Auckland Rugby 2023

[KiwiMurph]

Good to see Byron Smith involved. Hopefully he's sticking around - sounds like he's fairly talented

[Tim]

@Steven-Harris With Sam Wye gone (HB), a couple of those halfbacks might make the main squad. Unless Auckland have another player returning US competition or elsewhere.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim Funaki and Manu Paea (I rate Wye higher than Paea) then choose one of 30year old journeyman Pele Cowley, Japanese import Yamouchi or young Ngakete George who I know nothing about. My choice would be to go with current NZ u20 player Riley Williams. Always promote youth.

[Bovidae]

Is Cowley only 30? He seems to have been around forever.

[Tim]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Manu Paea

Think he is in the Tongan WC squad.

[KiwiMurph]

@Daffy-Jaffy hopefully Williams gets some time off of the bench tonight vs Japan

[Steven Harris]

Call me biased , but I would have Riley Williams in the Auckland NPC squad before Pele Crowley or Manu Paea , Funaki has room for development given he’s with the Blues
Sam Wye always impresses me ..

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Steven-Harris Sam Wye has just been named in the Magpies squad.
Have you seen much of Ngakete George?

[Steven Harris]

@Daffy-Jaffy I’ve only seen limited minutes of Ngakete George as he’s the understudy to Henry Saker at Varsity , only 19 ex Rotorua Boys.
Looked very comfortable at senior level , with a reasonable pass and running game when he snips , played for the Blues U20 wider training squad earlier in the year in the game of 3 halves against Harbour and Northland
One for the future

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Hamdahn Tuipulotu - still in Auckland?

Just found out that he Hamdahn Tuipulotu is currently playing club rugby in Western Australia for the Cottesloe club. I wonder if he will return for NPC, or is he having a go at making the western Force Team. Auckland does have a glut of experienced and up and coming props to get past so he may be looking for another avenue to the pro ranks. His younger brother Tito is also a prop in the Auckland NPC 'contenders' group.

[KiwiMurph]

Only limited minutes for NZ U20s but Riley Williams looked to have good service at 9 when he came on - quick and good tempo.

[Bovidae]

@KiwiMurph IIRC he originally went to the wing before moving into halfback. He's very quick so spent some time out wide for the NZ U19s too.

[Tim]

[African Monkey]

@Tim It's been our only shield challenge in 13 years too, not that I really care as I like seeing the smaller unions win it personally.

[KiwiMurph]

Was that against Hawke's Bay where Heem cost Auckland the win by dropping a missed penalty kick at goal?

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph It was the game where the Aucklanders (full squad including non-playing players) had brought special winners jerseys with them, which they could throw straight in the bin after their loss.

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer ha - reminds me of Baseketball

[African Monkey]

@Stargazer Yes it was haha, and yes @KiwiMurph you are also correct.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Daffy Jaffy]

Gonna be a busy day -
My Saturday Rugby Schedule:
8:00am: Black Ferns v USA
12:05pm: Auckland Storm v Hawkes Bay Tui
2:45pm: Gallaher Shield Semi-Final
Ponsonby v University
7:05pm: All Blacks v Springboks
9:05pm: All Blacks XV v Japan