Auckland v Manawatu
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First game of storm week (second is Southland in Invercagill), so expecting to see a bit of rotation. There's been no news on injuries (although Plummer will be out, presumably), so pure speculation ahead ...
Renata, Lay, Annandale, and Ekuasi might be names we see in the forwards.
McKenzie, Cobb, and Spencer were name as backs in the squad. Would be nice if Tele'a is fit to play.
I wouldn't be surprised to see some members of the "wider squad" in there too. A lock has already been used.
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@Stargazer said in Auckland vs. Manawatu (2023):
Auckland are really lucky with the draw, having both Manawatū and Southland in their stormweek!
and Hawkes Bay
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For those the prefer text:
1 Ben Ake, 2 Leni Apisai, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 4 Hamish Dalzell, 5 Sione Tuipulotu, 6 Che Clark, 7 Niko Jones, 8 Akira Ioane (c), 9 Taufa Funaki, 10 Jock McKenzie, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 12 Taniela Tele'a, 13 Corey Evans, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 15 Peyton Spencer
Reserves: 16 Joe Royal, 17 Sam Lester, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Kalin Felise, 20 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Leo Gordon, 23 Joel Cobb
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First Auckland game for Tele'a since the 2020 final (injuries, covid lockdowns & a couple of games for Counties in between)
Clark has looked good off the bench this year. Looking forward to seeing how him, McKenzie and Spencer go
Pleased to see Evans at 13. Heem has had a slight dip in form. Evans could force his way into the top xv
Who is covering ten?
I presume Annandale is injured? Anyone know how serious it is?
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Always exciting to see some youngsters get a run. Che Clark looks the goods, deserves a start.
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The text version:
1 Joseph Gavigan, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Sean Paranihi, 4 Ofa Tauatevalu, 5 Josh Tuala, 6 TK Howden, 7 Johnny Galloway, 8 Terrell Peita, 9 John Poland, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11 Taniela Filimone, 12 James Tofa, 13 Kegan Christian-Goss, 14 Waqa Nalaga, 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Cole Keith, 19 Johan Momsen, 20 Julian Goerke, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Beaudein Waaka, 23 Pena Va'a
So quite a few missing from their top side
Peita starts against his team mates. He was in the squad up until two weeks ago
The player/coach gets a start at fullback
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Awesome to see Waga Nalaga back from injury. He's one I'm sure many Super sides will be looking at, not the biggest of wingers but give him some space and he can cut teams apart.
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@Canes4life Yeah, keen to see how he goes at this level.
By the way, I find it confusing that his name changes back and forth from Waqa Nalaga to Epeli Waqa. Anyway, I read recently (don't know whether it's true) that he is the younger brother of Napolioni Nalaga, who's had a pretty good career; and another brother Inoke, who plays for Agen, and all with a father Kavekini Nalaga, who's played for Fiji at the 1987 RWC.
