@kirwan said in Auckland vs Wellington - Semi Final:
Going to be very interesting to see what these coaches can do with this team next year, and get a bit more depth.
I hope we retain all the coaches for a start.
Tiatia in particular. I'm sure other teams would like him as a head coach.
Matty Lansdown, Tyler Campbell, Quinn Tupaea, Dwayne Sweeney (c), Sevu Reece, Fletcher Smith, Jack Stratton, Jordan Manihera, Mitch Jacobson, Adam Burn, James Tucker, Tim Bond, Joshua Iosefa-Scott, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ayden Johnstone
Reserves: Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Toby Smith, Sosaia Fale, Sam Caird, Murray Iti, Kylem O’Donnell, Bailyn Sullivan, Declan O’Donnell
https://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/lions-name-settled-squad-for-semi-final/
15 Wes Goosen (Old Boys University)
14 Ben Lam (Tawa)
13 Matt Proctor (Oriental-Rongotai) (c)
12 Billy Proctor (Marist St Pats)
11 Malo Tuitama (Oriental-Rongotai)
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop (Northern United)
9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Tawa)
8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Old Boys University)
7 Mateaki Kafatolu (Petone)
6 James Blackwell (Petone)
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Poneke)
4 Sam Lousi (Marist St Pats)
3 Jeff To'omaga-Allen (Marist St Pats)
2 Asafo Aumua (Avalon)
1 Sitiveni Paongo (Tawa)
16 Dane Coles (Poneke)
17 Tolu Fahamokioa (Tawa)
18 Joel Hintz (Old Boys University)
19 Galu Taufale (Poneke)
20 Du'Plessis Kirifi (Northern United)
21 Carlos Price (Petone)
22 Losi Filipo (Petone)
23 Trent Renata (Oriental-Rongotai)
@african-monkey said in Auckland vs Wellington - Semi Final:
Wouldn't suprise me. For the first time in years any of the top 4 could win it which is great. Papali'i i is a huge loss as we all know and we'll need a massive shift from Choat. Don't know if it'll be enough but we shall see.
Auckland played their best rugby against Tasman and Canterbury. That was way back in round 4/5
Since then the performances have been poor until the Harbour match.. hopefully we are back to that mid season form.
Against Tasman we had powerful performances from our second row (Whetton and Tuipulotu) and Gibson tackled everything
Against Canterbury it was similar but it was Whetton and Lemalu at lock and Papalii was the late replacement who tackled everything
Playing a top four side without Whetton, Gibson and Papalii is going to be tough
Its a massive game for Choat and we need a lot more out of Fatialofa
1 Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
2 Robbie Abel (College Rifles)
3 Marcel Renata (University)
4 Fa’atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
5 Michael Fatialofa (Ponsonby)
6 Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
7 Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
8 Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
9 Jonathan Ruru (University)
10 Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
11 Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
12 TJ Faiane – Captain (Pakuranga)
13 Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
14 Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)
16 Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
17 Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
18 Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
19 Taleni Seu (Grammar TEC)
20 Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)
21 Desma Liaina (Eden)
22 Jacob Umaga (Eden)
23 Caleb Clarke (Suburbs)
Unavailable due to injury: Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (wrist), Taniela Koroi (arm – season), Blake Gibson (quad – season), Lyndon Dunshea (shoulder – season), Tanielu Tele’a (knee – season), Jack Whetton (ankle – season)
FRANCE (23): Joe Rokocoko (68 tests, Racing 92), Jerome Kaino (83, Toulouse), Neemia Tialata 43, Narbonne), Rudi Wulf (4, Lyon), Hosea Gear (15, Narbonne), Jamie Mackintosh (1, Pau), Colin Slade (21, Pau), Tom Taylor (3, Pau), Benson Stanley (3, Pau) Liam Messam (43, Toulon), Victor Vito (33, La Rochelle), Aaron Cruden (50, Montpellier), Julian Savea (54, Toulon), Charlie Faumuina (50, Toulouse), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (27, La Rochelle), Frank Halai (1, Pau), Dominic Bird (2, Racing 92), Malakai Fekitoa (24, Toulon), George Moala (4, Clermont), Isaia Toeava (35, Clermont), Charlie Ngatai (4, Lyon), Seta Tamanivalu (5, Bordeaux-Begles), Zac Guildford (11, Nevers). TOTAL CAPS: 584.
JAPAN (11): Andy Ellis (28 tests, Kobelco Steelers), Richard Kahui (17, Toshiba Brave Lupus), Isaac Ross (8, NTT Shining Arcs), Tamati Ellison (4, Ricoh Black Rams), Rene Ranger (4, Sunwolves), Israel Dagg (66, Canon Eagles), Augustine Pulu (2, Hino Red Dolphins), Elliot Dixon (3, Black Ricoh Rams), Dan Carter (112, Kobelco Steelers), Mose Tuiali'i (9, Yamaha), Stephen Donald (24, NEC Green Rockets). TOTAL CAPS: 277.
ENGLAND (9): John Afoa (36 tests, Bristol), Ben Franks (47, Northampton), Bryn Evans (2, Sale), Charles Piutau (16, Bristol), Francis Saiili (2, Harlequins), Steven Luatua (14, Bristol), Scott Hamilton (2, Hinckley), Lima Sopoaga (18, Wasps), Sam Tuitupou (9, Coventry). TOTAL CAPS: 146.
IRELAND (1) : Alby Mathewson (5, Munster). TOTAL CAPS: 5.
SCOTLAND (1): Lelia Masaga (1, Glasgow). TOTAL CAPS: 1.
AUSTRALIA (1) : Jeremy Thrush (11, Western Force). TOTAL CAPS: 11.
WALES (1): Regan King (1, Neath). TOTAL CAPS: 1.
Brendon Leonard (13 tests, Taranaki), Tanerau Latimer (6, Bay of Plenty), Wyatt Crockett (71, Tasman), Mike Delany (1, Bay of Plenty), Jarrod Hoeata (3, Taranaki), Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen (1, Wellington/Hurricanes), James Parsons (2, North Harbour), Matt Duffie (2 non-test games), North Harbour/Blues), Brad Weber (1, Hawke's Bay/Chiefs), Kane Hames (9, Chiefs), Atu Moli (1 non-test game, Chiefs), Akira Ioane (1 non-test game, Auckland/Blues), Hika Elliot (4, Tamatea club, Hawke's Bay), Ma'a Nonu (103, Blues). TOTAL CAPS: 214
@rapido said in Quality Rugby Podcast/Panel:
I know we sometimes don't use our one of our locks at all in some tests , just to fuck with my head, but over 6 games where the hell did Sam W disappear to?
Pretty sure Whitelock is the lifter for most of Reads takes