Premiership Final - Auckland v Tasman (Free entry)
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Since the expanded competition started in 2006 only two teams have lost a home final - Wellington (twice) and Waikato.
It will be a choke of monumental proportions if Auckland loses to the injury-ravaged Ta$man team.
It's a miracle we've got as far as we have!
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@Chris-B said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
Since the expanded competition started in 2006 only two teams have lost a home final - Wellington (twice) and Waikato.
It will be a choke of monumental proportions if Auckland loses to the injury-ravaged Ta$man team.
It's a miracle we've got as far as we have!
Nah, we've lost our inspirational captain, and his backup, so are also injury-ravaged. With these injuries we even lost to lowly Canterbury.
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@Kirwan We're missing pretty much an entire forward pack!
Atu Moli, Andrew Makalio, Isaac Salmon, Pari Pari Parkinson, Jacob Norris, Ethan Blackadder.
Plus Frizell and Lomax away with the ABs.
Added to those who departed last year - Wyatt Crockett, Tim Perry, Jordan Taufua, Liam Squire.
It's a miracle, I say!
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@Chris-B said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
@Kirwan We're missing pretty much an entire forward pack!
Atu Moli, Andrew Makalio, Isaac Salmon, Pari Pari Parkinson, Jacob Norris, Ethan Blackadder.
Plus Frizell and Lomax away with the ABs.
Added to those who departed last year - Wyatt Crockett, Tim Perry, Jordan Taufua, Liam Squire.
It's a miracle, I say!
Ofa, Patrick, Akira, Sotutu for our AB decimation, and plenty of injuries for us too!
It's a cripple fight, I tells ya.
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Tumua Manu is in danger of missing his own farewell party at Eden Park on Saturday night as the influential Auckland midfielder bids to shake off a hamstring problem to roll up for his final match in the blue and white hoops.
Manu picked up a minor hamstring tear in last Saturday’s 23-18 semifinal victory over Waikato and sat out Tuesday’s training session as preparations ramped up for Saturday’s title decider against the dangerous Ta$man outfit.
But the 27-year-old Samoa-born centre told Stuff he will be doing his level best to prove his fitness by Thursday and keep intact his outstanding midfield combination with Tanielu Tele’a that was so influential in guiding Alama Ieremia’s side into their second Premiership final in three years.
“It’s a little tear outside the hamstring,” said Manu. “I’ll find out Thursday. Fingers crossed, because I am desperate to play. I felt it against Waikato, but thought ‘it’s not a big problem’. Hopefully it isn’t.”
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@Duluth said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
If he doesn’t play we’re looking at Hickey starting and a midfield of Plummer/Tele’a
That ends the conversation about who should be favourites
Ahh, but Tim O'Malley was also busily getting his hammy strapped on Saturday night, so we're equally waiting with bated breath.
We might have Kieron Fonotia at second five!
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@Chris-B said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
@Duluth said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
If he doesn’t play we’re looking at Hickey starting and a midfield of Plummer/Tele’a
That ends the conversation about who should be favourites
Ahh, but Tim O'Malley was also busily getting his hammy strapped on Saturday night, so we're equally waiting with bated breath.
We might have Kieron Fonotia at second five
Auckland bookmaker phones suddenly ringing off the hook...
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A Ta$man preview...
https://www.mako.nz/news/tasmans-high-fliers-head-for-eden-park
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Ta$man will come to Eden Park to defend their Mitre 10 Cup Premiership title on Saturday night. The gates will be opened for free entry at Eden Park allowing the Auckland Rugby community to come and watch their team attempt to win their second title in three years thanks to principal sponsor, Barfoot & Thompson. Head Coach, Alama Ieremia says the team are relishing the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd. “Our community has always been at the forefront of our values throughout the season and thanks to Barfoot & Thompson, we have the opportunity to finish strong in front of our Auckland community who have all been through a challenging year.” Ieremia has made several changes to the match day squad that were victorious over Waikato in the Premiership Semi-Final. Marist Halfback, Taufa Funaki comes into the squad after making his debut for Auckland in Round 3 against Manawatu. James Lay and Niko Jones come into the starting lineup and Jack Whetton will make his return the starting team after suffering a shoulder injury in the previous meeting with Ta$man back in Round 6. Both teams finished the 2020 season with a 7-3 record. When both teams met back in Round 6 at Eden Park, Auckland proved too good for Ta$man, taking the game 31-10. Ieremia is aware of what Ta$man can bring to finals rugby but is positive that his team will be ready for the contest. “ Ta$man are a good finals team. We saw that in the 2019 Semi-Final, but that was last season. They are defending champions, but We will definitely be up for this last push come Saturday.” Kickoff is 6:35pm and Thanks to Barfoot & Thompson It will be free entry into the Mitre 10 Cup Final at Eden Park. -
"Just five players from the run on team two years ago are in the starting line up for this weekend."
Looking at the whole 23 it's a lot of turnover in 2 years too
1 Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
2 Robbie Abel (College Rifles)
3 Marcel Renata (University)
4 Fa’atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
5 Michael Fatialofa (Ponsonby)
6 Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
7 Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
8 Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
9 Jonathan Ruru (University)
10 Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
11 Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
12 TJ Faiane – Captain (Pakuranga)
13 Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
14 Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)16 Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
17 Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
18 Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
19 Taleni Seu (Grammar TEC)
20 Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)
21 Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
22 Daniel Kirkpatrick (University)
23 Caleb Clarke (Suburbs)
