Sunday. Taranaki have been very disappointing this season.

[KiwiMurph]

@Bovidae Auckland have also been very disappointing. I take your point though.

[Stargazer]

Taranaki was quite dominant during the first 13 minutes of the game, but the momentum seems to shift to Auckland now.

[Stargazer]

Great defence from Taranaki. Relentless, but energy sucking. How long can they keep on doing that?

Apisai failed his HIA.

[African Monkey]

Auckland seriously lacking ball carriers in their pack.

[Steven Harris]

Gee that was stunning defence from the Naki .cant coach that..though Auckland should be looking to Rayasi in space

[Stargazer]

@Steven-Harris Yeah, a lot of heart in that defence!

[Stargazer]

Riccitelli scores off the line-out maul. So hard to defend against that.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer There is something heartwarming seeing a bunch of real kiwi country blokes man handling and outmuscling a pack of city slingers back over their own line for a beautiful try!

[Steven Harris]

Apparently this kid Josh Lord is only 18,6’8 ..gee he looks a talent..

[African Monkey]

@Higgins If only those kiwi country blokes could scrum....

Ruru is a lucky man.

[Dice]

Ruru is lucky we scored. We could've just kept putting pressure on their scrum and worked for a yellow card.

[African Monkey]

@Steven-Harris Did TJ say earlier that his dad's Matt Lord (former North Harbour lock)?

[Nepia]

@Higgins said in Taranaki v Auckland:

@Stargazer There is something heartwarming seeing a bunch of real kiwi country blokes man handling and outmuscling a pack of city slingers back over their own line for a beautiful try!

TBH, I wonder how many of those blokes are actually country blokes.

Tony Johnson's differing pitches of voice when the Naki scored and then when Auckland scored certainly adds weight to Blues fans accusations of bias when he's commenting their games. When Naki scored he was so excited I assumed that I was watching the Ta$man Invitational Baabaas XV or the Crusaders. When Auckland scored I assumed someone told him his Nana just died.

[African Monkey]

Suprised Taranaki are going for the shot here with their rolling maul going so well.

Nicke kick from Perofeta having said that.

[Stargazer]

Perofeta has been a bit hot and cold in this game, but that was a nice intercept. Too bad he lost the ball immediately after.

[Higgins]

@African-Monkey Agreed, their scrum is looking a bit dodgy. Wonder why Taranaki have stopped producing the good number of decent props they did for a fair while until a couple of years ago?