Auckland Rugby 2021

[Tim]

Choat hasn't played club rugby for Waitemata for about six weeks now. Hope he hasn't got a long term injury. Auckland will really need him this year.

[Duluth]

@daffy-jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

• On Auckland Rugby Facebook page -
  GALLAHER SHIELD SEMI-FINAL LIVESTREAM
  We will be coming to you live from Western Springs Stadium for the Gallaher Shield Semi-Final between Ponsonby Rugby Club and Eden Rugby Club this weekend.
  

2:45 kickoff

The NZH even has a preview of the game. Good to see some coverage recently

Auckland club rugby: Formidable rivals prepare to clash for Gallaher Shield

Eden

1 Franck Friconnet, 2 Blake Hill (VC), 3 Emmanuel Ioane, 4 Jack Casey-Pickering, 5 Cameron Rutherford, 6 Paulo Sasulu, 7 James Rutherford (50th cap), 8 Conor Lawson, 9 Nicolas Costa, 10 Ignacio Costa (C), 11 Tapulaaia Pauli, 12 Andrew Kaveinga (50th cap), 13 Olivier Roux, 14 Sione Katoa, 15 Tevita Hala,

Reserves: 16 Derrick Soqeta, 17 Vunga Hala'ufia, 18 Joshua Devine, 19 Junior Toailoa, 20 Siaosi Malupo, 21 Sam Nash, 22 Simeon Latu, 23 Lawrence Taufa

---

Ponsonby

1 Conner Halangahu, 2 Harry Akeli, 3 Hamdahn Tuipulotu, 4 Aukusitino Ulugia, 5 Jamie Lane, 6 Blake Gibson, 7 Aleks Dabek (C), 8 Presley Tufuga, 9 Samuel Wye, 10 Wiseguy Faiane, 11 Morrison Siliko, 12 Reece Suesue, 13 William Talataina, 14 Cephus Salaivao, 15 Jordan Trainor

Reserves: 16 Tito Tuipulotu, 17 Romero Tagi, 18 Alex Matapo, 19 Katinali Tai, 20 Terrell Peita, 21 James Valentine, 22 Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Kisione Ahki

---

Other team sheets here: https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=86b63b65-cb1c-4bee-8937-ce83f549b0e0

[Duluth]

Live stream

[Tim]

Eden 20
Ponsonby 8

GTEC 24
College Rifles 20

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Stop it Tim i'm still in denial. My only consolation is that my Grandfather was a founding member of Eden and my Uncle played for them back in the day. They better beat the evil empire next week!

[Tim]

Sport, Rugby

Auckland club rugby: Eden stun Ponsonby in Gallaher Shield

Eden or Grammar Tec will be this year's Gallaher Shield champions.

[dirtydoolan]

@tim latest AKL signings... a reliable 10/12/15 who has experience in Provincial, A little Super and oversea's experience.
And a 11/13/14 from a Super team that has some experience playing Jail rugby (league)

[Tim]

@dirtydoolan Interesting. Maybe Solomone Kata for the midfield/wing?

[Tim]

@dirtydoolan Struggling on the 10/12/15, Maybe Matt McGahan? Most of the names that come to mind have played international rugby.

[Duluth]

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

Struggling on the 10/12/15, Maybe Matt McGahan? Most of the names that come to mind have played international rugby.

He said 'Reliable'

[Tim]

@duluth Hayden Parker is a name that comes to mind, but so much for 12 and 15.

[Tim]

Plummer and Sullivan will be in the squad, but may play at 12 and 15 a lot of the time. Jock McKenzie could be in the squad, but too young to start much?

[Duluth]

@tim

Michael Little? He's played all of those positions in Japan

Doubt he would be looking to return though... although there is an opening at the Blues at 12

[Tim]

@duluth Robbie Robinson? I'm scraping the bottle of the barrel now though.

[dirtydoolan]

@Tim - All will be revealed in a few days!

[Stargazer]

Marty Banks and Fletcher Smith are both back in the country. Not sure for how long though.

[Tim]

Marty Banks is playing for Southland. What is James Marshall up to?

[Stargazer]

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

Marty Banks is playing for Southland. What is James Marshall up to?

Making podcasts. I think he's hung up his boots because of continuing injury problems?

[Tim]

@duluth He was in Auckland last month, and is now in the cool islands, according to his Instagram.

[Duluth]

@tim

Don't get my hopes up

It's probably just the return of Dan Kirkpatrick (which would be fine.. the last time Alama had him in the squad he was just injury cover, not a starter)

The more interesting one might be the ex league player "11/13/14 from a Super team". Auckland needs a Tumua Manu replacement.

Can you think of any other names other than Kata?