Auckland Rugby 2019

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Kirwan Even better - Apollo's middle name is 'Eleven'. He was named after the moon rocket because he was born the same day it launched - 16 July 1969. Don't believe me? google him and the launch date.

[Kirwan]

@Snowy said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@Kirwan said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

Apollo Perelini is such a cool name. I missed a trick with my son there.

Yes it is, but I didn't have you down as a Perelini.

Kirwan and Duluth Perelini. I would never have guessed.

Would have been significantly better at rugby if it was my last name.

[Tim]

Lemalu won't be back as lock cover this season. Someone asked him on Instagram.

[Snowy]

@Kirwan said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@Snowy said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@Kirwan said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

Apollo Perelini is such a cool name. I missed a trick with my son there.

Yes it is, but I didn't have you down as a Perelini.

Kirwan and Duluth Perelini. I would never have guessed.

Would have been significantly better at rugby if it was my last name.

Yeah, my brother in law thought that he was good at rugby because his name is Colin.

[Duluth]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/114820960/big-mover-salesi-rayasi-ready-to-bring-the-razzledazzle-once-more-for-auckland

[Tim]

Auckland sign AFL player who could run rugby players 'ragged'

Many will have missed the name Kurt Heatherley, when he was listed as 'loaned' when named in the Auckland Rugby 40-man Mitre 10 Cup.

[Dice]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

@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?

Freedom played fullback for the Bs on the weekend.

Suafoa was also at blindside for the Bs. So like @Nogusta mentioned, he might be seen as more of a 6 by the coaches.

[Dice]

Lemeki Namoa also seems to have recovered from his injury as he was playing at centre for the U19s against the Colts on the weekend.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Dice That's good news. At the A squad naming it mentioned one back to be added. Namoa would be my choice for that spot as he can cover centre, wing, fullback and would be a good threat off the bench with his speed and step.

[Tim]

http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/81019

[Dice]

Niko Jones was back and playing for the U19s on the weekend.

[Tim]

@Dice Was he injured?

[Dice]

@Tim I assume he's been injured because he wasn't part of the first three U19 games. I think he's been injured for a good chunk of the year.

[Stargazer]

@Dice Isn't he a contracted NZ sevens development player? Maybe it has something to do with that?

[Duluth]

There are articles from May saying he's injured and that's why he missed 7's tournaments

There was no mention of what the injury was

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland are training at Blues HQ. Finally some sensible stuff going on between Auckland and Blues.

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland Rugby 2019:

Auckland are training at Blues HQ. Finally some sensible stuff going on between Auckland and Blues.

Redman gets pushed and then the ridiculous ban is lifted..

[Tim]

Auckland B team to play the Auckland Colts (24/08/19):​​​​​​​

Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs)
Mike Sosene-Feagai (Marist)
Marco Fepulea'i (Ponsonby)
Marcel Barnard (unattached)
Felix Kalapu (Grammar TEC)
Hau Paea (Mt Wellington)
Sioeli Alofi (Te Papapa)
Dylam Lam - Captain (Grammar TEC)
Desma Liaina (Eden)
Johnny Cooper (Ponsonby)
Freedom Vaha'akolo (Ponsonby)
Paul Roache (Ponsonby)
Solofa Silipa (Papatoetoe)
AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
Matt Storm (Grammar TEC)
Te Ariki Te Puni (University)
Herman Huch (Ponsonby)
Simi Kata (Marist)
Isi Manu (College Rifles)
Rilloy Suesue (Ponsonby)
Sasa Tofilau (College Rifles)
Hawaii Ahokovi (Pakuranga)
Beau Birtwistle (University)

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim The lock Marcel Barnard appears to be from Durban. He is listed as playing for the Sharks U21 team this season. Maybe looking at him as cover for Scrafton.

[Dice]

@Daffy-Jaffy Would be nice if he's decent enough to give our starting locks some rest, especially Whetton. We obviously don't trust Peter-Chanel Tagaloa enough, as both Lane and Whetton played 80 on the weekend.

Some tough games coming up, so Whetton could be playing some big minutes until the Southland game in round 9. We're going to have to hope for some early blowouts to get him subbed off.