Auckland Rugby 2020

[KiwiMurph]

Good to see Zarn Sullivan there.

[Canes4life]

Interesting they have former Canterbury lock Hamish Dalzell in there, along with lock Liam Hallem Eames from Manawatu.

[Tim]

@Canes4life Damn, that's some good internet spotting!

[NateHill74]

@Canes4life what a play, considering teams don't usually like giving away their squad before its been finalised

[Tim]

Interesting to see Tumua Manu in there. When is he off to France?

Assume that Whetton is stuck in Dunedin.

[NateHill74]

@Tim He's probably signed but yeah. couldn't get back into Auckland cause of COVID. He or Auckland put a video of him training in Dunedin for Auckland

[NateHill74]

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[Bovidae]

Joe Royal was at Counties last year wasn't he?

[KiwiMurph]

Some interesting young names there in addition to the more known young names of Sullivan, Funaki and Vikena.

Felix Kalapu - 2019 Blues U20 lock
Joel Cobb - 2018 MAGs winger. RedBull Ignite 7s
Leweni Mocevakaca - 2019 Auckland U19 winger
Manu Paea - 2020 Blues U20 halfback
Terrell Peita - 2020 Blues U20 No.8
Vaiolini Ekuasi - 2020 Blues A loosie
Fatongia Paea - former Auckland U19 prop

[Tim]

Probable team is shaping up:

1 Hodgman
2 Sosene
3 Ta'avao
4 Whetton
5 Scrafton
6 Gibson
7 Choat
8 Riedlinger-Kapa
9 Ruru
10 Plummer
11 Rayasi
12 Faiane
13 Tele'a
14 AJ Lam
15 Trainor

16 Apisai
17 Adams
18 Renata
19 Hallam-Eames/Dalzell
20 Lot of rookies here
21 Tuistala
22 Sullivan but will they go with Hickey?
23 Manu

Loose forwards lack a big ball carrier.

[Tim]

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

Joel Cobb - 2020 MAGs winger. RedBull Ignite 7s

I think Cobb has played for Ponsonby the last two seasons. NZ U20 trialist this year, IIRC.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim Re: lacking a big ball carrying looseforward. He is only 19 y/o but check out Vaiolini Ekuasi below. Terrell Peita is also a very good ball carrying 8 but also very young -

Also if its the same Sione Tuipulotu he is also a number 8 who played for Manawatu last year or he could be the former Melbourne rebels centre by the same name.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Fatongia Paea is quite small for a Loosehead prop but crazy mobile. His best future may be at hooker -

[NateHill74]

@Tim There's A Ioane, and Sotutu, Tu'ungafasi, Ta'avao, R Ioane, Clarke, Tuipulotu also from North vs South

[KiwiMurph]

Fa'atiga Lemalu is back in the country I think - I wonder if he might get named in the squad.

[Tim]

@KiwiMurph What a difference he made to our maul in 2018!

[Daffy Jaffy]

There must be a new jersey sponsor/supplier this year. Paladin replacing Canterbury. Looks like the hoops have gone again.

[nzzp]

@Daffy-Jaffy is it really so hard to jus have blue and white hoops?

I'm a traditionalist for rugby jerseys. You build recognition and consitency, and see them everywhere. That jersey looks like the Waratahs FFS.

hat tip to the iconic Waikato jersey that seemed to show up at Twickers, teh tour de France, etc...

[Daffy Jaffy]

Looking for video to have a look at Liam Hallam-Eames, all I found was him knocking out James Tucker in 2018.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@KiwiMurph I doubt they will use Lemalu unless injurys strike badly. There are 7 locks in the squad now, unless Tufaga has been picked as a loose forward. He plays 8 and 6 sometimes for Ponies. Hallam-Eames and Dalzell are promising pickups. Both over 2m tall and 25/24 years old so plenty of rugby left in them if we can keep them. Rare for an Auckland squad to have at least 5 2m tall locks.