Auckland Rugby 2020
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The Blues A team have the final game of a two-match programme when they take on the Chiefs A in Hamilton on Friday.
Buoyed from their 33-5 victory over Hurricanes B in Wellington last week, the Blues A combination head to FMG Stadium as the curtain-raiser to the Chiefs’ Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes.
The game will provide further valuable game time for Blues players who have returned from injury including Jack Heighton, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Finlay Christie and Jared Page and other Super Rugby squad players Tony Lamborn and Tamati Tua.
The side also includes a group of exciting new players from our Provincial Unions who get the opportunity to test themselves at this high level including Ropate Rinakama, Michael Lea, Teague McIlroy, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Felix Kalapu, Lewis Gjaltema, Patrick Elia and Kade Banks.
Also some of the Blues Under-20s squad members will have an opportunity including Niko Jones, Ekuasi, Joel Cobb, Elia and Banks.
The match kicks off at 4.25 pm on Friday against Chiefs A who also have a number of Super Rugby players in their side.
The team is: 15 Jared page, 14 Tomas Aoake, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Tamati Tua 11 Joel Cobb 10 Jack Heighton 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Tony Lamborn, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa ©, 5 Sam Caird, 4 Samipeni Finau, 3 Ropate Rinakama, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Fatongia Paea.
Reserves: 16 Michael Lea, 17 TBC, 18 Teague McIlroy, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 25 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Patrick Elia, 23 Kade Banks.
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A bit of a depth chart for this season.
Props
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Angus Ta'avao
Alex Hodgman
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
Marcel Renata
Jarred Adams
Marco Fepuleai?
Rob Cobb(with Waikato?)
Taniela KoroiHookers
Leni Apisai?
Mike Sosene-Feagai
Soane Vikena
Michael Lea
Leif SchwenckeLocks
Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott Scrafton
Jack Whetton
Jamie Lane
Peter-Chanel Tagaloa
Lyndon DunsheaBackrowers
Hoskins Sotutu
Akira Ioane
Blake Gibson
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
Adrian Choat
Niko Jones
Cameron SuafoaHalfbacks
Jonathan Ruru
Taufa Funaki
Danny Tusitala
Dwayne Polataivao
Rilloy Suesue
Manu PaeaFirst Fives
Harry Plummer
Zarn Sullivan
Daniel Kirkpatrick?
D'angelo Leuila
Tyrone Elkington-McDonaldMidfielders
Rieko Ioane
TJ Faiane
Tumua Manu
Tanielu Telea
Paulie Roache
Meihama GrindleyOutside Backs
Caleb Clarke
Salesi Rayasi
AJ Lam
Jordan Trainor
Lemeki Namoa
Kurt Heatherley
Freedom Vaha'akoloBolded the ones I think will most likely be in the Mitre 10 squad.
Also, some guys I listed might've moved on and I don't know about it.
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https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/91847?newsfeedId=972103
Marco Fepuleai is back playing for Ponsonby this weekend. Apollo Perelini's son is on the bench.
Rayasi is playing for Marist, and there's a Nili Latu on the bench.
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https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/club-rugby-to-have-a-super-flavour-this-weekend/
Other Blues players set to feature for their club on Saturday are Aaron Carroll (Mt Maunganui), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Ardmore Marist) and Jack Heighton (East Coast Bays). Tamati Tua, Luteru Tolai and Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa are also available but their clubs weren’t known at the time of publication.
Moved to Counties Manukau?
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Noticed Freedom Vaha'akolo playing for Dunedin club side Dunedin. Possible transfer move? -
@NateHill74 Interesting. Might also be there in the Highlanders wider squad?
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@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2020:
https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/club-rugby-to-have-a-super-flavour-this-weekend/
Other Blues players set to feature for their club on Saturday are Aaron Carroll (Mt Maunganui), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Ardmore Marist) and Jack Heighton (East Coast Bays). Tamati Tua, Luteru Tolai and Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa are also available but their clubs weren’t known at the time of publication.
Moved to Counties Manukau?
Looks like it.
Lavea going to Counties is probably the worst thing that could've happened to us. He could decimate our depth in a couple of seasons. If he went to any team outside of Counties/Harbour, he'd have a harder time to do that.