Auckland Rugby 2019
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@KiwiMurph I think Auckland see him as a bona-fide 6.
Didnt okay any minutes at lock in the preseason.
Maybe Lyndon Dunshea can play there? -
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@Dice said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Nogusta Strange that they wouldn't see him as a lock this season with how many backrowers we have.
Their thinking might have to change now with the injury to Scrafton.
Be interesting to see if they bring in anyone else from outside the initial squad. We'll find out tomorrow I guess. -
Lemalu would be the ideal addition if he is available. He was a bit of an unsung hero last year after we lost Scrafton for the whole season then Whetton early on. I have seen the young lock Peter Tagaloa play a couple of times for Marist and was impressed with his physicality. It's a big step up to mitre 10 though and he is still green.
I see that the USA have selected 3 hookers for their first 2 PC games but not used Mike Sosene-Feagai. He may not make the world cup if the others stay fit so may be available for Auckland again. -
@Dice had a mate who was at the game.
Faiane looked like ha hadn't skipped a beat.
Tele'a did some good things - strong carries, setup a couple of tries with good offloads, and did some ordinary things.
Manu will miss first couple of games so we'll see Faiane/Tele'a for a couple of games at least -
The list below is a combined list for the the Auckland Bs and Auckland Colts:
2019 Auckland B Squad
Rob Cobb (Ponsonby)
Leka Tu’ungafasi (Grammar TEC)
Antonio Ripata (Marist)
Frank Malu (Mt Wellington)
Te Ariki Te Puni (University)
Ollie Shephard (Suburbs)
Penisoni Fineanganofo (Papatoetoe)
Herman Huch (Ponsonby)
Simi Kata (Marist)
Felix Kalapu (Grammar TEC)
Justin Mataele (Grammar TEC)
Peter-Chanel Tagaloa (Marist)
Sam Ulufonua (Ponsonby)
Hau Paea (Mt Wellington)
Sioeli Alofi (Te Papapa)
Jonah Mau'u (Ponsonby)
Aleks Dabek (Ponsonby)
Beau Birtwistle (University)
Dylan Lam (Grammar TEC)
Tovo Faleafa (Grammar TEC)
Isi Manu (College Rifles)
Rilloy Suesue (Ponsonby)
Rameka Uitime-Paraki (Papatoetoe)
Brad Moyer (Suburbs)
Olle Polson (Marist)
Johnny Cooper (Ponsonby)
Paul Roache (Ponsonby)
Sasa Tofilau (College Rifles)
Paula Fifita (Marist)
Nua Soti (Grammar TEC)
Tevita Latu (University)
Hawai'i Ahokovi (Pakuranga)
Emmanuel Lamositele (College Rifles)
Matt Storm (Grammar TEC)
Joe Collins (College Rifles)
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The media release about the squad naming can be found here: http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/80290
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So Scrafton is named. His reported jaw injury can't be too bad then. There is some serious depth and promise in that group of forwards. Getting Trainor back and playing well will be important. He was a key catalyst for the attack last season.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Kurt Heatherley is a mystery to me. I guess the fullback cover was a bit thin with Trainor, Nemaki and i think Ahokovi all injured and not playing at present. It will be fascinating to see him play if he gets a run. I see one back to be added and Ahokovi is named in the B squad so maybe his spot to gain if he is fit again?
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@Dice said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Nogusta If Manu doesn't come to the Blues. I wouldn't mind seeing a lot of that midfield this season.
It looked pretty good and seemed to make good inroads at set piece.
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@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
Scrafton (broken jaw)
Shit. Locking depth is way down compared to last year
Not sure what their height/weight details are, but the Auckland locks and back row didn’t seem that big size wise.
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@ACT-Crusader
Whetton 2m, 119kgs
Lane 2.01m, 110kgs
Scrafton 2m 114kgs
Dunshea 1.94m ,112kgs
Sotutu 1.93m, 116kgs
Riedlinger-Kapa 1.94m 108kgs
Don't know stats for Suafua and Tagaloa but they are both solid units.
Then add Papalii, Ioane, Gibson and Choat, I think they will be fine. They played most or all of last season without Whetton and Scrafton who are both bigger units than Olmstead and Lemalu and similar size to Fatialofa.
