Posts made by Dice

Very good half by Funaki.

Fortunately, it looks like most of the rain has gone just in time for the game. It is a bit windy though.

We really need to find someone better than Ruru at halfback. The Blues finally had the sense to ditch him as a starter this year and it was beautiful.

The game against Manawatu would be a good time to test out young Funaki at halfback.

Tofa is like a mini Laumape.

@Tim said in Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau:

@Dice Gotta compete with AJ Lam.

We should have room for both. No Beauden, Marchant or Duffie next season. And then get rid of Hyland and Page, and we have 5 spots available.

@Dice Not that time though.

Counties' scrum has been good with 7 players.

Wouldn't mind getting Visinia to take Hyland's spot at the Blues.

Harbour looking like a different team in the 2nd half.

Inisi has been good off the bench.

Harbour's backline defense has been shocking.

@Duluth said in Counties v Tasman:

1 Isi Tu'ungafasi, 2 Andrew Makalio, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sione Havillu, 8 Hugh Renton, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Mitch Hunt (c), 11 Mark Telea, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14 Sevu Reece, 15 Will Jordan

Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Kershawl Sykes Martin, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Moni Ngakuru, 20 Jacob Norris, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 Tim O’Malley, 23 Fetuli Paea

Tasmanchester United didn't even have the decency to name a single local in the starting pack. They did name like two in the backline though

That pack should be able to hang with most packs in the comp.

It'll be interesting to see how Harbour go without Telea and Duffie out wide, because Harbour have relied a lot on their back 3 for attack over the last few years.

@Tim I don't remember him ever covering fullback before, and definitely not for Marist since he's never played for them before. Are you mixing him up with Rayasi? Rayasi has played fullback for Marist a number of times.

@KiwiMurph said in Otago v Auckland:

Hickey is ok for now but i'd like to see Sullivan given his chance as well - i'd hate to see his path blocked by a journeyman like Hickey.

With no Rayasi or Sullivan in the 23, it means Plummer or Hickey are covering fullback. I would've at least got one of Rayasi or Sullivan in the 23.

@Duluth said in Otago v Auckland:

@Daffy-Jaffy

Yeah it got lost in all the other bullshit

I'll repost my earlier comment.. Some good names missed the 23: Tuipulotu, Rayasi, Renata, Riedlinger-Kapa, Funaki, Sullivan, Telea

Any of them injured?

Not sure if anyone is injured, but Auckland posted some training pictures yesterday and you can see Rayasi, Renata, Sullivan and Telea all training.

Rayasi is a surprise omission because he's been such a stud for us.

Watching CGW and McOnie just mentioned that Tabai Matson has been axed by the Chiefs.

@Tim said in Otago v Auckland:

@Dice Wouldn't be surprised if they play some of the ABs from the bench in order to help the team's pattern?

That might be the way they go.

If we do go with the absolute best line-up, it'd probably be our strongest line-up on paper since 2007.

If all available, the Auckland team should look something like this:

1 - Alex Hodgman
2 - Leni Apisai
3 - Ofa Tu'ungafasi
4 - Patrick Tuipulotu
5 - Scott Scrafton/Jack Whetton
6 - Akira Ioane
7 - Blake Gibson
8 - Hoskins Sotutu
9 - Jonathan Ruru
10 - Harry Plummer
11 - Salesi Rayasi
12 - TJ Faiane(c)
13 - Rieko Ioane
14 - Caleb Clarke
15 - Jordan Trainor

16 - Mike Sosene/Soane Vikena
17 - Jarred Adams/Marcel Renata
18 - Angus Ta'avao
19 - Jack Whetton/Scott Scrafton
20 - Adrian Choat/Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
21 - Taufa Funaki/Danny Tusitala
22 - Zarn Sullivarn/Simon Hickey
23 - Tanielu Telea/Tumua Manu/AJ Lam

Starting team is pretty straight forward, but most of the bench spots are contestable. I'm particularly interested in who gets those bench backs spots.

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

Do the Bs and Colts have any games this year?

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.

RTS with another try. He's also looked good.

I missed the 1st half, but the Warriors have looked awesome in the 2nd half.

Harris-Tavita has been impressive.

@Daffy-Jaffy Wasn't Riedlinger-Kapa on a WTG contract? If no one else is willing to sign him to a full contract, we might be able to keep again with another WTG contract. I hope we prioritize him over Aaron Carroll.

Our backrow depth is ridiculous at the moment.

Looks like Bill Fukofuka has left Southland for Canterbury.

Blake Gibson's brother is also in there.

@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.

98 semifinal between the Blues and Highlanders is on Prime.

There were some great players in that 98 team, but my favorite might be Eroni Clarke. He was the complete centre for us.

Tomkinson has no attacking awareness. Not much skill either.

@Bones I can't be Mauger because I actually selected Walden.

@Nepia said in North vs South:

@Dice Picking the worst team from each Island looks like fun ... can't believe you included Pale Maori Jesus in this team though.

It was a special selection for a certain poster.

South Team

@African-Monkey We already wasted minutes on Heatherley last season, and even played him ahead of Telea in some games. That was pretty annoying.

@Toddy We can only hope.

He looks good in black and white.

@sparky said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@mikey07 Bus is living up in Auckland. Rumour is that he has had offers fromm North Harbour and Auckland.

I hope Auckland aren't pursuing him.

His best bet for game time would probably be at Harbour.

@Tim said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

Love to know what TTT is thinking.

''I'm an idiot. I didn't get much game time last year and I still re-signed''

I heard Goodhue put on some weight to get up to 120kg, but even with the added weight, he was still able to perform PBs in the fitness tests.

@raznomore said in NBA season 2019/20:

@Magpie_in_aus Ja Morant is an amazing player. I think potentially he could be Jordanesque but that supporting cast...

It’s all set up for the Pelicans and Zion now.

Wouldn't be the NBA thread without your hot takes.

Here's a similar one from a few years ago.

@raznomore said in NBA Season 2017/18:

Donovan Mitchell, in my opinion is the closest thing I have see to MJ in a long time. He is a amazing.

Marist have been playing halfbacks at 10 all season.

They should try to lure someone like Moli Faiva over next year.

@Steven-Harris that's not the final squad, that's a wider squad.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

Is history being made? Is this the first time the Canes have fielded an all white back 3?