Auckland Rugby 2020

[Daffy Jaffy]

Should we read anything into Plummer being named with the midfeilders?

[Tim]

I wonder when Tele’a will be available? Hopefully he hws recovered from his Super Rugby injury.

[KiwiMurph]

The halves and hooker will be fascinating to keep an eye on this year. It feels like the weakest parts of the team. Will be interesting to see if the young players in these spots (Funaki, Sullivan, Vikena) can push for playing time.

[Tim]

Havili and Suafoa would make a big difference to our loose forward depth.

[Daffy Jaffy]

The ins and outs from last seasons squad.
J. Cobb in for Kurt Heatherley.
Finau - Solofa Silipa.
Sullivan - D'Angelo Leuila.
Hickey - Daniel Kirkpatrick.
Funaki - Desma Liaina.
Jones - Dalton Papalii
S. Tuipulotu - Cameron Suafoa.
Hallam-Eames - Lyndon Dunshea.
Dalzell - Jamie Lane.
Lay - Taniela Koroi.
Paea - Robb Cobb.
Vikena - Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Hooker for a Prop.
Sosene - Michael Lea.
Royal - Robbie Abel.
Also Peter-Chanel Tagaloa gone but not replaced.
Thoughts?

[Tim]

What does the team look like if all the players are available:

1 Hodgman
2 Sosene
3 Tu’ungafasi
4 Tuipulotu
5 Scrafton
6 Ioane
7 Gibson
8 Sotutu
9 Ruru
10 Plummer
11 Clarke
12 TJ Faiane
13 Ioane
14 Tele'a
15 Trainor

16 Apisai
17 Renata
18 Ta'avao
19 Whetton
20 Choat
21 Tuistala
22 Hickey
23 Manu/Rayasi/Lam

Still have issues at hooker, and in the halves. No depth at 15.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim Wasn't Apasai their first choice most of last season, and went OK from memory. I think Rayasi might get the first go at right wing.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@KiwiMurph Good spotting. Here it is -

Also get yourself a mask -

The caps look good too -

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Daffy-Jaffy Here is the link to the merch store - The replica playing jersey is $89.99

Home 1

[Dice]

Good to see Jarred Adams is still with us and not with Wellington like rumored. Losing him and Lindenmuth would've sucked. We probably kept the better of the two.

Several guys who got their pictures taken didn't even get selected. I'm guessing those guys are cover.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Dice With the exception of Tufaga all those that missed selection from the photographed group are young colts who are likely still training with the team, as future planning and as you suggested to cover for those selected for All Black squad.

[Hooroo]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2020:

@KiwiMurph Good spotting. Here it is -

Also get yourself a mask -

The caps look good too -

That mask is pretty cool.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Hooroo So it should be for $20 !

[Dice]

@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah, they're probably still training with the team.

Do the Bs and Colts have any games this year?

[Tim]

Zarn Sullivan is a big boy:

Height: 1.93m

Weight: 101kg

[number9]

I have ordered my Jersey, good to see they cater for the big sizes. Adidas needs to take a leaf out of Palladian's book, us Polynesians are not on average 3XL.

[number9]

Anyone posting game day updates?

[Duluth]

8.3K views · 220 reactions | Sky Sport NZ caught up with Grammar TEC...

Sky Sport NZ caught up with Grammar TEC Rugby Club Inc. First-Five, Simon Hickey. Simon talks about his travels overseas and coming back to NZ to wear the Blue and White Hoops again. #LetsGoAuckland...

I guess I could've put this in the Hurricanes thread

Forgot how young Hickey was when he left. Not sure if he'll get much time this year. Plummer has started well and there's more upside investing game time with Sullivan

[KiwiMurph]

@Duluth The real story is they threw everything at Hickey at the time but offered nothing to Josh Ioane when he came out of the same school a year or so after Hickey did.

Sums what a mess Auckland/Blues rugby were in at the time in regards to pathways/talent identification/in-fighting etc.

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph

Wasn't Ioane a late developer? He didn't get into the Otago NPC side until 2017.

For comparison when Ioane made his NPC debut he was about the same as Hickey was when he left NZ.
Or about the same age as Plummer is now in his third NPC season

Was there injury reasons? Or he just took a while to get good enough?