Wellington vs Auckland

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland looking to bounce-back against the pride of Wellington

TJ Faiane, Melani Nanai and Robbie Abel return to the starting XV Michael Fatialofa makes his first appearance for ...

So Blake Gibson and Tele'a are out for the season - can't say i'm surprised - both tend to be constantly injured. At least Fatialofa is back.

Auckland team to play Wellington:

Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
Robbie Abel (College Rifles)
Marcel Renata (University)
Michael Fatialofa (Ponsonby)
Fa’atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
Dalton Papali’i (Pakuranga)
Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)

Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
TJ Faiane – Captain (Pakuranga)
Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
Jacob Umaga (Eden)


Reserves
 
Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs)
Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
Jamie Lane (Ponsonby)
Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)
Jonathan Ruru (University)
Caleb Clarke (Suburbs)
Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

Unavailable due to injury: Jack Whetton (ankle), Tanielu Tele’a (knee – season), Daniel Kirkpatrick (neck), Taleni Seu (back – season), Taniela Koroi (arm – season), Blake Gibson (quad – season), Lyndon Dunshea (shoulder – season)

[Tim]

The Blues are going to need an experienced backup openside who can tackle. I wonder if Harmon or Brown are interested?

[Duluth]

@tim Matich as an openside is a risk I would consider

[Tim]

BTW:

Jack Whetton is out for several weeks with a high ankle sprain

[African Monkey]

@tim Cantabrians are never interested in playing for the Blues but I get your drift. I wouldn't mind Matich or maybe a return for Karpik? There's not many out there

[Duluth]

http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/proctor-and-garden-bachop-to-bring-up-their-50th-for-the-lions/

15 Wes Goosen (Old Boys University)
14 Malo Tuitama (Oriental-Rongotai)
13 Matt Proctor (Oriental-Rongotai) (c)
12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata)
11 Ben Lam (Tawa)
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop (Northern United)
9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Tawa)
8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Old Boys University)
7 Mateaki Kafatolu (Petone)
6 Galu Taufale (Poneke)
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Poneke)
4 James Blackwell (Petone)
3 Jeff To'omaga-Allen (Marist St Pats)
2 Asafo Aumua (Avalon)
1 Xavier Numia (Oriental-Rongotai)

16 James O'Reilly (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
17 Tolu Fahamokioa (Tawa)
18 Joel Hintz (Old Boys University)
19 Sam Lousi (Marist St Pats) or Will Mangos (Old Boys University)
20 Thomas Waldrom (Avalon)
21 Carlos Price (Petone)
22 Billy Proctor (Marist St Pats)
23 Trent Renata (Oriental-Rongotai)

[akan004]

Still no Coles. Wasn't he expected to be available for one or two RC games?

[Canes4life]

Awesome to see Lousi back, hopefully have him starting at lock and Blackwell to 6 for the playoffs.

[Bovidae]

@akan004 said in Wellington vs Auckland:

Still no Coles. Wasn't he expected to be available for one or two RC games?

The original comeback date was late Sep or early Oct but Hansen said recently there was no set date. That's code for a setback in his rehab.

[Dice]

Good to have a few guys back. Fatialofa comes back at just the right time.

Without Gibson, Papali'i seriously needs to stay healthy until the end, because there's a massive drop in quality between him and the next openside option.

[African Monkey]

@dice Or we just get Sione Havili back.

[Tim]

@african-monkey Looks like he'll be out injured for some time.

[African Monkey]

@tim I take that back then haha. Anyone know how Aleks Dabek went in theclub season? He was a star at schoolboy level for St Peter's.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@african-monkey Dabek captained the champion Ponsonby team and was outstanding. He played pre-season trials with Auckland but missed out on the squad to Adrian Choat (NZ u20 this year). He's still very young and probably needs a years bulking up for first class rugby.

[Winger]

@canes4life said in Wellington vs Auckland:

Awesome to see Lousi back, hopefully have him starting at lock and Blackwell to 6 for the playoffs.

Agree. Without both Lousi and Fifita our lineout wasn't great. Its a shame that Fidow is out for the full year. But at least Lousi returning should rectify one weakness. Blackwell at 1.90 is just too short

[Squirrel]

Good game from Wellington so far. Retained the ball against a sturdy Auckland defence and eventually crash over from close range. 7-0 8.29 gone

[KiwiMurph]

Only one team in it so far.

[Squirrel]

20 minutes gone. 10-0 wellington. Auckland not much chop so far

[Tim]

Auckland seem to be asleep. Bizarre.

[Dice]

Sweet ball by Faiane. Manu with a nice run to score. Their chemistry has been so good this season.