Auckland v Harbour

Tim

@Dice It'll be good to see Luteru Tolai get a decent run.

Daffy Jaffy

@Tim Was just thinking the same thing. He impressed me in the two Blues dev. games I saw him play. Similar thoughts re: Lewis Gjaltema who impressed me but always struggles for minutes stuck behind Bryn Hall.

Daffy Jaffy

Some good footage of D'Angelo Leuila playing for Manu Samoa. At 12 in the Japan game then 10 after that. Seems to have a strong left footed kicking game.

African Monkey

@Daffy-Jaffy He always has. I remember seeing him playing at high school for Papatoetoe High and he was nailing goals from everywhere within 50 metres.

Daffy Jaffy

@African-Monkey I wonder why he didn't make the PC squad this year, missing out to AJ ALATIMU – Western Force and Ulupano SEUTENI – Borderaux. I don't know them at all. Maybe an experience thing as they are playing at a higher level where he's come straight out of Auckland club rugby.

Dice

Prime TV will be showing this game live tomorrow. It seems they'll be showing the Friday night game live every week.

First time in a long time that an NPC game is live on free-to-air TV. And on at a prime time slot of 7:30pm too.

Rapido

@Dice said in Auckland v Harbour:

Prime TV will be showing this game live tomorrow. It seems they'll be showing the Friday night game live every week.

First time in a long time that an NPC game is live on free-to-air TV. And on at a prime time slot of 7:30pm too.

First time since the 1994 NPC final. The infamous battle of Onewa.

Edit actually no, it would be the first time since the 1995 final. Was that the Otago / Colin Hawke/ penalty try game.? (Would actually be a very uncontroversial penalty try in this day and age, where being a bit shit at scrummaging is a sending off offence)

Duluth

@Rapido said in Auckland v Harbour:

Edit actually no, it would be the first time since the 1995 final. Was that the Otago / Colin Hawke/ penalty try game.? (Would actually be a very uncontroversial penalty try in this day and age, where being a bit shit at scrummaging is a sending off offence)

Yes that was 1995

4:43 for the penalty try

JK

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Tim

@JK Should be a good scrum battle, that Harbour frontrow is good!

JK

@Tim said in Auckland v Harbour:

@JK Should be a good scrum battle, that Harbour frontrow is good!

Just need to hope Tolai throws it straight in the bloody line outs

JK

Really lacking at 10. Harbour are too tho

Duluth

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/114835431/alama-ieremia-energised-for-challenge-as-auckland-morph-from-hunter-to-hunted

shark

Actually looking forward to this game. Both sides have a level of quality to them, and look fairly evenly matched. Four guys with AB experience for Harbour (and my wifes' bosses' son on the bench for extra interest) while Auckland doesn't have any ABs but they have a heap of SR players.

Duluth

That Harbour side is almost their best lineup. I think the only one missing is Parsons?

DrivingMaul

@Dice Looks like the threat of Spark Sport is encouraging some changes by Sky

DrivingMaul

Really looking forward to this game! It's my first game of the Mitre 10 Cup season
Also looking forward to the Waikato and Bay of Plenty games

Duluth

Crappy weather. That probably helps Harbour more.. that scrum looks strong

Does anyone know much about Jared Page? I remember he was rated a few years ago at Counties. Has he been injured? Or did he fall out of favour?

nzzp

@Duluth looks like ve the rain is here to stay too.

I'm really enjoying watching rugby again, the game last night was a cracker, and tonight should be a good grudge match

Tim

I take it that it's been wet.

The Silver Fern

Auckland v Harbour