Auckland Rugby 2019
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I'm going to watch Ponsonby v Pakuranga. Anyone worth keeping an eye on? There's plenty of fringe Auckland players in Ponsonby obviously but I only really know of Hawaii Ahokovi from Pakuranga
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@Duluth The young reserve HB for Ponies Suesue can be exciting, he scored a try in the auckland trial against Honda recently. The Blind Side Jonah Mau'u is a prospect. He has been in Ireland for 2 years playing for the Ulster academy team. He is only 20, not very big but fast and explosive, scores a lot of tries. Probably a more natural 7. Patrick Tuipulotu's younger brother is reserve prop number 17, just out of school. Reserve Hooker Vikena for Ponies was NZ schools last year I think. Don't know much about Pak sorry, except that I used to coach the 7 David Adams when he was a kid. A very accurate turnover specialist. Paks 10 Taina played for Counties and maybe Samoa previously I think.
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@Duluth Noticed on the team sheets the great DJ Forbes turning out for his old Waiamata club, what a legend.
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@Duluth I could not make it to the springs today so would love to read your thoughts on the game and who impressed you. Pakuranga beat us in the first round so I was pleased with the score.
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@Daffy-Jaffy I forgot all about Jonah Mau'u as I hadn't seen or heard his name for awhile. Didn't know he was in Ireland the last couple of years. I liked his game a lot in school. He also looked great for that good Samoa Schools 7s team that also had Tanielu Telea in it a couple of years ago.
Pretty sure George Taina is the nephew of Charles Piutau. He went to Counties after school and maybe played for Tonga U20s? I think he made NZ Schools while in school, but got pushed out to 12 for them. He was part of the Auckland pre-season team last year.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Duluth Noticed on the team sheets the great DJ Forbes turning out for his old Waiamata club, what a legend.
It's been awhile. I think he was part of the Waitemata team that won it all way back in 2003.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Conditions weren't great and the first half was scrappy. Ponsonby had the wind in the second half and were a lot more intense.. that's when they ran away with it.
Who impressed? I had a bias to watching the names that I knew and thought might be in the NPC mix
I liked Roache's wide passing game and he had an excellent break cutting back against the drift defence that setup a try. How has he gone in the other games? Could he be a reserve for TJ in the NPC?
I was keeping an eye on Lane. Good to see he looks heavier than last year. In general he was tidy and busy, but he did drop a fairly simple kickoff
Ponsonby had a couple of huge scrums midway through the second half. It was when a couple of subs came on so I guess H Tuipulotu and Tufuga deserve some credit for that.
WRK apart from an early missed tackle looked good. He looks ready to step up to NPC
Mau'u was strong carrying but was a made a few errors (from memory.. maybe I 'm thinking of the wrong guy..)
Vaha'akolo goes looking for a lot of work
The only player I was really watching from the Pakuranga was Hawaii Ahokovi. He is still raw. I think he may have been out of position a couple of times and he got bumped off early in the game. I do think he is a good prospect though.
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@Duluth Thanks for the report good sir. Roache looked good at 12 early in the season until he was forced on to the bench or playing wing by the experienced William Talataina-Mu returning to the team. Mu is now injured again so Roach may get a settled run at 12 now to push his rep claims.
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Mike Sosene-Feagai has been named in the USA world cup training squad. If he makes the team he is unlikely to be involved much with Auckland this season. Lets hope Robbie Abel and Kurt Ekland are available? or the Auckland hookers are going to be very green this season.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Any word on who the form players in club rugby are?
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@Tim Both Leka and Victor Tu’ungafasi play hooker. One of them also plays prop. I don't know about their form but Leka toured with Auckland to Oz in March. Eden captain Blake Hill played briefly for Auckland a few seasons ago, but not sure if he is rep standard. Ponies legend Joe Royal is still playing but maybe too old now (34). Soane Vikena from Ponies is a prospect but just out of school. Then of course Dillan Halaholo may be the best hooker out there in club rugby but should be no where near any team ever. Sorry not much about form here, Only really watch Ponies play.
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12243908
So why isn't SBW playing in the Counties competition? The article says that he made the approach to play for Ponsonby.
I presume he didn't rate the quality of games?
