Auckland Rugby 2021

[Tim]

Auckland have been featuring players on their Instagram stories. Looks like the loose forwards will include Choat, Jones, Tuipulotu, and Vai.

[Daffy Jaffy]

We all know who thanks to Nogusta

[KiwiMurph]

@daffy-jaffy the photo doesn't exactly make it difficult either....

[Tim]

Heem will fill 13 for this season, it looks like.

[Tim]

Former Reds hooker Albert Anae on the bench.

Jamie Lane on the bench for both preseason games. Wonder who this season's locks will be?

Scrafton
Kalapu
Lane
Dalzell
Beehre

Maybe Tuipulotu covers lock? Wikipedia lists him at 195 cm (6 ft 5 in) and 115 kg.

[Duluth]

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

Heem will fill 13 for this season, it looks like.

I forgot about Heem. Good choice

That's a strong backline with RTS & Kata to be added. Also presumably Caleb Clarke will have a few matches

[Daffy Jaffy]

@duluth Heem played quite a lot at 13 for Toulon. No sign of Manu Paea in preseason. He must be in the Half back group surely. I guess he is injured. Also no sign of the rumored Dan Hollinshead or Joe Tupe yet?

[Duluth]

@daffy-jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2021:

Also no sign of the rumored Dan Hollinshead or Joe Tupe yet?

Hollinshead has been playing for New York within the last month. Google says NY lost a conference final in the weekend. Not sure if he was involved

If the rumour is true then he might be in isolation now? Assuming he had a voucher ages ago..

[Cpt Kumera]

@duluth jordan lay is there after his stint in wales

[Tim]

@cpt-kumera Assume James Lay is still injured.

[Nogusta]

@tim lisfranc injury. Hasn't healed properly on its own so could be having surgery.

[Dice]

@tim The team is better than I thought it'd be.

Not the most balanced backrow. We tried that backrow last year and it didn't look that good.

Our best backrow last year was WRK, Choat and Tuipulotu, although we only got a small sample of it.

[Tim]

@dice Yeah, fortunately Ekuasi and Tuipulotu provide some ball carrying options.

[Tim]

Based on what we've seen so far, these are the non AB players available for the squad:

Prop

Hodgman
Jordan Lay
Woonton
Fusitua
Renata
H Tuipulotu
Ahio

Hooker

Vikena
Apisai
Anae
Te Puni

Lock

Scrafton
Kalapu
Lane
Beehre

Loose Forward

Choat
Gibson
Reidlinger-Kapa
S Tuipulotu
Vai
Jones
Ekuasi
Church
Peita
Sititi

Halfback

Ruru
Funaki
Wye

First Five

Plummer
McKenzie
An import*

Midfield

Evans
Talataina
Heem
Murray
Kata*

Wing

Rayasi
Lam
Tangitau
Mocevakaca
Tuivasa-Sheck

Fullback

Sullivan
Maka

Aside from the rumoured first five returning from overseas, there might be Marco Fepulea’i at tight head prop, Hamish Dalzell at lock, Manu Paea at halfback, Sage Shaw-Tait as wing and midfield, Joel Cobb (if not injured) at wing, Caleb Clarke (if available), and Jordan Trainor at fullback.

First choice XXIII is probably very similar to today's preseason game squad.

[Tim]

Potential XXIII for the end of the season:

1 Hodgman
2 Vikena
3 Renata
4 Kalapu
5 Scrafton
6 Choat
7 Gibson
8 S Tuipulotu

9 Ruru
10 Plummer
11 Clarke
12 Evans
13 Heem
14 RTS
15 Sullivan

16 Apisai
17 Lay
18 Fepulea’i
19 Dalzell/Beehre
20 Reidlinger-Kapa
21 Funaki
22 Rayasi
23 Kata/Ekuasi

[Duluth]

@tim

Looks about right.

You think Gibson won't get injured? He's due some luck I guess

Rayasi would be hard to push out even for the big names

It'll be interesting to see if Sullivan is used to cover ten. At this stage I'd prefer him to concentrate on fullback

[Tim]

@duluth Yeah, Gibson might well be out with injury. Cam Church seems to be the next openside on the list.

Agree about Rayasi.

[Duluth]

Is there going to be a stream for the pre-season match?

[Tim]

@duluth Nothing on Northland homepage or facebook.

[taniwharugby]

@duluth I dont think they are streaming the 1st game, think the B vs Ngati Porou is being streamed then the Womens game is on Sky...so not sure what thats about.

Northland Rugby Union

Just says any streams will be there