Auckland v Wellington

[Duluth]

15 Lolagi Visinia
14 Caleb Tangitau
13 AJ Lam
12 Tanielu Tele'a
11 Nigel Ah Wong
10 Alex Harford
9 Taufa Funaki

1 Josh Fusitu'a
2 Soane Vikena
3 Marcel Renata
4 Josh Beehre
5 Tuaina Taii Tualima
6 Adrian Choat
7 Anton Segner
8 Akira Ioane

16 Sama Malolo
17 Jordan Lay
18 Angus Ta'avao
19 Michael Curry
20 Ola Tauelangi
21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara
22 Zarn Sullivan
23 Xavi Taele

Silly team order comes from the official NPC site

[Canes4life]

@Duluth said in Auckland v Wellington:

Visinia
Tangitau
Lam
Tele'a
Ah Wong
Harford
Funaki
Fusitu'a
Vikena
Renata
Beehre
Taii Tualima
Choat
Segner
Ioane

Malolo
Lay
Ta'avao
Curry
Tauelangi
Hauiti-Parapara
Sullivan
Taele

Silly team order comes from the official NPC site

Interesting that Hauiti-Parapara is in Auckland now.

[Bones]

@Duluth of all the team naming orders, they choose to copy fucking England.

[taniwharugby]

@Duluth Visinia played in the 1st pre-season v Northland, as did Ah-Wong

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Duluth said in Auckland v Wellington:

not sure if he played in the preseason

On Senz a couple of days ago Coach said that Sullivan was yet to play since his injury, so this will be his first hit out.

[cgrant]

Who is Tualima ?

[Duluth]

@cgrant said in Auckland v Wellington:

Who is Tualima ?

Aussie. Has played for the Reds & Rebels.

I don't see the point in picking him. There’s 4 or 5 strange selections in the squad.

[Duluth]

15 Tjay Clarke
14 Riley Higgins
13 Peter Umaga-Jensen
12 Julian Savea
11 Pepesana Patafilo
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop
9 Kyle Preston

1 Xavier Numia
2 Penieli Poasa
3 Siale Lauaki
4 Hugo Plummer
5 Filo Paulo
6 Brad Shields
7 Du'Plessis Kirifi
8 Peter Lakai

16 Leni Apisai
17 Yota Kamimori
18 PJ Sheck
19 Akira Ieremia
20 Dominic Ropeti
21 Mitch McLeod
22 Callum Harkin
23 Matt Proctor

[Canes4life]

@Duluth said in Auckland v Wellington:

15 Tjay Clarke
14 Riley Higgins
13 Peter Umaga-Jensen
12 Julian Savea
11 Pepesana Patafilo
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop
9 Kyle Preston

1 Xavier Numia
2 Penieli Poasa
3 Siale Lauaki
4 Hugo Plummer
5 Filo Paulo
6 Brad Shields
7 Du'Plessis Kirifi
8 Peter Lakai

16 Leni Apisai
17 Yota Kamimori
18 PJ Sheck
19 Akira Ieremia
20 Dominic Ropeti
21 Mitch McLeod
22 Callum Harkin
23 Matt Proctor

Lol Riley Higgins at 14, why? Savea can move on like his brother for all I care. If Higgins is going to be the 12 for the Canes, he needs to be playing there. I doubt Patafilo, Higgins and Clarke will see much ball with Savea and Umaga-Jensen as the midfield. Proctor should be starting aswell. Savea should be on the bench.

Unfortunately it seems like we have another coach with rocks in his head.

Delany must still be returning from injury.

[foobaNZ]

Savea at 12 ahead of Higgins is a crime.

[Canes4life]

@foobaNZ Wellington catering to Julian once again. Riley's been very good there the last couple seasons, obviously Soakai hasn't been watching.

I'm very surprised we are favourites at the TAB. This squad looks to be lacking a bit, too many has beens in Apisai, Savea, Paulo and Garden-Bachop.

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in Auckland v Wellington:

@Duluth said in Auckland v Wellington:

15 Tjay Clarke
14 Riley Higgins
13 Peter Umaga-Jensen
12 Julian Savea
11 Pepesana Patafilo
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop
9 Kyle Preston

1 Xavier Numia
2 Penieli Poasa
3 Siale Lauaki
4 Hugo Plummer
5 Filo Paulo
6 Brad Shields
7 Du'Plessis Kirifi
8 Peter Lakai

16 Leni Apisai
17 Yota Kamimori
18 PJ Sheck
19 Akira Ieremia
20 Dominic Ropeti
21 Mitch McLeod
22 Callum Harkin
23 Matt Proctor

Lol Riley Higgins at 14, why? Savea can move on like his brother for all I care. If Higgins is going to be the 12 for the Canes, he needs to be playing there. I doubt Patafilo, Higgins and Clarke will see much ball with Savea and Umaga-Jensen as the midfield. Proctor should be starting aswell. Savea should be on the bench.

> Unfortunately it seems like we have another coach with rocks in his head.

Delany must still be returning from injury.

Agree. Another year of dumb backs selections. The bigger issue with the midfield is PUJ though. Savea's decision making is ok. PUJ is terrible. And Higgins is a much better defender than PUJ

Having said that the HB, 1st 2nd combo is far and away better than the rubbish we had starting most games last year. But Higgins clearly should start in midfield and any coach who can't see this

what is Penieli Poasa like

[Canes4life]

[Duluth]

@Canes4life

O'Reilly at hooker. Is that the only difference?

[Canes4life]

@Duluth looks like it.

[nzzp]

Has the Auckland team been named?

[Canes4life]

@nzzp same as posted above.

[Bones]

Classic. Higgins touted as the next big thing in the midfield for a couple of seasons... can't even get a game there at NPC.

Patafilo has been good in the midfield.

[nzzp]

@Canes4life thanks

Tribe didn't have it, I googled and couldn't find it, and wasn't sure if it had actually been confirmed or not.

Obviously I missed it. When do they name them (all at the same time)?

[Duluth]

@nzzp

The Auckland team was on the NPC site (provincial.rugby) yesterday but not confirmed by Auckland until today

There wasn't an exact time for team naming like in SR. However most teams seemed to come out today between 2pm & 2:30pm

No idea if they'll keep that up