Auckland Rugby 2019
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The media release about the squad naming can be found here: http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/80290
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So Scrafton is named. His reported jaw injury can't be too bad then. There is some serious depth and promise in that group of forwards. Getting Trainor back and playing well will be important. He was a key catalyst for the attack last season.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Kurt Heatherley is a mystery to me. I guess the fullback cover was a bit thin with Trainor, Nemaki and i think Ahokovi all injured and not playing at present. It will be fascinating to see him play if he gets a run. I see one back to be added and Ahokovi is named in the B squad so maybe his spot to gain if he is fit again?
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@Dice said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Nogusta If Manu doesn't come to the Blues. I wouldn't mind seeing a lot of that midfield this season.
It looked pretty good and seemed to make good inroads at set piece.
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@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
@Nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2019:
Scrafton (broken jaw)
Shit. Locking depth is way down compared to last year
Not sure what their height/weight details are, but the Auckland locks and back row didn’t seem that big size wise.
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@ACT-Crusader
Whetton 2m, 119kgs
Lane 2.01m, 110kgs
Scrafton 2m 114kgs
Dunshea 1.94m ,112kgs
Sotutu 1.93m, 116kgs
Riedlinger-Kapa 1.94m 108kgs
Don't know stats for Suafua and Tagaloa but they are both solid units.
Then add Papalii, Ioane, Gibson and Choat, I think they will be fine. They played most or all of last season without Whetton and Scrafton who are both bigger units than Olmstead and Lemalu and similar size to Fatialofa. -
@Tim broken jaw. Won't be playing M10. So Jamie Lane and Whetton to get first dibs with Dunshea as lock cover? With Akira having a break Sotutu will start at 8 with Reidlinger Kapa being rewarded for his good form last year for the Bs and a good club season with first shot at the 6 spot.
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@Tim I'm surprised that Freedom Vaha'akolo is not in the B squad after a stellar club season and trialling with the M10 squad preseason. Maybe he is injured or moved away?
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2019 Auckland U19A
Team to play Taranaki (Pre-Season):
Shalom Viliamu Soane Vikena Mase Neemia Rob Rush Cameron Finefeuiaki Damien Naufahu Noah Perelini John Latu Taufa Funaki Zarn Sullivan Joel Cobb Patrick Elia JJ Wilson Leweni Mocevakaca, Jack Gray Champagnat Solomono-Mua Sione Ahio Mateo Taiseni Eric McLoughlin Terepai King, Chris Gabriel Joe Fabish Likau Alatini Sam Wye Thomas Strachan Louis Saena Heremaia Murray Junior Mafileo2019 Under 19 Development Wider Squad
Forwards
Vincent Liku, Lani Iloahifaiva, Nathaniel Crocker-Valu, Oliver Malolo, Mase Tuala Tauaosi, Jarred Mataia, Mark Tuisalega, Tualamiu Tauasosi, Thomas Drumm, Vaa Maelega, Brodie Jennings, Ben Plummer, Okustino Paseka, Jonathan Tupi, Daniel Bugden, Marcel Faaofo, Sione Maasi, Kitona Leitufia, Likau Alatini, Talitua Salinia – Satuia, Sione Maasi,
Backs
Cody Mitchell, Sam Fihaki, Tino Adam, Jermaine Malaga, Armani Wright, Josh Porter, Matt Maasi, Jake Forrest-Pain, Sosene Mataena, Marcel Milo-Harris, Latu Taufoou, Yuta Nakamura, Tai Hoeter, Connor Moors, Jayden Bell, Iosefo Lam Sam, Boston Waihape, Uta Fale, Joeli Filipo, Mateaki Maasi, Latu Taufoou.
Currently unavailable due to injury.
Matt Wulff, Jacob Jackson, Liekina Litolo, Keegan Watene, Reven Storey.
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@Daffy-Jaffy They still need to name one back, so maybe he's in the running for that?
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@Tim I wonder if Noah Perelini is son of Apollo? I had Apollo in a team when he was a teenager. An awesome young man, it would be great to see a son of his coming through.
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@Tim Looking at the squad I think Hawaii Ahokovi would be a good fit as he covers Fullback wing and kicks goals. He impressed me for the Bues dev. team earlier this season. Or maybe with Scrafton going down they may change to look for another lock?
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@Daffy-Jaffy I'm wondering if they need another midfielder? Solofa Silipa?
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@Tim I think they are covered at 13 with Manu, Tele'a and I heard that they may use Clarke there also. I don't know much about Silipa bar some brief video I saw of him. Certainly looks big and strong. If they are wanting 12 cover for Faiane, Paul Roache may be an option. He is a very good ball player but is very small by midfield standards these days.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Plummer and Kirkpatrick at 12 too. Can Leuila play there?
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@Tim When you look at it there is a lot of versatility in the backs with Tele'a and Manu both being able to cover wing also. Fullback will be the fascination for me if Trainor is not ready to go yet, especially with Heatherley. They must have seen something in him preseason that Waikato didn't. They might use Rayasi at Fullback initially.
