Hawke's Bay v Auckland

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland team named.

Not quite the strength of the team that played Southland. Not sure on injury update to Luatua or the others - sounds like Nanai's injury wasn't too bad so I'd suggest he'll be back vs Waikato on Sunday.

1. Tom McHugh (Grammar TEC)

2. Kurt Eklund (University)

3. Marcel Renata (University)

4. Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC)

5. Michael Fatialofa (Ponsonby)

6. Liaki Moli (Manukau Rovers)

7. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)

8. Joe Edwards (Pakuranga)

9. Jono Hickey (Grammar TEC)

10. Simon Hickey (Grammar TEC)

11. Pryor Collier (Ponsonby)

12. Vince Aso (Pononsby)

13. Rieko Ioane (Ponsonby)

14. Joseva Ravouvou (College Rifles)

15. Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald (University)

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate (Ponsonby)

17. Isi Tu’ungafasi (Grammar TEC)

18. James Lay (Pakuranga)

19. Ben Nee Nee (Pakuranga)

20. Taleni Seu (Grammar TEC)

21. Leon Fukofuka (Marist)

22. Latiume Fosita (Papatoetoe)

23. Pasqualle Dunn (College Rifles)

[African Monkey]

Hmm not our best side on paper. Liaki Moli is a horrible 6 imo from what I saw of him at the Sunwolves. Lacks athleticism to play there.

Joe Edwards hasn't been at his best so far. He's slipped off far too many one on one tackles which is very unlike him.

Glad to see Marcel Renata starting. I think the guy has massive potential both with ball in hand and at scrum time. I'd rather see us invest time in him ahead of Isi Tu'ungafasi.

[Nepia]

FYI - there's also a thread about this in the Magpies section where you can compare the squads on paper. Your not best is likely much better than our best.

[African Monkey]

@Nepia Funnily enough your side isn't that bad on paper. It's a bit of a banana skin game for us I feel as we haven't really been at our best so far (apart from the last 10 against Southland when they gave up) and you guys did beat us last year against the odds so an upset wouldn't suprise me.

[Nepia]

@African-Monkey said in Hawke's Bay v Auckland:

@Nepia Funnily enough your side isn't that bad on paper. It's a bit of a banana skin game for us I feel as we haven't really been at our best so far (apart from the last 10 against Southland when they gave up) and you guys did beat us last year against the odds so an upset wouldn't suprise me.

Our team last year was completely different to this year, you'll only need to the Ioane's to go crazy for 15 minutes to put us away.

[African Monkey]

Defence is a massive worry for us so far. Every time Hawkes Bay have the ball they look likely to score.

[KiwiMurph]

Sounds like Auckland's week 1 effort. Glad i'm not watching at this point

[African Monkey]

FFS we aren't switched on.

[African Monkey]

@KiwiMurph worse

[Duluth]

How can a TJ miss that??

[Tim]

@Duluth said in Hawke's Bay v Auckland:

How can a TMO miss that??

Let alone the touch judge ...

[Duluth]

@Tim that was quick.. I did an edit within 10secs

[African Monkey]

We deserve to be down by 20+

[Tim]

Looked like we bombed a try?

[African Monkey]

Rieko Ioane playing on his own tonight. No-one seems interested in giving him support tonight.

[Tim]

Wasn't that a clear penalty for playing the ball on the ground there?

[Dice]

The Ioanes bros

The Hickey bros

[taniwharugby]

I see Brad Webber has come out and said he thinks the new rules suck balls, or something to that effect....I expect most other 9s probably feel the same.

[African Monkey]

@Tim said in Hawke's Bay v Auckland:

Wasn't that a clear penalty for playing the ball on the ground there?

Yes thought the same. We need a big half here that was pathetic.

[African Monkey]

Hawkes Bay in. We could be gone here.