Auckland 2018

[Tim]

Filo Tiatia added to already impressive Auckland coaching set-up

Filo Tiatia is the latest addition to Auckland s Mitre 10 Cup coaching group for the coming season. Headed by Alama...

[Tim]

Tiatia is pretty highly rated as a forwards coach, isn't he?

[Dice]

Ulufonua has been mostly injured since coming out of school.

@tim said in Auckland 2018:

Tiatia is pretty highly rated as a forwards coach, isn't he?

Maybe, but the Sunwolves pack were mostly beaten up under him. Not much talent there though, but that's the only team I've seen under him.

[Tim]

@dice Wasn't he pretty good with Japan?

[Dice]

@tim said in Auckland 2018:

@dice Wasn't he pretty good with Japan?

I forgot he was with Japan. Hopefully he can give us more of the stuff he did with them than with the Sunwolves.

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland coaches putting out a message that they will be keeping a very close eye on club rugby this year and this is very much a new regime. This is a very good thing.

[Hooroo]

@kiwimurph It's astounding this is 'New'

[Tim]

Auckland club rugby gets underway this weekend.

Grammar TEC's entire frontrow is comprised of Tu’ungafasi's.

Albert Lagitofaoletalalelei is the name of the round.

[Snowy]

@tim said in Auckland 2018:

Albert Lagitofaoletalalelei is the name of the round.

Is he any good? I really want him to make the ABs and hear commentators around the world deal with that.

[Crazy Horse]

@snowy imagine the level of 'disrespect' he'd receive on here - we cant even spell Messim right!

[Snowy]

@crazy-horse said in Auckland 2018:

we cant even spell Messim right!

Or Reid, shit Read.
That bloke that captains the All Blacks anyway.

I think I will call Mr Lagitofaoletalalelei, Albert. Possibly even Al.

[Tim]

Anyone know if the Filipo Levi coaching at Marist is the former Highlander?

[KiwiMurph]

@tim Yeah that's him.

[Dice]

Levi played a couple of years for Marist a few years ago.

[Tim]

Looks like Auckland will be without Scrafton and Tuipulotu this season. Have also lost Nee Nee, Pierce, and Ulufonua to other provinces. Fatialofa and Seu for the starting locks?

[Dice]

@tim said in Auckland 2018:

Looks like Auckland will be without Scrafton and Tuipulotu this season. Have also lost Nee Nee, Pierce, and Ulufonua to other provinces. Fatialofa and Seu for the starting locks?

That looks like the go, with Slade as the bench lock.

With Seu going to lock and Akira a good chance to be an AB, we could be fielding a very young but exciting looking backrow of Havili(6), Gibson(7) and Papali'i(8).

[Tim]

PONSONBY CLAIM 2018 WAKA NATHAN CHALLENGE CUP
~
Waka Nathan Challenge Cup Final:
Eden 30 - 34 Ponsonby
~
Premier Pre-Season Results:
College Rifles 37 - 21 University
Mt Wellington 17 - 33 East Tamaki
Manukau 12 - 39 Grammar TEC
Pakuranga 60 - 14 Te Papapa
Papatoetoe 38 - 24 Otahuhu

[Tim]

Premier Round 1 - Wrap-Up (& Results)

POOL A Suburbs v Waitemata Suburbs were able to kick-off their season in style with a well-deserved victory...

[Tim]

I see that Willie Talataina-Mu is back at Ponsonby after playing for Southland last year.

England under 20 player Jacob Umaga (son of Mike Umaga) is playing for Eden.

Marcel Renata is playing for University, so must've been released by the Hurricanes.

[Crazy Horse]

@tim said in Auckland 2018:

England under 20 player Jacob Umaga (son of Mike Umaga) is playing for Eden.

It would be nice if we could steal one back.