Auckland Mitre 10 Cup squad announced
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Dunno that our loosies are out and out 7s though, Kara probably the most 7 like of the main 4 that will be named for match day, but can play 6, more like 6.5s I'd say.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="598251" data-time="1468972075">
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<p>Dunno that our loosies are out and out 7s though, Kara probably the most 7 like of the main 4 that will be named for match day, but can play 6, more like 6.5s I'd say.</p>
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<p>Yes they can play other roles. But they are primarily 7's who shift around because Northland doesn't want to leave quality players on the bench.</p>
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<p>The point I was making was about the new laws.</p>
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<p>They might discourage 'jackal' loosies and instead encourage large trios that push past the ball. If that is the case, we'll find out fast by watching Northland. There is plenty of talent in the Northland loose forwards however there is not much size.</p>
<p>Northland aren't likely to be playing large loosies who can cover lock etc</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="598163" data-time="1468925126">
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<p>Fox may have had up to 8?<br><br>
82, 84, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90, 93.<br><br>
Not sure if he was involved in 82?</p>
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<p>I guess back in the day they didn't have finals, so if you made the squad you got a medal. His Wiki page says '82.</p>
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<p>I've tried to interest UHB in doing the research.</p> -
<p>So with Ofa in the AB's who is the starting TH?</p>
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<p>I assume it's Renata? </p>
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<p>Isn't Isi more of a LH? But looking at this squad I assume he has been selected as a TH?</p>
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<p>What has his club form been like? When I've seen the Grammar team sheet, Isi is normally on the bench (seemingly behind McHugh on the LH side)</p> -
<div>It definitely looks like Renata will start with Ofa not there. I'm thinking with Ofa being the 5th prop for the ABs, he might still get a bit of game time with Auckland.</div>
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<div>I think Isi can cover both sides, but I'm not really sure. I can't really remember him playing TH.</div> -
<p>So Suburbs won the Gallaher Shield on the weekend. Bloody good stuff!</p>
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<p><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/d/7/h/o/1/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1d7h3r.png/1469884070324.jpg" alt="1469884070324.jpg"></p>
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<p>Visinia was injured and had crutches, but there was no cast, so it doesn't seem too serious. I hope he's ready for round 1 against Canterbury, because we don't have any proven outside backs behind him.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="602672" data-time="1470185457">
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<p>So Suburbs won the Gallaher Shield on the weekend. Bloody good stuff!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/d/7/h/o/1/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1d7h3r.png/1469884070324.jpg" alt="1469884070324.jpg"></p>
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<p>Visinia was injured and had crutches, but there was no cast, so it doesn't seem too serious. I hope he's ready for round 1 against Canterbury, because we don't have any proven outside backs behind him.</p>
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<p>We've gone from having too many outside backs to barely any at all.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="602728" data-time="1470203008">
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<p>We've gone from having too many outside backs to barely any at all.</p>
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<p>Yup. With the rate we're producing outside backs in school at the moment, it shouldn't be a problem for too long. Hopefully the 3 guys in the U19s(Vaega, Vaha'akolo and Tameifuna) can add some depth there as soon as next year.</p> -
<div style="color:rgb(78,78,78);font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;">
<p>Team to play North Harbour this Friday.</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">1.<span> </span>Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">2.<span> </span>Blake Hill (Eden)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">3.<span> </span>Marcel Renata (University)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">4.<span> </span>Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">5.<span> </span>Ben Nee Nee (Pakuranga)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">6.<span> </span>Josh Kaifa (Manukau Rovers)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">7.<span> </span>Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (University)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">8.<span> </span>Joe Edwards (Pakuranga)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">9.<span> </span>Jono Hickey (Grammar TEC)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">10.<span> </span>Simon Hickey (Grammar TEC)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">11.<span> </span>Stacey Ili (Manukau Rovers)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">12.<span> </span>Calvary Fonoti (Manukau Rovers)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">13.<span> </span>Pasqualle Dunn (College Rifles)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">14.<span> </span>Sailosi Vatabua (College Rifles)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;">15.<span> </span>Latiume Fosita (Papatoetoe)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"> </div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"><strong>Reserves:</strong> Leif Schwenke (Suburbs), Tom McHugh (Grammar TEC), Isi Tu’ungafasi (Grammar TEC), James Lay (Pakuranga), NIli Moala (Grammar TEC), Jamie Lane (Ponsonby), Tana Fotofili (College Rifles), Ignacio Costa (Eden), Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald (University), Pryor Collier (Ponsonby), Pisi Leilua (Suburbs), Outmaka Mausia (College Rifles), Loketi Manu (College Rifles)</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"> </div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"><em>Unavailable for selection:</em> Joe Ravouvou, Kurt Eklund, Steven Luatua, Blake Gibson, Melani Nanai, Lolagi Visinia, Sam Thomas.</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"> </div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"><em>Players still with Super Rugby:</em> Greg Pleasants-Tate, Michael Fatialofa, Liaki Moli, Leon Fukofuka, Vince Aso.</div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"> </div>
<div style="font-size:12.8px;"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2016-8-4/Auckland-team-named-for-pre-season-fixture.aspx'>http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2016-8-4/Auckland-team-named-for-pre-season-fixture.aspx</a></div>
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<div style="color:rgb(78,78,78);font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;">
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<div style="color:rgb(78,78,78);font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;"><span style="font-size:12.8px;">A lot of players from the Bs and Colts getting a chance with a lot of players unavailable. Loketi Manu is the sole U19s player in the team.</span></div> -
<div>Harbour side to play Auckland:</div>
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<div>1 Adrian Smith</div>
<div>2 Vyron Smith</div>
<div>3 Sione Mafileo</div>
<div>4 Brandon Nansen</div>
<div>5 Chris Vui ©</div>
<div>6 Gerrard Cowley Mariner</div>
<div>7 Murphy Taramai</div>
<div>8 Hapakuki Liavaa Moala</div>
<div>9 Chris Smylie</div>
<div>10 Matt McGahan</div>
<div>11 Afa Faatau</div>
<div>12 Michael Little</div>
<div>13 Matt Vaega</div>
<div>14 Mark Telea</div>
<div>15 Matt Duffey</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Reserves</div>
<div>16 Shea Turner</div>
<div>17 Toketa Fatai</div>
<div>18 Nic Mayhew</div>
<div>19 Jethro Felemi</div>
<div>20 Glen Preston</div>
<div>21 Dylan Lam</div>
<div>22 Kane Jacobsen</div>
<div>23 Lewis Gjaltema</div>
<div>24 Bryn Gatland</div>
<div>25 Daniel Hilton Jones</div>
<div>26 James Little</div>
<div>27 Niko Ratamavuki</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/news/qbe-harbour-v-auckland-tomorrow/'>http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/news/qbe-harbour-v-auckland-tomorrow/</a></div> -
And they did 45 - 21<br><br>
Auckland scored first but then harbour had three tries to lead 21 -7 at the break. I think duffie got one of them.<br><br>
Harbour scored again early in second half but after making 8 changes lost a bit of momentum allowing Auckland in for a couple before harbour struck back with Two tries to finish -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="603047" data-time="1470300447">
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<p>Harbour look to be near full strength for this game. They should come out with the win with that team.</p>
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<p>Haha yeah was talking to one of our players who got a call up for this game and even he admitted to me that they weren't gonna win with that side. Still, good to see a lot of youngsters getting a go against a virtual full strength North Harbour side.</p> -
<div><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2016-8-11/Auckland-to-face-Bay-of-Plenty-in-pre-season-clash.aspx'>http://aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2016-8-11/Auckland-to-face-Bay-of-Plenty-in-pre-season-clash.aspx</a></div>
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<p>Auckland close out their pre-season tomorrow with a match against Bay of Plenty at Shore Road (kick off 12pm).</p>
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<p>After last Friday’s loss to North Harbour, coach Nick White said the squad have spent this week working on the new break down laws.</p>
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<p>The return of Super Rugby players Steven Luatua, Leon Fukofuka, Melani Nanai and Liaki Moli will bolster the side, with the remaining Super Rugby players joining the squad full time next week.</p>
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<p>“It’s good to have those Super guys back and is a chance for them to show their leadership,†said White.“Tomorrow the goal is to work on our game plan, get in the right places, have good work rate and get our set piece right.â€</p>
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<p>Auckland kick off the Mitre 10 Cup season against Canterbury next Saturday.</p>
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<div>1. Sam Prattley (Pakuranga) </div>
<div>2. Kurt Eklund (University) </div>
<div>3. Marcel Renata (University) </div>
<div>4. Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC) </div>
<div>5. Ben Nee Nee (Pakuranga) </div>
<div>6. Steven Luatua (University) </div>
<div>7. Josh Kaifa (Manukau Rovers) </div>
<div>8. Joe Edwards (Pakuranga) </div>
<div>9. Leon Fukofuka (Marist) </div>
<div>10. Simon Hickey (Grammar TEC) </div>
<div>11. Pryor Collier (Ponsonby) </div>
<div>12. Latiume Fosita (Papatoetoe) </div>
<div>13. Stacey Ili (Manukau Rovers) </div>
<div>14. Pisi Leilua (Suburbs) </div>
<div>15. Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers) </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Reserves: Blake Hill, Tom McHugh, Isi Tu’ungafasi, James Lay, Liaki Moli, Jamie Lane, Tana Fotofili, Jono Hickey, Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, Otumaka Mausia, Calvary Fonoti, Sailosi Vatabua, Loketi Manu</div> -
<p>Ideally, it would've been nice if we got more Super players involved in the last pre-season game to get use to the new laws, but I can understand why we're resting them.</p>
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<p>Gibson must be injured because he's one who doesn't need a rest.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="604962" data-time="1470886310">
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<p>Interesting that Luatua is starting at 6. </p>
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<p>He'll probably play most of the season there with Akira at 8.</p> -
<p>Makes sense. It suits his game and if it wasn't for an All Black, he'd be playing there for the Blues.</p>
