Auckland Mitre 10 Cup squad announced
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="597821" data-time="1468821233">
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<p>Only two halfbacks. Will Simon Hickey cover until Lisati Milo-Harris returns from injury?</p>
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<p>I would assume that Dwayne Polataivao would be the 3rd halfback as he got a run for us last season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Interesting to see Fosita there. We're a bit light in the midfield so could we see him and Aso make up the midfield?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Does anyone know if the sevens players will take part this season?</p> -
<p>gee I'd love to get Marcel Renata back up here! </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="597820" data-time="1468821180"><p>Also, what's up with Dalton Papalii missing the squad? He was the Blues Development Team player of the year.</p></blockquote>
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Papalii looks a real prospect. Could it be a case that squads are restricted to certain sizes and ABs have to be named. Could he make it with Kaino being with the ABs? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="597822" data-time="1468822313">
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<p>I would assume that Dwayne Polataivao would be the 3rd halfback as he got a run for us last season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Interesting to see Fosita there. We're a bit light in the midfield so could we see him and Aso make up the midfield?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Does anyone know if the sevens players will take part this season?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I'd assume so.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At least Fukofuka will be a big step up for us at halfback.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="597822" data-time="1468822313">
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<p>I would assume that Dwayne Polataivao would be the 3rd halfback as he got a run for us last season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Interesting to see Fosita there. We're a bit light in the midfield so could we see him and Aso make up the midfield?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Does anyone know if the sevens players will take part this season?</p>
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</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Didnt even notice his name there, had heard Fosita was sniffing about up this way again recently...he has played 10, 14 and 15 for us, dont think he played mid-field. Probably a much better player from his time for Tonga but he was more a reliable player than anything else and not really quick enough for the wing or FB either.</p> -
<p>I'll take a guess at the starting line-up:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Prattley</p>
<p>Pleasants-Tate</p>
<p>Renata/I. Tu’ungafasi (quite tough if both Faumuina and O. Tu’ungafasi are out with the ABs)</p>
<p>Scrafton</p>
<p>Fatialofa</p>
<p>Edwards</p>
<p>Gibson</p>
<p>A. Ioane</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fukofuka</p>
<p>S. Hickey</p>
<p>Visinia</p>
<p>Aso</p>
<p>R. Iaone</p>
<p>?</p>
<p>Nanai</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="597819" data-time="1468820720">
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<p>Magpies, what's Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald like at 10?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Tim, he's a good goalkicker. He is, or was at one point, the leading points scorer in the Auckland comp this year?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If Blues supporters felt Ihaia West did not challenge the opposition defensive line enough (particularly in the first half of this year's S18) then I feel Auckland supporters will express the same comments about Elkington-MacDonald.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My observation of him in both club and rep play in Hawke's Bay last year was he is more of a pass and kick first-five rather than a first-five who takes the ball to the opposition line. He is certainly not as quick as West.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Having said that, not being in Auckland I haven't seen him play in Auckland this year, so he may well be running more.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="597833" data-time="1468824247">
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<p>Tim, he's a good goalkicker. He is, or was at one point, the leading points scorer in the Auckland comp this year?</p>
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<p>If Blues supporters felt Ihaia West did not challenge the opposition defensive line enough (particularly in the first half of this year's S18) then I feel Auckland supporters will express the same comments about Elkington-MacDonald.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My observation of him in both club and rep play in Hawke's Bay last year was he is more of a pass and kick first-five rather than a first-five who takes the ball to the opposition line. He is certainly not as quick as West.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Having said that, not being in Auckland I haven't seen him play in Auckland this year, so he may well be running more.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Cheers. Apparently he is still the leading point scorer in club rugby.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="597827" data-time="1468822879">
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<p>Didnt even notice his name there, had heard Fosita was sniffing about up this way again recently...he has played 10, 14 and 15 for us, dont think he played mid-field. Probably a much better player from his time for Tonga but he was more a reliable player than anything else and not really quick enough for the wing or FB either.</p>
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<p>Yeah I'm only going off the fact that he's played at 12 for most of the year for Papatoetoe in the Auckland comp.</p> -
<p>he seems pretty versatile, and while not quick enough for an outside back, he was pretty solid when he last played for us, but as above, expect he has improved hugely with Tonga.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="597819" data-time="1468820720"><p>
Magpies, what's Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald like at 10?</p></blockquote>
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Played a couple of years of club rugby down here (think he may have played senior rugby aged 17) cool head and a great boot.<br><br>
Very good touch player too apparently so has the skills. -
<p>Pasqualle Dunn has had an interesting career. Looks like he was in the Auckland Colts last year, and prior to that played league at outside centre for Doncaster, and the year before was in Leicester Tigers' development squad. Looks like he plays 12 and 13 for College Rifles.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2013/12/interview-with-us-eligible-leicester.html'>http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2013/12/interview-with-us-eligible-leicester.html</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/local-sport/doncaster-rlfc-dons-sign-pasqualle-dunn-and-danny-cowling-1-6880607'>http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/local-sport/doncaster-rlfc-dons-sign-pasqualle-dunn-and-danny-cowling-1-6880607</a></p> -
<p>Any 10 trying to make it at Auckland is wasting their time unfortunately with Simon Hickey there and to make it worse, the guy is still bloody captain. Surely Bordeaux can ban him from playing down here.</p>
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<p>Good team overall. With Gibson and Luatua(if not in the ABs) back, plus a number of forwards coming back with Super Rugby experience, I think our pack should be a fair bit better than last year's. However, the backline depth doesn't look that great.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Surprised to see no Will Talataina-Mu. The U21 and B teams should be named soon, so if he's not in there, then he's likely gone elsewhere.</p>
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<p>Good to see Josh Kaifa in the team. He's a very aggressive player and covers all the backrow positions.</p> -
<p>Very strong squad,defintely worth a trip to the TAB.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="597828" data-time="1468823276">
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<p>I'll take a guess at the starting line-up:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Prattley</p>
<p>Pleasants-Tate</p>
<p>Renata/I. Tu’ungafasi (quite tough if both Faumuina and O. Tu’ungafasi are out with the ABs)</p>
<p>Scrafton</p>
<p>Fatialofa</p>
<p>Edwards</p>
<p>Gibson</p>
<p>A. Ioane</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fukofuka</p>
<p>S. Hickey</p>
<p>Visinia</p>
<p>Aso</p>
<p>R. Iaone</p>
<p>?</p>
<p>Nanai</p>
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<p>I'm not up to date with Auckland rugby hailing from Wellington but wouldn't you have Taleni Seu and Steven Luatua in that line up, especially considering Luatua is no dead cert for the All Blacks.</p>
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<p>You could have:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>4. Taleni Seu</p>
<p>5. Michael Fatialofa</p>
<p>6. Steven Luatua </p>
<p>7. Blake Gibson</p>
<p>8. Akira Ioane</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="597820" data-time="1468821180">
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<p>Also, what's up with Dalton Papalii missing the squad? He was the Blues Development Team player of the year.</p>
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<p>Papalii was named in the U19s a couple of weeks ago. With Auckland prioritizing the U19s now, I'm not surprised he's not named in the team. He might be considered once the National U19s tournament is done.</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="597821" data-time="1468821233">
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<p>Only two halfbacks. Will Simon Hickey cover until Lisati Milo-Harris returns from injury?</p>
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<p>I don't think Milo-Harris has played any rugby this year. Not quite sure when he comes back, but hopefully he does come back, because he has talent.</p> -
<p>If Luatua is with the ABs, the I would assume that Seu will be at 6 with Moli off the bench. We're a bit light at tighthead prop (if Ofa makes the ABs). Thankfully Jono Owen has gone and hopefully we see some improvement from McHugh and Isi Tu'ungafasi.</p>
