Auckland Rugby 2019

Tim

So what's the likely XXIII for Auckland this year? I'm assuming that Nanai, Ioane, Fukofuka, Lemalu, Tuipulotu, Olmstead, Abel, and Sam Prattley are unavailable.

Hodgman
Sosene-Feagai
Renata
Whetton
Scrafton
Papalii
Gibson (c)
Sotutu
Ruru
Plummer
Rayasi
Faiane (c)
Manu
Clarke
Trainor
Eklund
Lindenmuth
Fepulea'i
Suafoa
Riedlinger-Kapa/Choat/Seu
Funaki
Sullivan
Tele'a

Daffy Jaffy

Teleni Seu is with Waikato this season. Jarrod Adams and Jamie Lane would make the bench for me. Adams is playing tight head for his club this season so he may be good to cover both sides.

Tim

@Daffy-Jaffy I thought Lindenmuth looked pretty good in his start for the Blues.

Daffy Jaffy

@Tim I agree, I would have him covering loosehead with Adams battling with Fepulea'i for tighthead bench. Its good that a few of them can play both sides, allows for rotation in those short turn around weeks.

Daffy Jaffy

I wonder who else is around for the 'stacked midfield'? Is Vince Aso returning from his injury. I know Viliami Lolohea is playing for Papatoetoe this season.

African Monkey

@Daffy-Jaffy Hopefully not. He plays like he's too good for everyone when he comes to Auckland. He does his own thing and tries stupid miracle plays as if he's trying to put together a highlights reel or something. He was one of our worst culprits in 2016-2017.

Daffy Jaffy

Ponsonby players that were involved in the preseason game for Auckland this week.

Rilloy Suesue
Sam Ulufonua
Danny Tusitala
Jamie Lane
Paul Roache
Waimana R.K.
Freedom Vaha'akolo
Jonah Ma'u
Aleks Dabek
Of these guys I only see Lane, Riedilnger-Kapa and maybe Vaha'akolo making the final squad.

KiwiMurph

@Daffy-Jaffy I imagine Lemeki Namoa is another midfield option

Duluth

Club team sheets http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/78728

SBW is playing

booboo

@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

Club team sheets http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/78728

SBW is playing

Picture of Gribbley in the background makes me all nostalgic.

Tim

Stargazer

Just saw that Joe Royal was on the Breakdown. I missed most of it, but I heard he's now playing for Ponsonby. Does that mean he's also in the frame for a spot in the Auckland squad? Is Auckland still looking for a hooker and would you want him?

Nogusta

@Stargazer heard Robbie Abel was back for M10?
Angus Taavao back with Auckland for M10 too so front row stocks looking good 👍

Tim

@Nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

heard Robbie Abel was back for M10?

Any word on who he'll being playing for in Super Rugby?

Stargazer

@Tim He played 2 games for the Rebels this season, but I haven't read anywhere yet that he'll be with them again, next season.

Higgins

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@Nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

heard Robbie Abel was back for M10?

Any word on who he'll being playing for in Super Rugby?

Is he good enough?

Tim

@Higgins He was better than the other Blues players in the NPC last year.

Higgins

@Tim Thanks, I can't really remember much about him in the NPC last year.

Daffy Jaffy

@Stargazer They said in the interview that Royal is playing for Counties-Manukau this season.

African Monkey

@Higgins He was fantastic for us in a position which looked like we'd be weak in. He's a menace at breakdown time and his throwing was very good.

The Silver Fern

Auckland Rugby 2019