Auckland v Waikato
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@brodean said in Auckland v Waikato:
I'd prefer to see Taele at 12 and Lam at 13.
I like it the other way as I don't believe Taele has the size to be effective at 12 now the game has moved on from a traditional second five-eight playmaker to a skilled bash merchant.
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@Bovidae said in Auckland v Waikato:
Are these the teams? Waikato are including players outside of the main squad.
A lot of players missing from the Waikato team that are a part of the squad - and obviously no injury news available anywhere...
From recent frequent flyers, no Aki Tuivailala, Anton Lienert-Brown, D'Angelo Leuila (understandable given the presence of Cruden and Sopoaga), George Dyer, Gideon Wrampling (injured at the end of Super but unclear for how long), Hamilton Burr, Jahrome Brown, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Mitch Jacobson, Sean Ralph, or Senita Lauaki.
Plus a few longer-term injuries like Malachi Wrampling and the unavailable All Blacks.
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@Mr-Fish said in Auckland v Waikato:
A lot of players missing from the Waikato team that are a part of the squad - and obviously no injury news available anywhere...
Without knowing who played against HB there could have been some injuries from that game.
What I do know is that both M Jacobson and Lauaki had been playing club rugby until the final last Sat. Burr has only just returned from an ACL injury suffered in last year's NPC. I am looking forward to seeing more of Andrew Smith. G Wrampling was playing for the Māori so I would have expected him to be available. The same for Jahrome Brown. Sean Ralph broke his ankle at the start of the club season and will be returning to play shortly via the Harlequins. Will Martin would have been the reserve LH prop.
Lastly, I assume George Dyer was put on ice by the AB coaches.
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@Bovidae Great insight! Completely forgot Wrampling was playing for the Maori.
While it's entirely possible that's the case for Dyer, I don't personally know why they would do that. Since the Super Rugby final on 21 June he's only played 40 minutes for the AUNZ side. I'd be wanting him to have at least some proper recent minutes before potentially being whistled up to play against Argentina.
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@antipodean said in Auckland v Waikato:
@brodean said in Auckland v Waikato:
I'd prefer to see Taele at 12 and Lam at 13.
I like it the other way as I don't believe Taele has the size to be effective at 12 now the game has moved on from a traditional second five-eight playmaker to a skilled bash merchant.
On the face of it I agree but Taele's gainline stats etc for the Blues where he played at 12 were really impressive. He seems to have the skills of an old school 2nd five but is very effective at getting over the advantage line.
I also think with JB at 12, Lams best chance of cracking the ABs is at 13. Also think that's his best position
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@pakman said in Auckland v Waikato:
I have Taele marked as FAB.
Hard to say this far out. He's 20. As a talent he's not close to what Zarn Sullivan was at 20 but Zarn hasn't progressed since 20 - probably due to a combination of covid, injury and other players in his way. NZ coaches have also become very conservative.
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Segner looking pretty good at 7 so far.
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Waikato respond with two tries to make it 14-10. Kick to come.
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Who’s the Waikato 12? He’s very average.
