Auckland Rugby 2019

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim I agree, I would have him covering loosehead with Adams battling with Fepulea'i for tighthead bench. Its good that a few of them can play both sides, allows for rotation in those short turn around weeks.

[Daffy Jaffy]

I wonder who else is around for the 'stacked midfield'? Is Vince Aso returning from his injury. I know Viliami Lolohea is playing for Papatoetoe this season.

[African Monkey]

@Daffy-Jaffy Hopefully not. He plays like he's too good for everyone when he comes to Auckland. He does his own thing and tries stupid miracle plays as if he's trying to put together a highlights reel or something. He was one of our worst culprits in 2016-2017.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Ponsonby players that were involved in the preseason game for Auckland this week.

Rilloy Suesue
Sam Ulufonua
Danny Tusitala
Jamie Lane
Paul Roache
Waimana R.K.
Freedom Vaha'akolo
Jonah Ma'u
Aleks Dabek
Of these guys I only see Lane, Riedilnger-Kapa and maybe Vaha'akolo making the final squad.

[KiwiMurph]

@Daffy-Jaffy I imagine Lemeki Namoa is another midfield option

[Duluth]

Club team sheets http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/78728

SBW is playing

[booboo]

@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

Club team sheets http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/78728

SBW is playing

Picture of Gribbley in the background makes me all nostalgic.

[Tim]

[Stargazer]

Just saw that Joe Royal was on the Breakdown. I missed most of it, but I heard he's now playing for Ponsonby. Does that mean he's also in the frame for a spot in the Auckland squad? Is Auckland still looking for a hooker and would you want him?

[Nogusta]

@Stargazer heard Robbie Abel was back for M10?
Angus Taavao back with Auckland for M10 too so front row stocks looking good

[Tim]

@Nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

heard Robbie Abel was back for M10?

Any word on who he'll being playing for in Super Rugby?

[Stargazer]

@Tim He played 2 games for the Rebels this season, but I haven't read anywhere yet that he'll be with them again, next season.

[Higgins]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@Nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

heard Robbie Abel was back for M10?

Any word on who he'll being playing for in Super Rugby?

Is he good enough?

[Tim]

@Higgins He was better than the other Blues players in the NPC last year.

[Higgins]

@Tim Thanks, I can't really remember much about him in the NPC last year.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Stargazer They said in the interview that Royal is playing for Counties-Manukau this season.

[African Monkey]

@Higgins He was fantastic for us in a position which looked like we'd be weak in. He's a menace at breakdown time and his throwing was very good.

[taniwharugby]

@Tim I had heard negotiations had stalled (again) at both M10 and Super (although the Super was the key to getting the M10 over the line...) coupled with some off-shore interest as well.

[Duluth]

Club Teams:
http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/79037

Rieko starting at 13 and Tuipulotu on the bench for Ponsonby

Papali'i at 7 for Pakuranga

[Duluth]

I'll watch Rieko have a run at club level today

Are any of the Eden players likely to make the NPC side? They've been in good form but not many of their players seem to be in the mix?
Blake Hill had a couple of games for Auckland under White. Is he worth another look?