Auckland Rugby 2019

[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?

[Duluth]

Rieko did what you'd expect. A few good runs and an intercept try.

[Steven Harris]

It’s crazy to think many of our All Blacks were rested during the super rugby season, next minute they are all running around trying to get game time playing club rugby..I just don’t get it..!

[booboo]

Do I assume the Evil Empire beat the Mighty Eden?

[nzzp]

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

It’s crazy to think many of our All Blacks were rested during the super rugby season, next minute they are all running around trying to get game time playing club rugby..I just don’t get it..!

Super rugby and Club is a totally different deman on the body though. I imagine club rugby gets more aerobic fitness work, without the pounding from feral Saffers or Argies (or kiwis)

[Duluth]

@booboo

It was over as a contest after 30mins. Ponsonby was ahead 26-0

[booboo]

@Duluth thanks. Won't upvote your post though ...

[Tim]

@Duluth How did Ponsonby's 12, Paul Roache, go?

[Duluth]

@Tim

He was fine. It was hard to tell much in this game, it was too easy for 30mins then the game was a bit flat

I thought he was impressive a couple of weeks earlier in shitty conditions. Good passing game and a genuine 2nd 5

[Duluth]

Confirmation Abel is back with Auckland

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Duluth That's an important signing because they are likely to loose Mike Sosene-Feagai to the USA world cup squad and the rest of the hookers around are very green. Not sure were Kurt Ekland is at? Taniwharugby said he had heard that Abel's Auckland gig was dependant on also getting a super rugby deal, so maybe that happened also.

[taniwharugby]

@Daffy-Jaffy Northland were negotiating but was the BLues that were stalling/holding things up and supposedly pushing him toward Auckland.

[Higgins]

@taniwharugby Oh dear, I though the days of provincial unions hogging players with the promise of Super contracts (or visa versa) were supposed to be over.

[taniwharugby]

@Higgins TBF that was only rumour, so who knows...by all accounts, Abel had been toing and froing initially with Auckland, Northland, Blues, overseas club, Northland, Blues, Auckland for quite a number of months now....

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby

Also the Blues hate Auckland rugby.
If that rumour was correct, it wouldn't be about helping Auckland, it would be because they want Olsen to get game time too

[Stargazer]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@Duluth That's an important signing because they are likely to loose Mike Sosene-Feagai to the USA world cup squad and the rest of the hookers around are very green. Not sure were Kurt Ekland is at? Taniwharugby said he had heard that Abel's Auckland gig was dependant on also getting a super rugby deal, so maybe that happened also.

Playing club rugby in Bay of Plenty for Mount Maunganui.

Going through the BOP team lists, it was interesting to see a lock named Alex Ainley playing for Rangiuru. I wonder whether that's the former Highlanders and Ta$man lock?