Otago v Auckland
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I am pleased to see Lam getting a start. I think the Blues should be looking at him for the centre / wing position that Marchant covered last season. I hope he develops well through this comp.
It will also be interesting to see how Jarrod Adams goes after his super rugby experience with the Sunwolves. He has already done well to get picked for match day out of a squad of 8 props! -
@macmanus said in Otago v Auckland:
Aoina
2 Coltman
3 Hohneck
4 Tucker
5 Hill
6 Manu
7 McDowall
8 Nel
9 Hammington
10 Ioane
11 Nareki
12 Tomkinson
13 Timu/Aleki Morris-Lome
14 Vaahakolo
15 Collins1 Aoina
2 Coltman
3 Hohneck
4 Tucker
5 Hill
6 Manu
7 McDowall
8 Nel
9 Hammington
10 Ioane
11 Nareki
12 Tomkinson
13 Collins
14 Vaahakolo
15 Koroimy team only slightly different, Koroi's boot for exit plays might take some pressure of J'oane
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The All Blacks have been handed another injury concern, with Patrick Tuipulotu ruled out of Auckland's Mitre 10 Cup opener against Otago this weekend. Tuipulotu has been ruled out of Saturday afternoon's clash with an Achilles problem, though Auckland coach Alama Ieremia says it is a precautionary move. "[It's] a little bit niggly with his Achilles so we'll just try and manage that for ourselves and the All Blacks." -
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For those who want to see the team in text form
Otago: Michael Collins (c), Vilimoni Koroi, Josh Timu, Aleki Morris-Lome, Jonah Nareki, Josh Ioane, Kayne Hammington, Dylan Nel, Slade McDowall, Charles Elton, Will Tucker, Josh Hill, Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Josh Aoina. Reserves: Ricky Jackson, George Bower, Hisa Sasagi, Jack Regan, Nasi Manu, James Arscott, Patelesio Tomkinson, Freedom Vaha’akolo. -
im just a bit worried Collins wont have the wheels for cover some of the Auckland backs if they make a break where Koroi would and although small at least he might make the ground for an attempt
cant see us kicking it much, maybe try for a lot of possession and grind away
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@KiwiMurph an overload of Josh's, plus a sprinkling of Charles, Liam, George. It's like it's the Windsor XV.
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@Bones hadn't noticed...why was Josh such a popular name in the late 90's early 00's?
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@Kiwiwomble said in Otago v Auckland:
@Bones hadn't noticed...why was Josh such a popular name in the late 90's early 00's?
Kronfeld obviously....
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Also, why is Simon Hickey in the squad? Can we loan him out to Counties or Southland or something like that and have Zarn Sullivan on the bench instead?
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@African-Monkey Hickey isn't even the best first-five from his school in this game....
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@African-Monkey I also hoped Sullivan would make the bench, mostly because I have never seen him play. It will be interesting to see how Hickeys game has developed, remembering that he left for overseas 5 years ago as a 21 year old. Now 26, he returns with 78 games of European experience (scoring 500 points) for Bordeaux and Edinburgh. He was thrust into the starting 10 role at much too young an age back then for Auckland and the Blues . My concern would be that his instincts may be too conservative to suit this team. Hopefully with age and experience he will now be able to better drive the game plan, and we know he will at least kick his goals. I guess the Hurricanes will also be hoping this for next season.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Otago v Auckland:
He was thrust into the starting 10 role at much too young an age back then for Auckland and the Blues .
Textbook case on how to ruin a young 10, and something Auckland did with monotonous regularity. The contrast with how someone like Mo'unga gets developed vs Hickey is stark.
That said, when he took the line on he was sensational. Unfortunately it only happened occasionally, and he started standing deeper and deeper. Good coaching may bring him back to his potential.
