Tasman v Counties Manukau

[Stargazer]

Counties

1 Howard Sililoto, 2. Joseph Royal, 3. Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4. Viliame Rarasea, 5. Matiaha Martin ©, 6. Mathew Vaai, 7. Fotu Lokotui, 8. Daniel Hyatt; 9. Te Aihe Toma, 10. Latiume Fosita, 11. Tevita Nabura, 12. Orbyn Leger, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. Toni Pulu, 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo.

Reserves: 16. Gafatasi Su’a, 17. Sean Bagshaw, 18. Jarrod Firth, 19. Daymon Leasuasu, 20. Sikeli Nabou, 21. Liam Daniela 22. Luteru Laulala 23. Sione Molia.

Lock Sikeli Nabou will come off the bench for his 50 game for the province. The Fijian representative, who has also had experience playing in France, has provided strong input as a replacement player this season.

At the other end is 19-year-old Etene Nanai-Seturo, who set the Sevens world alight with his exciting running game, will be given his first start at fullback.

The other changes are all forced by injury with Coree Te Whata-Colley to start in place of Kololo Tuiloma, with Howard Sililoto to start on the other side of the scrum with Sean Bagshaw to come off the bench.

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[ACT Crusader]

Mako$ by 50

[Stargazer]

Ta$man

1 Wyatt Crockett
2 Ray Niuia
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Quin Strange
5 Pari Pari Parkinson
6 Ethan Blackadder
7 Jed Brown
8 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta
9 Finlay Christie
10 Mitch Hunt
11 Solomon Alaimalo
12 David Havili
13 Levi Aumua
14 Tima Faingaanuku
15 Will Jordan

Reserves
16 Andrew Makalio
17 Ryan Coxon
18 Isaac Salmon
19 John Akau'ola-Laula
20 Sione Havili
21 Jack Grooby
22 Alex Nankivell
23 Willy Havili

[Tim]

@stargazer

John Akau'ola-Laula

Another Auckland player (NZ U20 2018). Hope we have a good deal with Ta$man over this.

[African Monkey]

@tim Yeah he played midweek for them as well. Make what you will of it but it's quite impressive that we can give the competition favourites 3 loose forwards on loan. Our depth in the back row is ridiculous.

[Chris B.]

@african-monkey So is ours, but it's not bottomless - but, we're missing Squire, Frizell, Taufua, Fredericks, and Miller - plus Pete Samu if the Australians hadn't snaffled him.

Edit: There is a Facebook post on the Mako page that says Fredericks and Miller both have season ending injuries.

[Chris B.]

Tim said:

@stargazer

John Akau'ola-Laula

Another Auckland player (NZ U20 2018). Hope we have a good deal with Ta$man over this.

They are all interest payments on the several years of use you've had from Sam "The Rock" Prattley!

[Chris B.]

@tim More seriously, probably seeing a bit of bias from Leon in pulling in players from Auckland rather Christchurch.

People who might be of use to him next year or the year after, rather than people who won't.

[Tim]

@chris-b Good point, he's likely to have one eye on the Auckland squad.

[Chris B.]

A few interesting selections in that team.

Mainly a full strength starting XV - except Niuia is starting and Makalio is on the bench. Not sure of the logic in that - maybe concerned that a bench of Coxon/Niuia/Salmon would be excessively weak.

Not sure what they're thinking in the Salmon/Princep battle for reserve tighthead. Neither very impressive so far.

Cirikidaveta comes into the starting loose-forwards - he was a WTG selection, so fair enough - but Fox-Matamua disappears completely.

In the backs, the only surprise is David's little brother Willy (After-David?) on the bench instead of Tim O'Malley. I'm quite interested to see how he goes if he gets a run. Seems like a bit of a star at club level.

Edit: Not sure that team is right - the Mako website has Spowart in the team instead of Alaimalo, who is listed as "battered and bruised".

[Dice]

Nanai looks special.

Tai Lavea needs to get him back to Auckland.

[mikedogz]

Counties Midfield are poos. Not setting the platform for the back three and defending shit.

[Dice]

Ta$man dominating.

Will Jordan going well, although I agree with Justin that he has been passing too late.

Counties need to get Nanai involved more somehow.

Counties probably need Vaega in the midfield. He rejuvenated the Counties' attack when he was put in the starting line-up a few weeks back, now the attack is back to being poor.

[Dice]

What a line by Jordan. He sprints away to score a 40m try.

He's broken the line several times today.

[98blueandgold]

@dice also agree but he has just turned 20! haha. future looks bright

[mikedogz]

better players subbed on for counties

[Higgins]

Chris B must be getting a tad nervous now the score has closed to Ta$man 21 - 14 Counties with sixteen minutes still left to play.

[Higgins]

That Counties No 18 reminds me of the good old days when props looked like props should. Great to see, big ups to that man.

[Dice]

What a 2nd half by Counties.

[African Monkey]

Great comeback from Counties but just fell short. They looked like they lacked a bit of belief until they got their first try. Will Jordan was outstanding for the first 60.