Auckland 2018

[KiwiMurph]

@tim I like that Lavea talked about tactical kicking focus for the backs - not exactly a strength in recent years.

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Yep, especially the focus on exits from the 22. Hopeless last year.

[Tim]

Auckland won 50 to 33.

[KiwiMurph]

@tim I'm glad it looks like it was in some decent conditions after that near-washout a month or so back with Northland and Harbour.

[Tim]

Wellington was up 26 - 14 at halftime.

[African Monkey]

@tim The Blues/SR players in the last few years have been awful/disinterested and have really held the team back. Would love to see more youngsters given a crack this season.

[Tim]

@african-monkey Have heard that from someone, and from some podcasts too. Glad to see things are changing.

[Duluth]

[Tim]

@duluth Who was the guy with no jersey number on the left wing? Salesi Rayasi?

[KiwiMurph]

@tim yep that was Rayasi.

[Duluth]

Some tough decisions about who to pick on the wing - Nanai, Aso, Manu, Clarke, Rayasi, Ravouvou etc
A couple of those guys should be in the midfield of course.

[Duluth]

A big year for Fukofuka. The Blues spot is wide open.

I really rated him when he first played in Pivac's Auckland side. Since then he's been injured or behind a terrible pack in 2016.
Then he didn't impress with limited game time at the Crusaders

Hopefully he gets a good run of games this year

[African Monkey]

@kiwimurph He reminds me of Charles Piutau running down the wing.

[KiwiMurph]

@african-monkey good call. Similar styles.

Some good looking scrums and some nice backline moves and passing skills from Auckland.

[Tim]

Match report:

Auckland XV defeats Wellington XV in NPC warm-up match

An Auckland XV boasting a high profile coaching staff of Sir Graham Henry, Filo Tiatia and Alama Ieremia have beaten a Wellington XV 50-33 at Evans Bay Park this afternoon. In a National Provincial Championship warm-up fixture, Auckland never trailed in an affair which featured a chance for 50...

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/106017170/a-new-approach-but-a-nod-to-the-past-for-auckland-rugby

[Tim]

Seems that Mike Sosene didn't play against Wellington.

[KiwiMurph]

@tim not much actual detail in that article but some promising signs. I believe the squad is named next Sunday?

[KiwiMurph]

so Auckland will have services of Tuipulotu and Akira for the season by the looks.

[African Monkey]

@kiwimurph They've only picked 3 specialist locks so will Tuipulotu be on standby for a lot of the season?

I also expect Akira to be away for a lot of the season to go and sit in the stands for most of the ABs tests.