Auckland 2018
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@tim said in Auckland 2018:
Beer confirmed the World Cup was also set to make it very difficult to retain the core group of this year's title-winning squad who lost just once in 2018 and snapped a run of nine championships in 10 years by the Red and Blacks.
"We'll be looking to work through the contracting with players, which Alama is across" added the Auckland boss. "But we've got to be considerate of what players might be available for Rugby World Cup selection across different nations. A few of them could be picked off by different countries, such as Canada, Australia and the Pacific Island nations.
Guys who might not be available next season:
Evan Olmstead, Mike Sosene-Feagai, Fa'atiga Lemalu, Leon Fukofuka, Dalton Papali'i, Akira Ioane(with 10+ backrow injuries, it could happen).
I can easily see both Melani Nanai and Tumua Manu putting their names forward for Samoa. Both turn 26 next year and might want to go to a World Cup while they're in their primes.
Let's say all those guys are unavailable, this is what the line-up might look like next season:
15 Jordan Trainor
14 Vince Aso
13 Tanielu Telea
12 TJ Faiane
11 Salesi Rayasi
10 Harry Plummer
9 Jonathan Ruru
8 Hoskins Sotutu
7 Blake Gibson
6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
5 Taleni Seu
4 Jack Whetton
3 Marcel Renata
2 Robbie Abel
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth16 Kurt Eklund
17 Sam Prattley
18 Marco Feapuleai
19 John Akau'ola-Laula/Lyndon Dunshea
20 Sione Havili/Adrian Choat
21 Desma Liaina
22 Daniel Kirkpatrick
23 Caleb ClarkeActually not that bad to me, but this teams needs to stay pretty healthy to win it again.
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@kiwimurph what position do you invisage him playing..?
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@steven-harris from what i've seen he plays 8 (for St Peter's and for NZ Schools). Handy as Akira will be away in the AB setup
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@kiwimurph on the driving Maul last night we covered off the ASB rugby awards I picked Alama as the coach as the coach of the year over Scott Robinson and I also picked TJ Faiane as the Mitre 10 Cup player of the year over Luke Ramano and Fletcher Smith..
Might sound biased,but I reckon they are both a real chance -
@steven-harris said in Auckland 2018:
@kiwimurph on the driving Maul last night we covered off the ASB rugby awards I picked Alama as the coach as the coach of the year over Scott Robinson and I also picked TJ Faiane as the Mitre 10 Cup player of the year over Luke Ramano and Fletcher Smith..
Might sound biased,but I reckon they are both a real chance@steven-harris said in Auckland 2018:
@kiwimurph on the driving Maul last night we covered off the ASB rugby awards I picked Alama as the coach as the coach of the year over Scott Robinson and I also picked TJ Faiane as the Mitre 10 Cup player of the year over Luke Ramano and Fletcher Smith..
Might sound biased,but I reckon they are both a real chanceSome good calls, but I'd go with Romano. He was some player for Canterbury this season - good though Faiane was, I think if Romano stays on the field, Canterbury win the title.
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@kiwimurph 2019 Tour Schedule:
Friday 22 February Auckland v Brumbies A Vikings Park, Canberra
Friday 1 March Auckland v Waratahs Venue TBC
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Eroni Clarke, a veteran of more than 150 games for the blue and white hoops, was elected President and will look to oversee what is hoped to be a fruitful spell for the province off the back of their Mitre 10 Cup success in 2018.
“I bleed blue, and being able to use my experiences from on and off the field while also working with some amazing leaders at a governance level all the way down to the grassroots is a wonderful way to be able to contribute to Auckland Rugby and come alongside to grow the brand and the game,” said Clarke of his election as President.
Clarke replaces the retiring Bruce Gemmell.
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TJ and Dalton pick up awards.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12178596
All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor and Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge have been selected by their peers as the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association men's and women's best performers of the year.
In awards likely to be treasured, as the recognition comes from those around them, Taylor piped Rieko Ioane, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Ben Smith for NZRPA men's player of the year after a standout season.
Cocksedge, the inaugural female winner of the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year trophy at the New Zealand Rugby awards last week, was duly recognised again by edging Eloise Blackwell, Fiao'o Fa'amausili, Stacey Waaka and Selica Winiata for the top NZRPA women's prize.
Vilimoni Koroi took out the best New Zealand men's sevens player; Michaela Blyde the women's sevens player of the year award.
Crusaders and All Blacks playmaker Richie Mo'unga claimed Super Rugby player of the year, while title-winning Auckland captain TJ Faiane was voted best provincial player.
The final award went to emerging Auckland tyro Dalton Papalii who was selected ahead of Brett Cameron, Tom Christie, Harry Plummer and Billy Proctor as the top young player of the year.
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Likely to be quite a few from the 2018 Auckland squad who miss the NPC with World Cup duties. Some guesses off the top of my head:
Mike Sosene
Evan Olmsted
Fa'atiga Lemalu
Leon Fukofuka
Tumua Manu (no idea, but turns 26 this year)Some other foreign qualified players who might get a call up:
Taniela Koroi
Marco Fepulea'i
Jarred Adams
Melani Nanai
