Auckland 2018
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Definitely signed for Blues next year, M10 contracts alone don’t pay enough to leave European contracts. Caution though, Ardron really struggled in M10 last year, may have needed the 6months before Super season to adjust to the fitness & speed levels required here.
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@tim said in Auckland 2018:
Matt Storm and Lemeki Namoa are another couple from the Blues U20 side that didn't make it. Think that Matt Storm is injured though.
Lemeki is most probably with the U19s for the JH Memorial tourney. Haven't heard anything re Matt Storm. Gee hopefully he hasn't had recurring problems with his knee.
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The Auckland B team that is playing Northland B today:
1 Ezekiel Lindemuth (Suburbs)
2 Robbie Able (College Rifles)
3 Marcel Renata (University)
4 John Akau'ola-laula (Pakuranga)
5 Fa'atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby)
7 Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
8 Taina Fox-Matamua (Ponsonby)
9 Desma Liaina (Eden)
10 Harry Miller - Captain (University)
11AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
12 Hawaii Ahokovi (Pakuranga)
13 Nikolai Foliaki (Grammar TEC)
14 Joe Ravouvou (College Rifles)
15 Freedom Vaha'akolo (Ponsonby)16 Penisoni Fineanganofo (Papatoetoe)
17 Franck Friconnet (Eden)
18 Ezra Meleisa (Pakuranga)
19 Max East (Pakuranga)
20 Pele Cowley (Suburbs)
21 D'Angelo Leuila (Papatoetoe)
22 TJ Vaega (Grammar TEC)Interesting to see Renata is fit but not selected for the A's. Is he coming back from an injury?
No Caleb Clarke is he injured again?
I'm surprised that Leuila is so far down the rankings given Ieremia picked him to start Tests matches not that long ago.
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@duluth Honestly, I expect some head scratching selections with Alama. He scares me so much with the track record he has.
I'd feel a bit better about our chances against Counties if Renata and Ravouvou were at least in the 23. Both were two of our better players last season.
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@dice said in Auckland 2018:
@duluth Honestly, I expect some head scratching selections with Alama. He scares me so much with the track record he has.
I'd feel a bit better about our chances against Counties if Renata and Ravouvou were at least in the 23. Both were two of our better players last season.
Yep, I was underwhelmed with Alama's appointment. Must be something about Wellington centres.
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A report I have put together for Northland rugby,
A penalty kicked from Auckland B skipper five Harry Miller after time was up from 40 metres out was enough take victory against a determined Northland Development rugby team played at Orakei Domain in Auckland on Saturday
Northland can feel a little hard done by after after battling back on a couple of occasions after being down 3-12 after after 25 minutes ,the Taniwha rallied before halftime scoring 2 x tries in five minutes , the first coming after Northland 2nd five Adam Shepherd latched on to a loose ball toed it ahead only to be taken out by a retreating Auckland player before having the opportunity to touch down, the official had no hesitation but to award the penalty try.
A few minutes later after some great passing down the left flank,Waipu outside back Tavite Gadeisuva was released outside his marker ,put an accurately placed inside kick which was picked up by a Northland player and the final pass ending up in the hands of workaholic flanker Sam McNamara who touched beside the posts, the try was converted and unbelievably the Taniwha were leading 17-12 against a star studded Auckland B team that featured at least 3 x players that had played super rugby along with NZ under 20 players Adrian Choat, Waimana Reidlinger Kapa and former NZ secondary schools lock John Akauola.Not to mention big NZ sevens winger Joe Ravouvou who was handful every time he touched the ball.Auckland dominated possession in the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half with their big pack starting to operate with good effect, in that time Northland will be a little disappointed with some of their one on one tackles ,as 2 very soft tries were scored close to the posts, and with both tries being converted ,Auckland at that stage of the game looked they would finish over the top of the visitors
But no one told this Northland team that ,there is a lot to be said about staying in the fight no matter
what the size or the caliber of the opposition.Some changes made by head coach Graham Dewes seemed to have immediate effect with the replacements adding some much needed energy, replacement Dan Wells scored a good a try after some long phases of attack were put together, the try was unconverted and once again the score was 26-22,Auckland were next score when Miller kicked a penalty to extend the lead to 29-22 which I thought at the time was a real mark of respect for the visitors.
With time running out Northland replacement hooker Micheal Lea touched down on the left flank after some superb inter passing, the hooker showed great pace finishing off the try in the corner.
Blundell landed the conversion from out wide, and the teams were locked at 29 all with a couple minutes to play,
Credit to Northland,in trying to find the winner after the clock had elapsed ,they infringed unfortunately and up stepped Miller who calmly steered the kick between the sticks.
Final Score Auckland 32 Northland 29The outstanding player for Northland was Sam McNamara,who was not only everywhere, but was also a very consistent source at line out time.
McNamara combined well with Jarod Byrnes and Aorangi Stokes who was full of aggression especially against the big Auckland ball runners.
Boyd Wiggins got through a ton of work and big lock Francois Marius secured some good ball at lineout time .In the backs Mac Sykes did well having to deal with some untidy ball , and getting across to take a flying AJ Lam as he was heading to the corner,
Gadeisuva whenever he had ball was dangerous especially when given space
I was highly impressed with the Kerikeri midfielders Adam Shepard and Mitchell Miller,Shepherd especially who got through a ton of work.
In the earlier game ,the Northland under 19s went down to their Auckland counter parts by
50-3 after being down by 19-3 at halftime
The final score did not tell a true story of the effort that the Northland lads put in,
After 28 minutes they trailed only 5-3 and had actually dominated field position and ball for long periods on to turn ball over and see Auckland score 2 x tries before the half.
Auckland continued to dominate in the 2nd half and with so much ball and their scrum and lineout set piece on top they slowly but surely ground the Northland team down.
Their were a couple of superb individual efforts,especially from skipper and number 8 Thomas Anderson who carried impressively and along with fellow loose forward Gil Caan Vaana who put in some big hits against some sizeable ball runners .
A tough afternoon for the backs, but first five Royce Sanderson looks a player of real promise.
All in all a tough day at the office for the under 19s,but I am sure they will be better for the hit out against a big physical team. -
The All Blacks coach, a long-time admirer of the hard-running and uncapped Hurricanes player, said a day after the Bledisloe Cup defeat of the Wallabies in Sydney that Aso was in the running to provide cover after Ryan Crotty's head injury at ANZ Stadium. But the 23-year-old told Radio Sport yesterday he won't be available until at least November.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12110411
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Auckland Representative Results – Saturday 25 August
Auckland B v Auckland Colts Auckland s second side proved far too strong for their counterparts in what turned out...
Auckland B v Auckland Colts
Auckland's second side proved far too strong for their counterparts in what turned out to be a comfortable run out on Saturday afternoon. The Colts will have a chance to get their campaign back on track this Saturday when they confront the challenge of Counties Manukau B.
Bs 83 (J Akau’ola-laula 2, E Meleisea, H Ahokovi, T Latu, M East 2, A Dabek, W Riedlinger-Kapa, O Mausia, D Tusitala 2, F Vakauta tries; H Miller 5, D Leuila 2, D Tusitala 2 conversions)
Colts 12 (M Te’o, P Vaovasa tries; G Taina conversion)
(Halftime: 33 – 12)
Auckland U85 v Thames Valley Development
The U85s got their season off to a winning star with a gritty win over the much bigger Thames Valley Development side who do not fall under the weight restriction. The match was still locked at 0-0 at the end of the first spell, but 85s outlasted their rivals to claim the victory.
U85kg 15 (J Neary, T Crothall tries; M Ward conversion; J Simpkins penalty)
Thames Valley Development 10
(Halftime: 0 - 0)
Auckland U19A v Auckland U19 Development
This was as tight as they come and a good sign of the competitiveness within the age-group. The U19 Development came within a whisker of pulling off what would of been deemed an upset win and potentially claim the higher seeding of the two Auckland sides for the National tournament. The U19A however, were able to hold their nerve when it really mattered and claim a nervy victory.
U19A 13 (C Clarke, T Faleafa tries; J Cooper penalty)
U19 Development 12
(Halftime: TBC)
