Auckland Rugby 2020

[Tim]

The Blues A team have the final game of a two-match programme when they take on the Chiefs A in Hamilton on Friday.

Buoyed from their 33-5 victory over Hurricanes B in Wellington last week, the Blues A combination head to FMG Stadium as the curtain-raiser to the Chiefs’ Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes.

The game will provide further valuable game time for Blues players who have returned from injury including Jack Heighton, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Finlay Christie and Jared Page and other Super Rugby squad players Tony Lamborn and Tamati Tua.

The side also includes a group of exciting new players from our Provincial Unions who get the opportunity to test themselves at this high level including Ropate Rinakama, Michael Lea, Teague McIlroy, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Felix Kalapu, Lewis Gjaltema, Patrick Elia and Kade Banks.

Also some of the Blues Under-20s squad members will have an opportunity including Niko Jones, Ekuasi, Joel Cobb, Elia and Banks.

The match kicks off at 4.25 pm on Friday against Chiefs A who also have a number of Super Rugby players in their side.

The team is: 15 Jared page, 14 Tomas Aoake, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Tamati Tua 11 Joel Cobb 10 Jack Heighton 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Tony Lamborn, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa , 5 Sam Caird, 4 Samipeni Finau, 3 Ropate Rinakama, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Fatongia Paea.

Reserves: 16 Michael Lea, 17 TBC, 18 Teague McIlroy, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 25 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Patrick Elia, 23 Kade Banks.

[Dice]

A bit of a depth chart for this season.

Props

Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Angus Ta'avao
Alex Hodgman
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
Marcel Renata
Jarred Adams
Marco Fepuleai?
Rob Cobb(with Waikato?)
Taniela Koroi

Hookers

Leni Apisai?
Mike Sosene-Feagai
Soane Vikena
Michael Lea
Leif Schwencke

Locks

Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott Scrafton
Jack Whetton
Jamie Lane
Peter-Chanel Tagaloa
Lyndon Dunshea

Backrowers

Hoskins Sotutu
Akira Ioane
Blake Gibson
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
Adrian Choat
Niko Jones
Cameron Suafoa

Halfbacks

Jonathan Ruru
Taufa Funaki
Danny Tusitala
Dwayne Polataivao
Rilloy Suesue
Manu Paea

First Fives

Harry Plummer
Zarn Sullivan
Daniel Kirkpatrick?
D'angelo Leuila
Tyrone Elkington-McDonald

Midfielders

Rieko Ioane
TJ Faiane
Tumua Manu
Tanielu Telea
Paulie Roache
Meihama Grindley

Outside Backs

Caleb Clarke
Salesi Rayasi
AJ Lam
Jordan Trainor
Lemeki Namoa
Kurt Heatherley
Freedom Vaha'akolo

Bolded the ones I think will most likely be in the Mitre 10 squad.

Also, some guys I listed might've moved on and I don't know about it.

[Tim]

@Dice Jarred Adams will be in the props, unless he's signed with another team.

[Dice]

@Tim I thought I had him in, but I obviously forgot, probably because our prop depth is ridiculous for this level. I'll add him.

[Tim]

@Dice Yeah, huge prop depth. Lemalu would be handy at lock.

[Tim]

@Dice Also looks like NZ schools (Rotorua) halfback Manu Paea is back in Auckland (Eden, Blues U20 - listed as Auckland).

[Dice]

@Tim It'd be nice to have him. Not sure what he's up to.

[Dice]

@Tim Yeah, I already put him in there. Good to have him back in Auckland. He's only 18, so probably won't get a look in this year, but one to look out for.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Tim]

https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/91847?newsfeedId=972103

Marco Fepuleai is back playing for Ponsonby this weekend. Apollo Perelini's son is on the bench.

Rayasi is playing for Marist, and there's a Nili Latu on the bench.

[Higgins]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

Apollo Perelini's son is on the bench.

Rayasi is playing for Marist, and there's a Nili Latu on the bench.

Might be Nili senior's grandson!!!!!

[Dice]

Awesome to see Moli Faiva on the bench for College Rifles. He was a stud in school.

[Tim]

https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/club-rugby-to-have-a-super-flavour-this-weekend/

Other Blues players set to feature for their club on Saturday are Aaron Carroll (Mt Maunganui), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Ardmore Marist) and Jack Heighton (East Coast Bays). Tamati Tua, Luteru Tolai and Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa are also available but their clubs weren’t known at the time of publication.

Moved to Counties Manukau?

[Duluth]

Round 3 team sheets: pdf link

[NateHill74]

Noticed Freedom Vaha'akolo playing for Dunedin club side Dunedin. Possible transfer move?

[Tim]

@NateHill74 Interesting. Might also be there in the Highlanders wider squad?

[Dice]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/club-rugby-to-have-a-super-flavour-this-weekend/

Other Blues players set to feature for their club on Saturday are Aaron Carroll (Mt Maunganui), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Ardmore Marist) and Jack Heighton (East Coast Bays). Tamati Tua, Luteru Tolai and Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa are also available but their clubs weren’t known at the time of publication.

Moved to Counties Manukau?

Looks like it.

Lavea going to Counties is probably the worst thing that could've happened to us. He could decimate our depth in a couple of seasons. If he went to any team outside of Counties/Harbour, he'd have a harder time to do that.

[Tim]

[Dice]

It seems Ponsonby are just well ahead of everyone else this season. Not too surprised with the team they have.

It'll be interesting to see how Eden go against them this week. If Eden can't give them a challenge, then I can't see who else can.

[Duluth]

Auckland club rugby team sheets: pdf link

It looks like Trainor is the only SR player

Does anyone have an opinion on Thomas Strachan? Is he a chance of making the Auckland side? I see he's getting a run ahead of Jono Hickey