Auckland v Counties Manukau
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Plenty of work to do but good to start off with a win against a bogey side (who isn't haha). Fukofuka was far better than Ruru who was awful, Papali'i, Gibson and Sotutu were very good as was Manu, Trainor and Rayasi. The scrum worries me as I would like to see Renata come back and I feel that a power lock is needed whether it's Tuipulotu or Lemalu if Tuipulotu isn't available. We're still a work in progress but good to see them showing a bit of ticker which was sadly lacking last year.
Oh, and please improve your goalkicking Harry Plummer haha.
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@stargazer said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
@kiwimurph Has nothing to do with that. Counties line-outs and scrums are better than Auckland's. Auckland better score soon, because this score is stuffing up my tipping.
Scrum yes, but Counties screwed up about seven lineouts and dragged their hooker at 48mins, and he threw worse.
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@mimic said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
For some strange reason, I have a feeling Dalton will be an all black before Akira
He is an anooying mutha.. for sure (Dalton that is not Akira) a guy you'd rather have playing with you than against you
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@kirwan said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
@stargazer said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
@kiwimurph Has nothing to do with that. Counties line-outs and scrums are better than Auckland's. Auckland better score soon, because this score is stuffing up my tipping.
Scrum yes, but Counties screwed up about seven lineouts and dragged their hooker at 48mins, and he threw worse.
Yeah. Our line outs were the killer. Removed the option of playing for territory then players started throwing the ball around when they shouldn’t have and the errors mounted.
AhWong was the spoiler in the backline that ruined many opportunities of getting the ball to the wings. Was hopeless.
Could also see why Akira is not in black and won’t be until he learns to use his legs to drive in contact. He is all upper body.
Had to love seeing some real warts and all rugby though with proper fatties
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@crucial said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
@kirwan said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
@stargazer said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
@kiwimurph Has nothing to do with that. Counties line-outs and scrums are better than Auckland's. Auckland better score soon, because this score is stuffing up my tipping.
Scrum yes, but Counties screwed up about seven lineouts and dragged their hooker at 48mins, and he threw worse.
Yeah. Our line outs were the killer. Removed the option of playing for territory then players started throwing the ball around when they shouldn’t have and the errors mounted.
AhWong was the spoiler in the backline that ruined many opportunities of getting the ball to the wings. Was hopeless.
Could also see why Akira is not in black and won’t be until he learns to use his legs to drive in contact. He is all upper body.
Had to love seeing some real warts and all rugby though with proper fatties
I think the players inside him were a bigger reason why the ball wasn't getting to the wingers. Leger and Fosita were kicking the ball away throughout the game. Ball rarely got past 12.
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Alama's Auckland rebuild is underway
After Auckland finished with just three wins in 2017’s Mitre 10 Cup, it was clear that something had to change.
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@crucial unfortunately unable to watch the provincial rugby over here but just wondering whether burn out is a problem with Akira especially playing on a losing team or losing environment in Auckland. I know going from one level of sports down to a lower level of play can affect your psyche. Anyway I don’t think he has reached a ceiling and still think the right environment will bring out his talents. Is the consensus that he is out of shape?
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@broughie said in Auckland v Counties Manukau:
@crucial unfortunately unable to watch the provincial rugby over here but just wondering whether burn out is a problem with Akira especially playing on a losing team or losing environment in Auckland. I know going from one level of sports down to a lower level of play can affect your psyche. Anyway I don’t think he has reached a ceiling and still think the right environment will bring out his talents. Is the consensus that he is out of shape?
I didn't think out of shape, more that his natural style still hasn't changed. He looks like he was always the biggest kid on the field and thinks he can bash and shrug his way forward all the time. A bit like Will Skelton. It just won't work at test level without adding some leg drive and low power.
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@tim Good article. I liked his response to starting Plummer at 10 - spot on.
I have to laugh at the notion that its a big call to put Plummer in there - not really - what's the alternative? Sit him behind some journeyman like Kirkpatrick? What's that going to achieve other than to stunt his growth. He showed last year v Canterbury he is good enough to start at 10 on Mitre 10 Cup.
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