Auckland Rugby 2021

[Tim]

@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?

[Steven Harris]

@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 ..

[Steven Harris]

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 .

[Tim]

@steven-harris Aha! Was wondering why he hasn't been playing club rugby in Auckland.

[Steven Harris]

@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

[Stargazer]

@steven-harris Great write-up. Any sign of Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u returning to Harbour? He may still be injured ...

[KiwiMurph]

@steven-harris Namoa is a former Blues Development Player of the Year.

[Nogusta]

@stargazer he did his achilles so probably wont be back til next season?

[Tim]

[Tim]

@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?

[Steven Harris]

@tim pacific island boy was very tidy ,But not sure ,Manu Paea came on for Auckland in the 2nd half , was very tidy .

[Tim]

@steven-harris Wonder if it was Taufa Funaki? Another who hasn't been playing Auckland club rugby this year.

[Nogusta]

@tim not Funaki. He's still with Auckland and still working his way back from a serious head injury incurred over the summer.

[Steven Harris]

@tim Sam Wye from Ponies started in the first half , Manu Paea in the 2nd

[Daffy Jaffy]

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..

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Damn, that's 6'11''!

[Tim]

@african-monkey I hope so. I think in another thread someone said that he would start on the wing.

Auckland backline without him might be:

9. Ruru
10. Plummer
11. Rayasi
12. Evans
13. Faiane
14. Lam
15. Sullivan

Would be nice to see Meihana Grindlay get some time at 13 too.

[African Monkey]

@tim Is Faiane hanging around for the NPC?

[Tim]

@african-monkey I would imagine so, as Japanese season starts after NPC?

[Stargazer]

@tim They have a very long preseason though. It will depend on his contract.

Edited to add:
For example, Tiaan Falcon was supposed to fly back to Japan in September. It's only because he re-negotiated his contract that he's now able to play NPC and return to Japan later.