Auckland Rugby 2021
-
@tim I got along to watch Grammar Tech play Ponsonby last Saturday really impressed with the standard , Ponsonby looked to have the game under control at 21-12 but Grammar Tech lifted in the last 20 minutes .
GT had a very young backline with Jock McKenzie at first five ,Corey Evans and 2nd Five and Heremaia Murray at centre , and Jack Gray (Scots College) and Caleb Tangitu on the wings The GT pack is massive , plenty of height and size .
Ponsonby however always seem to find a way to get across the line ,
Stephen Perofeta at first five , Wiseguy Faianne probably had the best game I have seen him play in a very long time , got both of Ponies tries ..Blake Gibson played his typically physical style of game , but to be honest , did not really stand out ..Presley Tufuga at lock for Ponies was very good , really physical player ..I was also impressed with Selestino Kalounivale , Fijian boy at centre ,not sure where he’s played before , tall and strapping , was very good in contact ..
For GT , all the backs had their moments, was impressed with Jock McKenzie.., could be one to watch moving forward ..also Corey Evans has all the skills , very smart kicking game as well ..has signed for 2 years with Auckland.., but I suspect a move back to the Taniwha might be on the cards in 2023..
Watched Liam Hallam Eames the GT lock and skipper with interest as I know Northland had expressed some interest …very tall player with some size , probably not his best game , looked quite ginger in the warm ups and then ran out with his ankle strapped , did not last the full game , suspect he was hindered by the injury . -
@steven-harris Thanks for the match report! Really interested to see how some of those guys come through in NPC this year.
Yeah, real shame about Gibson. Even in the opening SRA game last year he was absolutely hammering guys in the tackle. Of course he went off injured after 30 minutes of that game ...
-
@tim he’s a busy player , but you just don’t see him get the jackals say for example Papalii gets ,..had a catch up with Alama Ieremia as well ..he’s on board as the head coach , Craig McGrath is coming onboard as assistant as I believe , Bowden ,Bates and Ieremia all seem to have a good synergy..
-
@steven-harris said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
had a catch up with Alama Ieremia as well
How's he taking things? Is McGrath going to run the show?
-
@tim Corey Evans could be a real stalwart for both Auckland and the Blues in years to come , simple because he has such a good rugby mind ..I know I would love to see him in a Taniwha jersey , but in terms of his own rugby Dev, he’s better to stay in Auckland ..his mum and dad are really great people ..
-
@steven-harris said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
Word doing the rounds is Craig McGrath will take take over as the Auckland head coach ..very well liked by the players
Any clarification on this? Was the rumour incorrect? Or was the rumour for next year?
-
@duluth normally my sauce is reasonably accurate, but I suspect when he passed me on this info there still a lot happening in the background..apologies putting you all crook ..
-
No worries. Any info is appreciated
Surprised the media hasn't done any follow up articles after the initial reports of trouble
-
@duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
No worries. Any info is appreciated
Surprised the media hasn't done any follow up articles after the initial reports of trouble
Just shows their lack of interest in the NPC.
-
-
@tim Another Auckland player that has not yet appeared in club rugby this season is Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa. I always wonder if these MIA players have moved away but have not been able to find anything out about them. On the opposite tack, I see Jamie Spowart has been with Pakuranga all season. Maybe he has signed with Auckland? Also I see former C.Manukau and briefly Chiefs prop Jarrod Firth (back from Europe) is playing for Papatoetoe and Lolagi Visinia for Suburbs.
-
@daffy-jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
I thought he got injured in NPC last year?
-
@tim Oh OK so maybe rehabbing for NPC?
-
@daffy-jaffy hope so
-
@daffy-jaffy Visinia is only playing for Suburbs, because there is no premiers rugby in Hawke's Bay this weekend. He's been playing for Clive every week.
-
I know there are a few of last seasons NPC squadies playing in the U.S. Marco Fepulea'i and Danny Tusitala for instance.
-
Papatoetoe to mark 75th jubilee with stern test