The Silver Fern

@African-Monkey said in Waikato v Auckland:

@shark Interestingly enough, Ennor coming into centre will make it a 5th different midfield combo in a row. Having said that, Ennor and Osborne in the backline makes it a hell of a lot better.

Yep, I noted that early on in the Canterbury vs Southland thread after the teams were posted.

@Dice We had some shockers like Emersen Tamura-Paki, Jono Owen and Isi Tu'ungafasi who were barely club standard. He's done ok since leaving has Isi but he was awful for us.

@Nogusta said in Northland vs. Auckland:

@Daffy-Jaffy and to think Sione Havili was in the mix too. Aleks Dabek is also pretty handy. Been in the Auckland Academy and there or there abouts since leaving school but just absolutely can't get a look in. Currently exploring opportunities outside of Auckland

Northland could have used Aleks Dabek they have so many injuries already

@Nepia Not sure, just heard that they're resting for 2 weeks.

Dalton has come back earlier though as he's just been named on the bench for the game against Northland.

@Tim

Oh well.. I had thought it was the end of 2020

Papali'i yes, but the jury is out on Plummer. He wouldn't be the first Auckland first-five to look good in his first year and then fall away badly.

@taniwharugby

According to the TicketDirect website children do have free admission. Only $10 for where we sit.

@steven-harris said in Southland vs Auckland:

@nakosi one of the really big issues they have in the Southland area is player drain which the quality of club rugby has dropped away ..they have have realistically got about 10-12 players of Mitre 10 level.

Its not only quality it is quantity. 6 Prem teams only (and they are scraping numbers to make Prem teams) means a short season

One guy who hasn't been mentioned but had a massive game was Marcel Renata. He's been good all season, but was exceptional in this game. Hopefully the Blues have already gotten his signature.

Was good to see all the bench players making positive contributions when they came on. Also smart move by the coaches to not bring Clarke and Sotutu on because we needed experience out there to finish this game.

@duluth said in Auckland vs Otago:

@Dice said:

We'll likely get Faiane and Nanai back next week, and hopefully Gibson. Whetton looks like he won't recover in 6 days though.

Lock looks concerning for the Wellington game.

It might be just Lamalu, Olmstead and Lane as the fit locks?

Looks like that's the case.

I wonder if Fatialofa is coming back at all. He was not meant to be out this long and he wasn't listed as being out for the season.

Glad to win that. Hard to play against 16.

Jackson is a borderline cheat.

@canes4life said in Cantebury vs Auckland:

@kirwan So pretty much Fatialofa mark 2.

Yeah, and would be ironic if we lost two good locks to the Canes. Or absolutely depressing.

Haha Auckland are never favourites against Canterbury especially down there. I'd back even the weakest of Canterbury teams to beat us in Chch. Oh well I suppose I''ll go along and watch and hope that this could be the one time we win haha.

I'm guessing Tuipulotu will start the game off the bench and Olmstead kicks down as the backrower cover instead of Sotutu.

@taniwharugby I remember we bought him back after that awful loss to your mob in 2001 for the 2002 season, we lost the opener to Taranaki and he wasn't seen again for us haha it was as if we bought him back as payback for that game.

@tim I think he'll get a run at some point. His scrumming is good for his age, but I do remember a game where he went up against Renata and got destroyed.

Likely to be quite a few from the 2018 Auckland squad who miss the NPC with World Cup duties. Some guesses off the top of my head:

Mike Sosene
Evan Olmsted
Fa'atiga Lemalu
Leon Fukofuka
Tumua Manu (no idea, but turns 26 this year)

Some other foreign qualified players who might get a call up:

Taniela Koroi
Marco Fepulea'i
Jarred Adams
Melani Nanai

@booboo Plummer is 19, and yes, that's 2 Eden players in 2 years that have represented Auckland.

A bit late, but I thought Seu and Faiane gave it a good go in this game. Renata and Akira were decent too. I wish the Blues got Seu, because he's been looking Luatua-like this season.

Papalii did look good coming on. He has really packed on the muscle the last 12 months. I'd be tempted to push Seu to lock and drop Slade to the bench this week, and bring Papalii into the starting line-up. I'd also want Sione Havili on the bench instead of Dominikovich-Murray.