Auckland Rugby 2021
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Just popped along to the Auckland v Harbour match this evening , really frustrating that both unions could not produce a team sheet on either of their websites , so apart from recognising a few players from club and Mitre I do apologise that I can’t get a half decent report in
Both teams had a lot of academy players running around ..the Harbour forwards dominated the first 30 minutes and gave Harbour first five Jack Heighton so much time to run the cutter , has a massive right boot ..James Little at 2nd five looked dangerous and made one excellent break shock lead to an outstanding try ..Blues hooker Loteru Tolai was outstanding with ball in hand an at lineout time and Ethan Roots strong at scrum time ..
And big winger Walter Fifita was a handful on the left wing .Jock McKenzie impressed me in the first half for Auckland but fell away in the 2nd ..Sam Wye the Ponsonby halfback was in the 9 jersey
Harbour lead by 3 tries to one in the first half ..Auckland ran almost a completely different team out in the 2nd half with Jordon Trainor going in to fullback ..Jordon was all class, creating a brilliant try in the corner to Nico Jones who had plenty at breakdown ,
Tyrell Petra was good at number 8 carrying strongly in winning plenty of lineout ball ..Josh Behere came on at lock and was very good around the paddock …
Liked the look of Meihana Grindlay when he came on , but the one that caught my eye in the 2nd half for North Harbour was their centre , unfortunately I have no idea who he was , very stocky build with a pony tail ..talk about power , he set a superb Harbour try after a brilliant 40 metre run , looked like a run away truck., got an offload away for the try .
Made 2 or 3 other line breaks with sheer power …
Harbour came out on top , maybe 6 tries to 3 or 4 in the end , their forwards laying the platform for the pre season win …
Not sure how much you make of these games , but the unions need to be better when it comes to putting info out ..especially team sheets -
@steven-harris said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
really frustrating that both unions could not produce a team sheet on either of their websites
This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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@steven-harris said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
Ethan Roots strong at scrum time ..
Thanks for the report!
Do you mean the prop or the loose forward/lock? Jimmy Roots, his younger brother, is a tightead prop.
Did Corey Evans play, or was he with the NZ U20s?
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@tim no did not see Corey on the paddock , and yes your right , Jimmy Roots 🤦♂️..would. Love to know who the replacement Harbour centre was ..
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Just had the centre who was impressive for North Harbour in the 2nd half confirmed for me , it was Lemeki Namoa, ex Sacred Heart College and Auckland Marist .
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@steven-harris Aha! Was wondering why he hasn't been playing club rugby in Auckland.
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@tim forgot to mention Tate Evans from Harbour who is an outstanding no6 with an engine to match , brilliant in the air and at line out time Harbour would be mad not select him ..I would take to Northland at a drop of a hat even more so if Tom Robinson is named in the the All Blacks on the weekend.@taniwharugby
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@steven-harris Great write-up. Any sign of Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u returning to Harbour? He may still be injured ...
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@steven-harris Namoa is a former Blues Development Player of the Year.
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@steven-harris said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
@tim forgot to mention Tate Evans from Harbour who is an outstanding no6 with an engine to match , brilliant in the air and at line out time Harbour would be mad not select him ..I would take to Northland at a drop of a hat even more so if Tom Robinson is named in the the All Blacks on the weekend.@taniwharugby
Yeah, Tate Evans is a quality player. Covers 7 well too.
Any idea who played halfback for Harbour?
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@tim pacific island boy was very tidy ,But not sure ,Manu Paea came on for Auckland in the 2nd half , was very tidy .
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@steven-harris Wonder if it was Taufa Funaki? Another who hasn't been playing Auckland club rugby this year.
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@tim Sam Wye from Ponies started in the first half , Manu Paea in the 2nd
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Ponies players that were involved in the preseason game on Wednesday -
Left to right - Tito Tuipulotu, Sam Wye, Presley Tufuga, Jordan Trainor, William Talataina-Mu, Terrell Pieta, and Cephus Salaivao.
Listed as unavailable due to injury - Hamdahn Tuipulotu, Tino Ulugia, and Jamie Lane.Tino Ulugia is an interesting prospect. Schooled at De La Salle but since has been playing in Samoa for the Warriors club and Samoa A. He is listed as 2.10m on the club facebook page..
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@daffy-jaffy Damn, that's 6'11''!
