Auckland Rugby 2020

[Tim]

https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/86881?newsfeedId=972103

[Higgins]

Having no recollection of this guy I googled and found he has played one game for Auckland, six for Nth Harbour and four for the Blues and another four for NZ Maori during the period spanning 1996 to 2006 before throwing his lot in with some Italian outfit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_McGrath_(rugby_union)

[antipodean]

Recently he has crafted his coaching skills experience with the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby and the Melbourne Rising in the Australian National Rugby Competition.

Hardly a compelling CV is it?

[Nepia]

@Higgins I'd assume those Auckland stats are incorrect, as I remember him playing for Auckland and the Maori.

His era was definitely pre the 90% of AB halfbacks have to be Maori quota was introduced.

[Duluth]

@antipodean said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

Hardly a compelling CV is it?

What do you expect for a 3rd coach at NPC level (he's behind Ieremia and Tiatia)? Some experience at club or schoolboy level would be the norm

[antipodean]

@Duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

@antipodean said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

Hardly a compelling CV is it?

What do you expect for a 3rd coach at NPC level (he's behind Ieremia and Tiatia)? Some experience at club or schoolboy level would be the norm

It's a swipe at the Melbourne bit and their level of success.

[Tim]

[Stargazer]

@Tim Ropate Rimakama, the ex-Northland player?

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer he had been on an injury cover contract for Worcester recently

[Tim]

@Stargazer I guess so. Played for Harbour and Worcester too.

[booboo]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

Where are the Eden players?

[African Monkey]

@Higgins A bit late on this one but I don't think Wikipedia is overly accurate on that. He played more than that for Auckland and played a fair bit in our 2003 winning side. I remember the Blues had a massive injury crisis at halfback in 2005 and he started in a big game against the Hurricanes which happened to be the first time we lost to them.

[Dice]

What's up with Jordan Trainor? Isn't in the team above and wasn't called up for any Blues pre-season games despite Page being out.

[Dice]

@Tim They lost 35 - 7.

Heatherley scored the only try.

[Tim]

[Stargazer]

@Tim That caption though: "Who is looking forward to seeing Ofa wear the blue and white hoops this year?" As if.

[Kirwan]

@Stargazer said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

@Tim That caption though: "Who is looking forward to seeing Ofa wear the blue and white hoops this year?" As if.

Could do the Canterbury thing and parachute in some ABs for the finals?

[Stargazer]

@Kirwan Instead of Bledisloe 3 and/or the game against Fiji after that?

[Kirwan]

@Stargazer said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

@Kirwan Instead of Bledisloe 3 and/or the game against Fiji after that?

Just pointing out the ABs have let players get game time at the expense of the NPC before.

[Tim]