Premiership Final - Auckland v Tasman (Free entry)
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@Duluth said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
If he doesn’t play we’re looking at Hickey starting and a midfield of Plummer/Tele’a
That ends the conversation about who should be favourites
Ahh, but Tim O'Malley was also busily getting his hammy strapped on Saturday night, so we're equally waiting with bated breath.
We might have Kieron Fonotia at second five!
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@Chris-B said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
@Duluth said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
If he doesn’t play we’re looking at Hickey starting and a midfield of Plummer/Tele’a
That ends the conversation about who should be favourites
Ahh, but Tim O'Malley was also busily getting his hammy strapped on Saturday night, so we're equally waiting with bated breath.
We might have Kieron Fonotia at second five
Auckland bookmaker phones suddenly ringing off the hook...
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A Ta$man preview...
https://www.mako.nz/news/tasmans-high-fliers-head-for-eden-park
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Ta$man will come to Eden Park to defend their Mitre 10 Cup Premiership title on Saturday night. The gates will be opened for free entry at Eden Park allowing the Auckland Rugby community to come and watch their team attempt to win their second title in three years thanks to principal sponsor, Barfoot & Thompson. Head Coach, Alama Ieremia says the team are relishing the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd. “Our community has always been at the forefront of our values throughout the season and thanks to Barfoot & Thompson, we have the opportunity to finish strong in front of our Auckland community who have all been through a challenging year.” Ieremia has made several changes to the match day squad that were victorious over Waikato in the Premiership Semi-Final. Marist Halfback, Taufa Funaki comes into the squad after making his debut for Auckland in Round 3 against Manawatu. James Lay and Niko Jones come into the starting lineup and Jack Whetton will make his return the starting team after suffering a shoulder injury in the previous meeting with Ta$man back in Round 6. Both teams finished the 2020 season with a 7-3 record. When both teams met back in Round 6 at Eden Park, Auckland proved too good for Ta$man, taking the game 31-10. Ieremia is aware of what Ta$man can bring to finals rugby but is positive that his team will be ready for the contest. “ Ta$man are a good finals team. We saw that in the 2019 Semi-Final, but that was last season. They are defending champions, but We will definitely be up for this last push come Saturday.” Kickoff is 6:35pm and Thanks to Barfoot & Thompson It will be free entry into the Mitre 10 Cup Final at Eden Park. -
"Just five players from the run on team two years ago are in the starting line up for this weekend."
Looking at the whole 23 it's a lot of turnover in 2 years too
1 Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
2 Robbie Abel (College Rifles)
3 Marcel Renata (University)
4 Fa’atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
5 Michael Fatialofa (Ponsonby)
6 Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
7 Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
8 Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
9 Jonathan Ruru (University)
10 Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
11 Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
12 TJ Faiane – Captain (Pakuranga)
13 Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
14 Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)16 Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
17 Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
18 Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
19 Taleni Seu (Grammar TEC)
20 Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)
21 Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
22 Daniel Kirkpatrick (University)
23 Caleb Clarke (Suburbs) -
Here's the teams from last year's semi-final....
Ta$man: David Havili (c),
Will Jordan, Leicester Fainga'anuku,Levi Aumua,Alex Nankivell, Mitch Hunt, Finlay Christie, Sione Havili,Liam Squire,Ethan Blackadder,Pari Pari Parkinson, Quin Strange,Tim Perry,Andrew Makalio,Tyrel Lomax. Reserves:Hugh Roach,Wyatt Crockett, Isaac Salmon, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta,Jordan Taufua,Uchida Keisuke, Tim O'Malley, Fetuli Paea.Auckland: Jordan Trainor,
Caleb Clarke, Tumua Manu,TJ Falane(c), Salesi Rayasi, Harry Plummer, Jonathan Ruru,Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Adrian Choat,Dalton Papalii, Scott Scratton,Jamie Lane,Alex Hodgman, Leni Apisai, Marcel Renata. Reserves:Robbie Abel, Jarred Adams,Marco Fepulea'i,Lyndon Dunshea,Akira Ioane,Danny Tusitala,Daniel Kirkpatrick, AJ Lam. -
Pretty much the team I was expecting for Ta$man given the various injuries.
Getting Salmon back for Princep is a win. Tim O'Malley being fit is a win.
I was vaguely hoping we might get Makalio back, since I hadn't heard that he was completely gone for the season. A big lose.
Not sure who is fit among our locks, but I would have been inclined to play Cirikadaveta at blindside to give us more size against the lardy-arsed Aucklanders. In the regular season game they were just too big to deal with. Not a good match-up for Ta$man.
However, with Choat, Jones and Tuipolotu in the loose forwards, maybe we can cope.
Big, big backs though. "Big Leicester" would only be "Medium-sized Leicester" at Auckland - maybe even "Little Leicester".
Rayasi is listed at 115kgs which is pretty much Jonah before breakfast.
Funaki, Hickey and Trainor can't come soon enough for me!
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@Tim Those odds are probably fair.
In all seriousness, I think it is Auckland's to lose.
Home advantage is big and they dealt to us in no uncertain terms during the regular season. But, we were admittedly dogshit in that game - our talismanic captain had his worst game in probably five years. Mitch Hunt wasn't much better.
But, if they play close to their best, they will win. We won't contain their size.
However - if we were playing Waikato in Nelson this weekend, I'd have already had the champagne on ice.
If they give us the sort of headstart they gave Waikato, they might regret it. And if we're still in the game at the 60 minute mark, I'll like us quite a lot!
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@Dice said in Premiership Final - Auckland v Ta$man (Free entry):
Be interesting to see how many turn up for a free final.
I don't think this game has had near the same hype as the 2018 final.
It was 22k last time? I'm guessing it'll be about half that
Three reasons:
- Auckland's form going into the final isn't as good as 2018
- There was a huge gap back to the previous title
- Ta$man doesn't interest the casual fans. Not a comment on the quality of the side, they are a good side obviously. I think there's ~4 other teams that would generate more interest amongst people that don't regularly attend NPC matches (Canterbury & Harbour in particular)
