Auckland v Waikato

[Duluth]

The text version:

1 Josh Fusitua, 2 Leni Apisai, 3 Angus Ta'avao (c), 4 Edward Annandale, 5 Josh Beehre, 6 Adrian Choat, 7 Blake Gibson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 9 Taufa Funaki, 10 Zarn Sullivan, 11 Xavier Tito-Harris, 12 Bryce Heem, 13 Corey Evans, 14 AJ Lam, 15 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Reserves: 16 Joe Royal, 17 Ben Ake, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Che Clark, 20 Niko Jones, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Taniela Tele'a, 23 Salesi Rayasi

---

Angus captains

No specialist 10 or lock cover

[Chris]

@Duluth said in Auckland v Waikato:

Xavier Tito-Harris

Seems to have some genuine pace,Do you know much about him ?.

[Duluth]

@Chris

Not much. I've only seen him play a handful of times

[Duluth]

Still no Tuipulotu. The last game he played was a couple of weeks ago and he finished the 80mins with no injury

[Bovidae]

Tito-Harris is one of those players with a RL background at school. He was a fullback but played 2nd 5 for the NZ Schools to accommodate both he and Spencer in the backline.

Assuming Waikato is still missing so many players in key positions Auckland will win this easily.

[Kirwan]

@Duluth said in Auckland v Waikato:

The text version:

1 Josh Fusitua, 2 Leni Apisai, 3 Angus Ta'avao (c), 4 Edward Annandale, 5 Josh Beehre, 6 Adrian Choat, 7 Blake Gibson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 9 Taufa Funaki, 10 Zarn Sullivan, 11 Xavier Tito-Harris, 12 Bryce Heem, 13 Corey Evans, 14 AJ Lam, 15 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Reserves: 16 Joe Royal, 17 Ben Ake, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Che Clark, 20 Niko Jones, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Taniela Tele'a, 23 Salesi Rayasi

---

Angus captains

No specialist 10 or lock cover

So if Zarn goes down Evans the most likely to step in to 10, or Roger? (that would fun!)

[Duluth]

@Kirwan

It'll be Evans. I think he's played there before but not as an adult?

[Bovidae]

https://www.mooloo.co.nz/newsarticle/132986?newsCarouselId=680598

[Bovidae]

Finau back. Filipo has named a 7:1 bench. :astonished_face:

[KiwiMurph]

Will be interesting what sort of crowd they get at Bell Park. It should look better than a handful of fans at an enormous stadium.

[frugby]

@Bovidae said in Auckland v Waikato:

Finau back. Filipo has named a 7:1 bench. :astonished_face:

So many injuries... at this point, if you have to run M Wrampling or Finau on the wing, probably not the end of the world.

[Duluth]

@Bovidae said in Auckland v Waikato:

Filipo has named a 7:1 bench

Auckland should consider removing a back and going to a 6/2

[Bovidae]

@frugby Wrampling ended up on the wing at the end of the Wellington game.

The only positive is giving these young players experience. Taranaki had a similar injury crisis a few years back.

[Tim]

@Duluth Not 100% sure, but think he might have played a couple of club games at 10.

[KiwiMurph]

A special jersey for Auckland tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/AucklandRugby/status/1702458956915023957

[george33]

@Duluth he has arm in cast for last 2 weeks think he has broken it again

[Stargazer]

Eeew, Jono Bredin is the ref.

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer Ha - had the same thought

[frugby]

Good start from Bredin lol.... how did he miss that knock on.

[KiwiMurph]

A matter of time until Auckland get someone binned you would think