Auckland v Waikato

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

KiwiMurph

Waikato definitely winning the collisions so far

Duluth

Beehre a late injury?

KiwiMurph

Zarn ran over the top of a prop

The Silver Fern

Auckland v Waikato